Since our flight is not leaving until 11:00 pm, we had time to tour most of the day. We struck out into the main part of town, attempting to visit the Presidential Palace. I guess the President didn't hear we were coming because she decided to stay at home today which meant it is not open to the public. The museum was also closed because it's Monday.
We did find the shopping street, Florida, bustling with activity. There trip had not had many shopping opportunities, so it seems fitting to get a little retail therapy in our last few hours here. While not formal, the BAers seem to have a pretty good fashion sense which translates to some nice clothing shops. Adjacent to Florida Street is a large mall similar to what you might find at home. Still decorated for Christmas, we were treated to large tree adorned with Swarvaaski crystal stars that was quite stunning. After browsing around the shops and grabbing lunch in the food court (they serve charcoal cooked steaks here, so pretty good fare) we headed back to our hotel for one more shower before departing for the airport.
We had been warned that BA traffic can be horrific, so we left with plenty (7 hours enough for you???) time to relax before our flight. Because Argentina airport security is a little more lax than what we have in the US, additional screening will be done before boarding our flight.
Some advice if you're planning a trip to BA. First, bring lots of US cash since you can get a much better exchange rate (12 pesos to the dollar versus the standard 8) at the 'blue' locations (your hotel can direct you) which can make your trip much more reasonable. Bring fashionable but not fancy closthes with you. It's hot in the summer, so dress to keep cool and bring plenty of sunscreen. Despite being told how unsafe it can be, we did not find it to be any worse than other large cities. Try the beef - it's what they're known for. Likewise, try the mate just to say you did. Build in an afternoon siesta. Some of the shops close in the afternoon and the city doesn't really get into full swing until after 9 pm. Plan on 2 hours for any meal with table service.
Most of all, enjoy this bustling southern city. The people are friendly, the skies are blue and the exchange rate makes it a very reasonable vacation.
Next: Who knows, but if I'm on the road, there's sure to be a blog.
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We did find the shopping street, Florida, bustling with activity. There trip had not had many shopping opportunities, so it seems fitting to get a little retail therapy in our last few hours here. While not formal, the BAers seem to have a pretty good fashion sense which translates to some nice clothing shops. Adjacent to Florida Street is a large mall similar to what you might find at home. Still decorated for Christmas, we were treated to large tree adorned with Swarvaaski crystal stars that was quite stunning. After browsing around the shops and grabbing lunch in the food court (they serve charcoal cooked steaks here, so pretty good fare) we headed back to our hotel for one more shower before departing for the airport.
We had been warned that BA traffic can be horrific, so we left with plenty (7 hours enough for you???) time to relax before our flight. Because Argentina airport security is a little more lax than what we have in the US, additional screening will be done before boarding our flight.
Some advice if you're planning a trip to BA. First, bring lots of US cash since you can get a much better exchange rate (12 pesos to the dollar versus the standard 8) at the 'blue' locations (your hotel can direct you) which can make your trip much more reasonable. Bring fashionable but not fancy closthes with you. It's hot in the summer, so dress to keep cool and bring plenty of sunscreen. Despite being told how unsafe it can be, we did not find it to be any worse than other large cities. Try the beef - it's what they're known for. Likewise, try the mate just to say you did. Build in an afternoon siesta. Some of the shops close in the afternoon and the city doesn't really get into full swing until after 9 pm. Plan on 2 hours for any meal with table service.
Most of all, enjoy this bustling southern city. The people are friendly, the skies are blue and the exchange rate makes it a very reasonable vacation.
Next: Who knows, but if I'm on the road, there's sure to be a blog.
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