Wednesday 8th February 2017

Day one of 78 and having landed in Buenos Aires at about 9.00am, a slight apprehension was felt as we realised the size of the trip we had planned.

After a moment where we thought our wheels had not turned up, we finally connected with our local guide, Maria and her driver and travelled about an hour to our hotel which conveniently and unbeknown to us, was right in the middle of the trendy nightlife part of BA called Palermo.  After the 14 hour flight, we had not thought much about night life but that would soon change.

Off the plane wearing our travel boots and carrying two rucksacks weighing at least 10Kg each into 30 degrees of heat was a bit of a challenge but fortunately as our guide explained, it was quite cool today.

After our lengthy debate on inflation, social housing and university fees for locals, we arrived at our Hotel Clasico and our comfortable room with a view of the back of the flats.

The Restaurant of the Clasico Hotel - Palermo, Buenos Aires

Confused about the time thinking it was late afternoon, we realised that it was late morning and decided to go for a wonder.

As it turns out, this area is the heart of young culture but trendy so obviously we felt well at home.  Also, Buenos Aires has a fascination with Graffiti street art and so pretty well everywhere around, most of the buildings had some kind of street are message on them. It seems to be the national pastime. Banksy eat your heart out !!

After about an hour walking round, we discovered a funky little burger bar for a snack which transpires is in the top 10 of eat houses in BA.  Not an inch of wall was plain paint but probably the best burger we had ever had as we sat by the dustbins inside the restaurant and enjoyed our latest fine dining experience. I guess this will be a meaty trip…..

Parrilla - an Argentinian Steak House where you can get just
about every stake time as well as other meats (but not many)

Right - The most famous burger joint in Buenos Aires with
its wall art

The street art is a very big part of Argentinian Culture and very much an acceptable thing to do.

Some of these are so stunning that they are difficult not to photograph but after a while, you realise that this is just the tip of the iceberg and you give up after a bit.

Political statements everytherr


Left - The best burger joint -
called Burger Joint

200 Argentinian Pesos worth about £10.
They use dollars as well but use the $ for both
........Confusing !!

Janette with her nose for great restaurants had found somewhere to eat in the "hood" and had her first experience of Ceviche and a great bouillabaisse. We're saving the steak & Malbec for tomorrow !! If this was the food and drink of Argentina, we were very much going to enjoy our stay.

Argentinian beer - over 7.5% alcohol and not for the faint hearted
Suffice to say Janette had found Argentina's most desirable white wine a local grape called Correntes

Onward and upwards......