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| 2005 Argentina Trip |
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| Days 1-2: December 22-23,
2005 - Buenos Aires, Argentina |
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It was a relatively
quiet, albeit long journey to Buenos Aires. We
started from Cincinnati at 6:30pm with a flight
to Chicago. From there it was 11 hours to Ezeiza
field in Buenos Aires. The seats had a little
more room than Quantas (we were on United), but
not much.
We were met at the airport by Natasha who took us
to the Argenta Towers hotel. On the way, we experienced
the size of Buenos Aires traffic when we passed
through two of the largest toll plazas we had ever
seen. There must have been 15-20 lanes! Along the
way, Natasha pointed out the Teatro Colon and the
obelisk. The obelisk is where everyone gathers when
the Argentine National Football team wins a game.
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We met up with Mom, Dad, and Robin at the hotel.
They arrived approximately an hour earlier. After
a much needed long hot shower, we departed the hotel
in search of Cafe Tortoni, one of the classic cafes
of Buenos Aires. Our path took us to Florida Avenue,
which was pedestrian only and lined with every store
imaginable. Since it was just a few days before
Christmas, everyone was running around purchasing
last minute gifts. In the center of this street
were individuals selling everything they could get
their hands on - water bird whistles, binoculars,
clothing. It felt like NYC of 10 years ago.
Florida took us all the way to the Plaza de Mayo
where we turned right and tried to find Cafe Tortoni.
We had to clarify our directions with a local, but
we found it. It is a magnificent marble facade which
leads to a long, darkened room with cafe tables.
We put 2 tables together and ordered some lunch.
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After lunch, we wandered through the back rooms
- one devoted to the famous people who ate to Tortoni
(Hillary R. Clinton and Susan Sontag were guests)
and the other was a very dimly lit room with a stage
for tango.
We made our way back to the hotel and made reservations
for a tango show. The show came with transportation
and dinner. We were picked up from the hotel at
8:30pm and stopped to pick up people from other
hotels on the way to El Querandi. Dinner was a rubber
chicken affair - there was food, but all of it overcooked.
The show was campy and the pairs of tango dancers
danced in costumes that reflected periods of time
from the 1920's to today. It was fun to watch but
not overly spectacular. The dancers had some skill
and footwork, but it was more of a choreographed
show than a tango. It was amusing but everyone was
exhausted and eager to get back to the hotel and
crash. |
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