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Hiiiii!
Last time we wrote, we were just beginning our Buenos Aires adventure. Now we've come to the end of our 11-day stay here and we thought we'd give you a teensy update! We're going to shake things up a bit (brace yourself), by dividing this blog thematically (food, sights, birthdays, football) rather than day-by-day...
1. Food
This is surely the most important factor, as Joel had been waiting the entire trip to sample the delights of proper kosher meat here in BA. And he wasn't disappointed. Although we've failed in our challenge to conquer each and every one of the kosher restaurants in the city before we leave (and there are plenty of them to be found), we have nevertheless enjoyed a variety of steaks, meat grills, more steaks, KOSHER MCDONALDS and another steak (or three). It has been a truly impressive non-stop meat-fest. The kosher mcdonalds (the only one that exists outside of Israel) is conveniently situated in a shopping mall 2 minutes walk from our hostel and we have been taking advantage of this. On an almost-daily basis.
2. Sight-seeing
Buenos Aires is HUGE! We've visited a variety of neighbourhoods, including:
San Telmo - home of the tango, and an area full of amazing antiques shops and with a crazily busy antiques market every Sunday
Recoleta - with a famous cemetery full of vast and incredibly ornate mausoleams, including Evita's grave (to where people actually make pilgrimages and lay flowers in her honour)
El Centro - full of amazing architecture and important buildings (including Argentina's interesting imitation of the White House... it's known as 'The Pink House')
Palermo - an area full of gorgeous parks, botanical gardens, Japanese gardens, the MALBA (modern art museum) and the Evita museum
La Boca - a poorer but really atmospheric area, filled with bright colours and tango performances along the pavements
Tigre - an hour away from the city, on the 'coastal' river... we took a really chilled boat tour of the rivers and soaked up the touristy atmosphere
3. Mel's birthday
Obviously one of the most important days in the whole trip. We spent the morning with one of Joel's dad's friends who lives here and who gave us an interesting guided tour of the suburbs where he lives (and treated us to a yummy lunch). This was, of course, followed by a trip to an ice cream parlour (we're adapting quite well to this Argentinian tradition). In the evening we tried (and loved) a really chic kosher restaurant where we consumed a variety of yummy cocktails and some delicious meat. We then went to a famous tango show, "Señor Tango", where we were treated to some incredible tango music, dancing and an emotional (if a little cheesy) finale rendition of 'Don't cry for me Argentina'!
4. Football
Obviously one of the most important days in the whole trip... El Superclassico is the match between Boca Juniors and River Plate and attending it was listed at number one in The Observer's '50 Sporting Things to do Before you Die'. The article failed to mention the standing for 5 and half hours, trying to avoid the shower of spit, and cups of urine that were coming from the River Plate fans who were in the stand overhead. Kudos to the stadium seating planner for that stroke of genius. The match itself was preceded by a reserve match which ended 0-0, so when half time arrived with no goals the fans were getting a little restless, but then Boca scored and the stadium erupted. The match finished 1-1, and in spite of the cocktail of fluids coming from above (which Mel feels justified her decision not to attend), it was a fantastic experience. Number one sporting thing to do before you die... check!
Woweee... it's only after reading that all through again that we've realised just how busy we've been! During our time here, we've also managed to make it to a delicious Chabad Friday night dinner, an outdoor drum gig and to the cinema (slightly more familiar territory!).
Tomorrow we're temporarily leaving Argentina to go to Uruguay for a bit... first stop the old smugglers town of Colonia.
Thank you so much for all Mel's birthday wishes, she felt very loved.
And to clear up any controversy that has arisen - Mel AND Joel both contribute to the writing of this blog. You'll just have to guess who writes which bit! (Hint, Mel wrote about the football.)
Missing you all xxx
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