We made it! After leaving Seatac at 2pm on Thursday we
finally landed in Buenos Aries at 3 pm Friday. We had to stop in LA and Lima
before the soles of our feet touched South American soil. Getting from Lima to
Buenos Aries was a little touch and go. We had to exit the airplane, go through
security again, and then get back on the same flight. They were calling last board
when we hustled on.
Upon our arrival in Buenos Aries, we had to pay a receptacle
fee of $140 US dollars because we carry US passports. Apparently $140 dollars
is the same amount an Argentine has to pay for a visa to come to the US, hence
the name receptacle fee. After making it through customs we were greeted by our
tour guide, Carolina. As we walked outside she warned us it was hot (110 F) and
right she was, it was HOT! It felt good to get on the air conditioned bus ride
to the hotel. We had half an hour to clean up before it was time to hit the
city. It felt good to walk around and stretch my legs and to see the beautiful architecture,
mingle with the local people, smell the new smells, hear the new sounds, and
visit a few well known places.
To me Buenos Aries smells almost sweet and the air feels
muggy but kind of soft at the same time. I enjoyed the sun on my skin and
feeling the warmth soak into my rain saturated bones from the Pacific North
West. We were led on a tour by Carolina and Maria to get our bearings of the
city. We stopped in what was the main plaza back in the day and admired a
replica Big Bend given to Argentina from the English, a giant fig tree that was
a gift from Australia, and the first sky scrapper in Argentina. We walked down
Easter Street past shops and people selling goods on the street. It was a busy
evening since the sun was setting and the day had been so hot. We made it to
the Plaza de Mayo, which is famous because a group of women called the crazy
women walked with diapers on their heads to protest against the government because
their loved ones had been kidnapped by the government. They started to wear
diapers because at first it was a group of mothers whose children had been
kidnapped so the diapers represented their kids. On the ground of the plaza
there are now diapers painted. It was great to see this place in person because
we had read about it and talked about it and knew about some of the historical significance
of the events that took place there.
Plaza de Mayo is also home to the Presidents house as well. Apparently
back in the day it was in front of a river and it was there as the first line
of defense and also the port to the city. The river can no longer be seen there
but it can still be seen on the outskirts of town. There were several protests
taking place on the plaza in front of the Presidents house and a gate had been
out up in front of the house in case they needed to lock it and protect the
government.
After our tour it was time for dinner. We ate at El Palacio de la Papa Frita. I
enjoyed a Spanish Tortilla, which remind me of omelets but with potatoes. Since
the restaurant had French fry in the name we also indulged in those as well. But
these French fries were a little different; somehow there were hallow and
reminded me to fluffy potato chips. It was a delicious meal and I look forward
to having some famous Argentina beef!
Well that is all for now, we have to be up at 4 am to leave
for Ushuaia for two days and it is currently midnight.
Hope you enjoy!!
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