Buenos Aires (+ Uruguay)

With the Patagonia trip over, it was back to Buenos Aires for a couple of days between tours. I expected a bit more from Buenos Aires, but there wasn't all that much to see. I suppose when the number one tourist attraction is a cemetary (where Evita is buried) I guess that says a lot about the tourist attractions on offer. Anyhow, BA just reminded me very much of Madrid, but a bit more run down. Probably a great place to live, but not a tourist highlight. I did do the obligatory tango show, with a 30-minute tango lesson included.

And I managed to get a couple of photos. Of the Argentina Congress building (modelled on the American equivalent)


The "Pink House" (i.e. the presidential residence)

And the Obelisk...

In Buenos Aires, I met the new group (almost all 20-25 year olds!) and we left for Uruguay, where I apparently managed to spend 6 days without taking a single photo. Colonia was a nice town, just across the Rio Plata from Buenos Aires. Montevideo didn't have much to offer.

And I spent my birthday on a ranch in the middle of nowhere. (northern Uruguay, half way between Argentina and Brazil) It was quite interesting to be involved with herding cattle and sheep, although I am still feeling the pain in various parts of my lower body!!! And great food... but I don't think I'll be leaving the city to become a full-time "gaucho".

Finally, there was a 23-hour journey... from the ranch to the Argentine border in a truck... taxis from the border to the bus station... a 14-hour bus journey to the Argentine side of Iguassu Falls... another minibus to the Brazilian border, with another minibus waiting on the other side to take us to the hotel. Thankfully our rooms were ready and it was time for a shower!!!!