More photos from this segment!:
https://picasaweb.google.com/103620108216329120374/BuenosAiresAndColonia?authkey=Gv1sRgCJay8MmWg8_5-gE&noredirect=1
We were almost going to skip South America on this trip - it was extremely difficult to get from Australia/New Zealand to South America. There are a couple of (long) direct flights, but they weren't cheap. You get creative, though, when you really want to do something. I managed to use my Delta Skymiles for a leg from Syndey to New York, with a stopover in Buenos Aires, for 30,000 points!
It was our first time in South America. We really wanted to go to Patagonia, so it made sense to stay in Argentina for most of our two weeks here. Buenos Aires, our first stop in South America, isn't exactly how I had imagined the continent to be like. The city is very big and modern - not too different from any major North American or European capital.
We were there during the short time in the spring when jacaranda flowers fill the city with splashes of purple. This is one of the many lovely plazas in Buenos Aires.
The best way to see the city is to walk. We ran into the new developments of Puerto Madero on the eastern side of this canal, towards Río de la Plata. The tall skyscrappers going up are in huge contrast to the old warehouses on the other side.
Food was so good and cheap (cheap being a great change after Australia). This taqueria in the trendy and residential Palermo district offered a delicious lunch break. A quick reminder that we're not in New York came at the end of the meal. David's camera almost got stolen from right under his arm when a motorcyclist on the side walk tried to snatch it. We were quick to react and saved our favorite device.
This was the first of several juicy steaks we enjoyed in Argentina. Although we heard that beef is not as good as it used to be in Argentina, it still tasted pretty good to us! A good steak dinner with a bottle of wine runs around $30 USD.
We took a quick daytrip to the neighboring Colonia, Uraguay, a short ferry ride away. Finally, we got a taste of South America! This place is so laid back, with locals hanging out on the streets and buildings that haven't changed in hundreds of years.
There's not a whole lot to do in Colonia other than walking around the Old Town and taking pictures of cute streets. And of course, eat a very slow lunch. It's a relaxing getaway from Buenos Aires. We relaxed so much that we missed our return ferry while napping in the park (beware: there's a one-hour time difference between Buenos Aires and Colonia!).
On the bright side, we caught a thunderstorm from our later ferry, and got this perfect rainbow!
On our last day in Buenos Aires, we explored the Reserva Ecológica Costanera Sur, a reserve on the eastern side of the city, and La Boca, a lively neighborhood famous for it's colorful houses and high crime rates. Sadly, we lost our pictures from that day, although I'm not too disappointing that it's the only pictures we lost on a seven-month trip.
https://picasaweb.google.com/103620108216329120374/BuenosAiresAndColonia?authkey=Gv1sRgCJay8MmWg8_5-gE&noredirect=1
We were almost going to skip South America on this trip - it was extremely difficult to get from Australia/New Zealand to South America. There are a couple of (long) direct flights, but they weren't cheap. You get creative, though, when you really want to do something. I managed to use my Delta Skymiles for a leg from Syndey to New York, with a stopover in Buenos Aires, for 30,000 points!
It was our first time in South America. We really wanted to go to Patagonia, so it made sense to stay in Argentina for most of our two weeks here. Buenos Aires, our first stop in South America, isn't exactly how I had imagined the continent to be like. The city is very big and modern - not too different from any major North American or European capital.
We were there during the short time in the spring when jacaranda flowers fill the city with splashes of purple. This is one of the many lovely plazas in Buenos Aires.
The best way to see the city is to walk. We ran into the new developments of Puerto Madero on the eastern side of this canal, towards Río de la Plata. The tall skyscrappers going up are in huge contrast to the old warehouses on the other side.
Food was so good and cheap (cheap being a great change after Australia). This taqueria in the trendy and residential Palermo district offered a delicious lunch break. A quick reminder that we're not in New York came at the end of the meal. David's camera almost got stolen from right under his arm when a motorcyclist on the side walk tried to snatch it. We were quick to react and saved our favorite device.
This was the first of several juicy steaks we enjoyed in Argentina. Although we heard that beef is not as good as it used to be in Argentina, it still tasted pretty good to us! A good steak dinner with a bottle of wine runs around $30 USD.
We took a quick daytrip to the neighboring Colonia, Uraguay, a short ferry ride away. Finally, we got a taste of South America! This place is so laid back, with locals hanging out on the streets and buildings that haven't changed in hundreds of years.
There's not a whole lot to do in Colonia other than walking around the Old Town and taking pictures of cute streets. And of course, eat a very slow lunch. It's a relaxing getaway from Buenos Aires. We relaxed so much that we missed our return ferry while napping in the park (beware: there's a one-hour time difference between Buenos Aires and Colonia!).
On the bright side, we caught a thunderstorm from our later ferry, and got this perfect rainbow!
On our last day in Buenos Aires, we explored the Reserva Ecológica Costanera Sur, a reserve on the eastern side of the city, and La Boca, a lively neighborhood famous for it's colorful houses and high crime rates. Sadly, we lost our pictures from that day, although I'm not too disappointing that it's the only pictures we lost on a seven-month trip.
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