I read through this lot last night and realized how brisk and superficial it was. Can't decide if that's matters or not but intend to add a little more to some locations at some point. Problem is I usually write the blog at the end of the day when I'm tired and just about to go to dinner so it's a bit hurried. Anyway onwards we go.
We flew in to Buenos Aires on Weds. from Iguassu. There was a problem with our flight and as we checked in early they moved us to an earlier flight but then this was delayed so we left about the original time anyway! All a bit disorganised and chaotic but no one seemed unduly stressed over it so guess this might be the norm.
Anyway we got our flight and in no time (1.5hrs. aprox) were descending on B.A. The view from the plane was very telling. We saw a fairly modern prosperous town with lots of high rise buildings and then a railway track and on the 'wrong side of the track' was all the delapidated, poor, slum housing. You couldn't have made the difference between the two more obvious if you'd tried. You could not possibly have missed the main political problem here even if 'Someone in Authority ' was hogging the window seat.......again!

Eli met us at the airport.....she was to be our guide....and took us to our hotel in the heart of the city. The location was perfect with a huge choice of good cafe/restaurants in the area. We dropped our bags at the hotel.......they were very switched on ie expecting us ,gave us useful info. regarding the hotel and took our bags to our room in a matter of minutes. Felt a bit peckish and so went out into the streets to see what we could find and it was very easy. Very quickly, with instructions from the hotel desk, we were in the charming, foody area opposite the cemetery. This cemetery we will visit tomorrow but right now it is merely the backdrop to a very comfortable cafe snack. We don't really speak Spanish but they look after us well. I make an effort which they are very kind about and then they find a waitress who speaks English. We have a beer and some cheese and cured ham and feel quite well looked after. Later, back at the hotel after showering and sorting through and re-packing our cases ( which seems to be a regular hobby at the moment) a little nap and a chat, we head off for a walk through the streets and then eventually windup back at a little restaurant opposite our hotel which is friendly and helpful and does a very good spag. bols. Now we're ready for bed and keen to see what Eli has for us tomorrow.

It's thurs now and Eli has turned up to drive us round town. We like the town very much. Quite a European feel to it. Dad says it reminds him of Madrid but not quite so nice. I've not been to Madrid so have no comparison and enjoy it thoroughly. It has the usual commercial sector, government sector, theatre sector etc. We stop off in the govt. square where there is a queue going twice round the square as people wait in line to update their equivalent of Oyster cards at the appropriate govt. office. The president Christina ... has decided to put the price up tomorrow and no-one knows what the new price will be. Seems a little mad. They must all be taking the day off work. Just how expensive can these cards be anyway? This govt. square must have seen a lot of action in it's day and still it goes on. Eli tells us that the mothers and grandmothers of young men who 'disapeared' during the during the time the country was run by the Generals in the '80s still march there every Thurs. I suppose it's difficult to be here in Arg and esp. BA and not be made aware of the political history and also it's current politics but don't really want to go on too much here. Much better sources for you elsewhere.
The buildings around the square are in the main neo classical with a touch of French and/ or Spanish influence and are lovely buildings. We visited the presidential palace. It's pink and almost fills one end of the square. We're not allowed in but Eli points out the balcony where Eva Peron made her famous speech to the people when she is dying and breaks down in tears. And yes she did say, don't cry for me Argentina and I 'm just a poor broken woman who loves her people and most of the other things that come out in the song. Eli recons half the people still love her and the other half hate her. We see quite a few interesting buildings from the car eg. the national art gallery which is a huge neo classical structure; a building they call the English tower which is a gift from us (that they renamed after the Falkland war) and also one or two old Spanish homes owned by wealthy Spanish and which were subsequently claimed by left wing governments. One is now an antiques arcade (presumably back in private hands) and we were able to see round it........quite damaged in parts but with a large airy gallery and floors covered with lovely Spanish tiling. The newer part of the town was pleasant to walk about too with plenty of parkland, trees a vast rose garden.
At the end of the day we visited the cemetery which is maze of mausoleums belonging in the main to old Argentinian families. And of course we eventually found Evitas. Her family were of course anything but 'old family' but the Duarte 'family' have been given a place. Not a country to worry about the odd fib if it's what the people want to hear.
We leave BA tomorrow for Uruguay which we're looking forward too but have thoroughly enjoyed BA and haven't really seen enough.