Argentina day 19: Buenos Aires.

Submitted by maria on Thu, 10/03/2011 - 20:20

Today we visited the neighborhood of Boca and Puerto Madero.

Boca neighborhood

They say that the neighborhood of Boca is one of the most dangerous, but during the day you can visit it without problems. We walk from our hostel, the entrance to this working class neighborhood promises, graffiti, open spaces, all the shops with bars even during the day (they say to avoid robberies), and the famous Bombonera, the football stadium of Boca Juniors, where the mythical Maradona played. Blue and yellow are the two predominant colours. What a pity not to be able to watch a game, we don't have the same dates.

La Bombonera

Boca neighborhood

We kept walking and arrived at Caminito. The most famous street of this colorful neighborhood. Music and dance everywhere. Craft centres and restaurants. Originally the houses were painted with the paint left over from painting the boats.

Caminito

We had a beer and decided to go to Puerto Madero, a modern and original neighborhood, an old port area that has been reconverted. There is also the Pontifical University.

Siga la Vaca

We ate at Siga la Vaca.

Puerto Madero

After lunch we enjoy an ice cream on the promenade, several ships attract our attention, the frigate Sarmiento stands out.

Frigate Sarmiento

We enter the Cafe Tortoni, a jewel of Buenos Aires. We pass by the Theatre Cervantes and the Theatre Colón.

Tortoni cafe

On the way back to San Telmo, at a bus stop a woman in an endless queue complains that if she cannot get on the bus she will not be able to get home as she cannot afford a taxi. She tells us about the problems with public buses, there are not enough of them and they are becoming more and more expensive. Life in big cities is often complicated.

We had a steak dinner in a Milanese restaurant that could have eaten the whole restaurant with one portion, what an outrage.

Accommodation: 80 ARS hostel South America, double room with bathroom and breakfast included.