17th December

Above: View from hotel balcony

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Oh I say, I don't believe I packed my high heels and little black number. What shall I wear? We are in civilization once again!

Arrived at the Hotel Marbella feeling a little weary following a night flight from Lima. It seems the world over that airline crew insist in trying to feed you at the most unsociable times, in this case at 2.30am! We are immediately struck by the contrast to Lima. The city has wide avenues and Parisian style architecture, which gives it an immediate European feel. Many of the cars on the road would also probably pass an MOT, except for the omissions part. The pollution of the city, enhanced by temperatures in the 90´s was a little stifling.

We spent four wonderful days exploring the city, mainly on foot.

We took in the following sights:

The parks of Palermo district, including the Botanical Gardens, (home to hundreds of long legged stray cats), and the beautiful Rose Gardens.

Plaza de Mayo - The square famed for it´s political rallies, houses Casa Rosada. It was on a balcony at Casa Rosada that the crowds cheered for Eva Peron (Evita = ´Little Eva´) and appealed for her to take her place as Vice President of Argentina in 1951. This square is still active today with protestors, a sad sign of the troubled times past and present.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dirty_War

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argentine_economic_crisis_(1999-2002)

San Martin Plaza - A very attractive square. We visited the large memorial to Argentinean soldiers killed during the Falklands War.

La Boca - Home of artists and the Boca Juniors (Note for the girls: Boca Juniors are a famous football team, their most famous player being Diego Maradona - I had never heard of them). The area was originally built around the Ria Chuelo, where Italian immigrants were attracted by employment at the thriving shipyards. At the heart of La Boca is Caminito Street. The buildings here and in the surrounding area are formed of sheet metal and painted in vibrant colours. Today the buildings are used as studios by local artists. Tango dancers can be found performing on every street corner.

Puerto Madero - This recently developed area is compared to London Docklands and is full of classy restaurants and bars.

Memories from Buenos Aires:

• Beautiful Parisian architecture (really the English can be thanked for this, as we kindly flattened BA in the 1800´s which made way for the city´s redesign)
• Eating fabulous Freddo´s ice cream in the sunshine
• Tango on the street corners
• Tea and cake, barbqued steak and freshly squeezed orange juice (as you may have guessed, all poundage dropped in Peru has been regained)
• Dog walkers struggling to control up to 10 dogs each - very comical
• Parrots
• Nicely dressed ladies (except for me)
• Turning corner into Plaza de Mayo at middnight and coming face to face with riot police due to 3 day political rally
• The tango show at La Ventana - hours of dance and musical entertainment, stunning frocks, beautiful women and of course, a fabulous rendition of ´Don´t cry for me Argentina´
• The generous Argentinean measures which had us slurring over dinner

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As much as we loved the city and although Hotel Marbella in Buenos Aires was extremely good value for money at 15 pounds a night, I was still very excited about our next stop. Igassu Falls, one of South America´s greatest natural wonders and the Sheraton Igassu Hotel, a man-made wonder of five star luxury. Yipppee.

The Sheraton Hotel is situated inside the national park and has stunning views. Our room overlooked the sub-tropical rainforest and the Garganta del Diablo falls. From the balcony we watched giant toucans (I was beside myself) in nearby trees, vultures, falcons and swifts circling over the falls.

During our three days at the national park we completed the many trails through the rainforest, took a canoe trip along a calm river tributary and enjoyed a thrilling speed boat ride which travelled through rapids before dunking us under the falls. Stunning natural beauty from all angles.

Shame about;
- nasty bats which terrified me circling around the swimming pool at high speed - another romantic evening stroll suggested with Filby ended in disaster :-( ie. me running and screaming, waving imaginary bats out of my hair.

- me thinking we were experiencing an earthquake as I noticed a loud rumbling noise and large windows of hotel restaurant starting to rattle. It was in fact the vibrations of the falls and I was left quite embarassed as the waiter reassured me we werent about to be crushed by the 5 story hotel above us.

- Adam being bitten by a tropical insect which caused his elbow to swell to the size of a tennis ball, and required yet another trip to the doctore. In true efficient South American style, they pulled down his pants, gave him a steroid injection and a course of anti inflammatories. All is well again now.