Happy Birthday Tom!

Happy 85th Birthday Uncle Jack

A big well done to Marks baby nephew Harry who took his first steps on Saturday we miss you lots xx

Hello from Buenos Aires!!

Well we finally arrived after 17 long hours on a coach on Saturday 16th January. It took a little longer because we had to change coaches as our air conditioning wasnt working and it was HOT! The journey was really suprising we were given drinks and snacks free of charge and then an evening meal of lasagne and fruit salad, we were then given blackets and pillows and our seats reclined right back. In the morning we were given some breakfast too!

However our first few days in Buenos Aires did not get off to a good start. We arrived at our hostel and were really dissapointed. It seemed to be in a bad area and our room and facilities were really not very clean. We had 8 nights booked and decided we couldnt stay there. We had only paid a deposit so we spoke to the manager and agreed to stay for the one night but cancel the rest, we jumped straight on the internet and found another hostel no problem. Anyway we decided to make the best of it for that one night and headed into San Telmo the oldest part of Buenos Aires and home to Tango! We found the main plaza and it was full of restaurants and little markets selling crafts. We decided to eat out as the hostels kitchen was not good and discovered there was a free Tango show in the plaza. So we ate outside and watched the show!

We headed back to the hostels to bed only to get the worse nights sleep ever the hostel was so noisy and to make matters worse I was not well at all. I went to bed with a headache and woke up a few hours later with cold sweats and a burning temperature. I also had to keep running to the toilet and kept being sick this lasted all night!! In the morning we had to move hostels too and I really dont know how we managed it. Poor Mark had to carry everything including me almost he did really well we wouldnt of been able to do it if it wasnt for him. We arrived at the hostel and Mark went straight to the pharmacy for me. I didnt get better for another 2 days and hadnt kept any food down so Mark decided to call a Doctor. I was quite scared because the hostel worker thought I might have malaria but I knew I couldnt have because we hadnt been in an infected area yet. The hostel were really good we were prepared to pay but they covered the cost and the Dr came to the hostel. He said I had a virus in my digestive system and prescribed me 2 sets of tablets. As soon as I had them I started to feel better and gradually ate a little bit. By Tuesday afternoon I was a little better and we went for a walk to Puerto Madero Buenoa Aires port. We walked by the riverside which was beautiful.

By Wednesday I felt human again, Mark looked after me really well he must have been so bored because we were just stuck in our room however he did have his first McDonalds! Just because I couldnt eat anything or cook anything so he snuck off for a burger bless him!! Our new hostel Ostinatto Hostel Suites was excellent. Much better location and the staff were really friendly everyday they asked me how I was and the facilities were amazing. It was the best hostel we had stayed in we felt really welcome and the price was about 20 pesos a night more than our other hostel which is not even 3 pound.

On Wednesday we headed to Recoleta to see the cemetery. Its a very famous cemetery with high walls surrounding the graves of Argentinas elite, including Evita. We werent sure what to expect from a grave yard but as you can see from the photos its beautiful. Every single grave looks like a marble house its spectacular in some there are several coffins all of the same family buried together in shrine. We had a little walk around the gardens and plaza outside the cemetery and found a little cafe and had a banana milkshake each they were amazing with fresh ice cream in them, very refreshing for a boiling afternoon. We then headed back on the bus a walked around Plaza de Mayo in the centre the plaza backs onto Casa Rosada the famous building where Evita sung from the balcony.

Thursday was the hottest day ever and we needed a swimming pool so we headed out to a place called Parque Norte which has a massive pool. We spent the day there sunbathing and swimming, we cannot tell you how cold the water was but it literally took your breath away when you jumped in it was so good apart from you couldnt stay in there long because your teeth started chattering! I think the Argentinians are used to it though because the children were in the pool for hours it was literally freezing!

On Friday we booked a tour with our hostel to go to Tigre which is about an hour from Buenos Aires. Its on the delta del parana, the river from Buenos Aires and a place to go for a weekend holiday if you live in the city. It has a main plaza with shopes and restaurants but all the holiday homes and hotels are on the river bank. They are all built on stills and all have docks because the only way you can get back to town is by boat, they have supermarket boats that sell food and come and stop at your dock and boat taxis too its really good. The water is fresh water however it looks dirty but it isnt its just because the river was made on a lot of mud so it discolours the water so you can swim in it. We took a catamaran along the river. On the way back we found a noodle bar I had been dying for some noodles so we decided to eat there even Mark ordered some and they came with stir fry vegetables and he ate them!!

Saturday was Marks birthday. We woke up and he opened his presents and cards. I baught him a new wallet another backpackers bracelet because he loves the one he already had so to go with his brazillian one I got him an Argentinian one, some new flip flops with a bit more of a spoungy soul on them for all his trips and falls and a brazillian and argentinian flag to sew onto his backpack. I got a picnic together and we headed to Palermo a district in Buenos Aires. We walked around the Japenese gardens there which are really peaceful and had our picnic. Then headed to the rose gardens for a stroll. The weather was so hot!! At night time we went out to a really nice steak house thanks to Marks mum and dad! Thank you very much from both of us it was so good to eat a proper meal!! We both had the biggest steak each it was tasty! We enjoyed a tango show and singer there too!! We were going to treat ourself to a pudding but we were stuffed so were gunna save that for another time! The waiter braught us out some free champaigne too!!

Now were making our way to Rosario about 5 hours from Buenos Aires. We are working our way up to the top of Argentina now heading towards Bolivia. Buenos Aires is a beautiful city with friendly people and stunning buildings. Ive uploaded our photos but some are sideways I havent figured out how to turn them around yet as everything is in Spanish on the computer but my Spanish is getting good so I should be able to figure it out soon!! Speak to you soon!!