Argentina

So as promised... moaning over... now to the detail of BA!!! And there is a lot to update you on too!!

Strap yourselves in...

BA

Boca Juniors

Wasting no time we got ourselves straight to a game at La Bombonera... to see CABJ (Club Atlético Boca Juniors) turn over Argentina Juniors by 4-0! The atmosphere was electric & the ground packed. It was a great game, great result, but not quite on the same scale as the Maracana experience... which I think you already know I was slightly fond of!

(Photos of the game courtesy of my lovely friends, pictured here in the darkness of the stadium... Rachel, Al and Rob!)

The police presence was noted. The copper on the left sneakily hid his massive gun for the purposes of this photo... and that was all I was aiming for!!! I will aim to get some more gun shots later in the blog!!!

The interval entertainment was noted too. Frankily... worth paying for on it´s own. Infact, there should be football when the cheerleading breaks!!!

And of course, the day wouldn´t be complete without some chicken dancing:

Video of the Chicken dance... (To arrive shortly!)

San Telmo

After the game, a few more drinks at the lovely square of San Telmo where there were Tango dancers, drummers, fire swingers... in the place where the busy market had been earlier in the day.

Wandering

BA is an amazing place for a long stroll. Any day, any which way, and you´ll find more amazing statues, buildings, shops or Tango dancers. Such history and culture... all mixed in with a busy array of modern commercialism.

For example, the Obsilisco, an English postbox, all overshadowed by busy advertising boards... and of course, what you don´t see... a MacDonald´s immediately behind the shot!

Ooh... and be careful who you mention you are English too here... sometimes you receive a really luke warm reception... I found that it is much better if you say you are Irish!

Street Tango:

Possibly the coolest mall I´ve seen... with a replica of my next car & some cool artwork on the ceiling:

It´s amazing who you meet in a place as big as this. Just walking around the historical square where Evita made her renouned speech (Casa Rosada)... I pulled a few chicks:

NOT CASA ROSADA: (Photos available on my Flickr if you're interested though... let me know and I will give you access)

Recoleta

A stroll through the wealthy area of BA is a nice thing to do! At the risk of sounding cultured again, a visit with my new group of friends to the cemetry of the rich and famous (it costs more to ´rest´ here after death than it costs for me to live in my place in the UK!)... apparently Evita is buried here too... although, there is some historical debate over that one!

A rather understated gravestone:

And Another:

The Australian memorial which opens and closes based on the solar activity!

San Martin

Wonderful Plaza dedicated to the revered Military Leader of the same name!

La Boca

Bright and vibrant place... just check out these pics... ooh... and who is showing Maradonna how to play?

Palermo

Very cute area full of little shops etc etc... although, I got side tracked by a really cool zoo where I spent my time absorbed and excited by the wide aray animals:

Me and the Ele-funk:

How Cute! (No... I mean the photo below... not the one of me above... :0P )

Oh, and Partying!

BA is renowned for being party central... coming from Brazil in Carnaval... we didn´t quite find this to be the case... arriving on Sunday... and Monday... we struggled to find the buzz!

Monday Night... Where is the P A R T Y ?

Beyond those days though, we rocked at the party hostel of MilHouse & several clubs!

A couple of the party animals... Katie and Cas:

And a few drunken yobs in the street:

One club in particular was called ´Lost´... and was a wee way from our hostel. Ironically, in my drunken state, I did actually manage to get lost.

...Leaving the club at 4.30 am ish, I managed to part from my friends, and get a cab to drop me off... on the opposite side of the symetrical main road, facing the wrong direction from my hostel. Clever move, Kev!

...Obviously the closer I thought I was getting to my hostel, the further away I was! Until I was totally lost, the cab I tried to get to return me to something familiar was also at as loss... so I decided I could find my way back on the tube!!! Hmmn... after 3 changes (and seeing a lot of people on route to work in business suits), I find myself 6 blocks from the hostel... where I make my way home at about 7 ish! Hmmn! Mum and Dad... you are right, at age 28 I really should know better... hee hee!

Life lesson learned! Don´t get drunk and lose your mates! Or, do as I do now & keep the address of your hostel on you at all times! :o)

And of course, not to forget the Tango Lessons and Tango show

Ok... I am not going to show you a photo of me failing to Tango well... so see some pictures of some of my friends at the show instead...

Then the Show itself:

And a couple of the entertaining clowns....

I have a feeling that last quip will see me with some custard pie on my face in the future!!!!

Oh, and finally... just to let you all know... I have been taken in so well by the Argentinians, they made a fragrance based on me:

Beesy with his Own Fragrance - Out!