(Buenos Aires) Lessons Learned

We learned a lot about Buenos Aires today.

1. The portenos are an honest bunch. I left about 50 pesos at a Subte ticket office only to have an employee call me back to collect it. And while at a bar watching the River Plate game, we had unknowingly been participating in happy hour and two waitresses made sure that we got the extra free drinks that we were entitled to. I do not blame the city for the little kid who tried to hustle us for our fruit purchase tonight.

2. This city loves, LOVES, Sunday markets. Around noon (thanks hangover) we went south of downtown to San Telmo and first visited Coffee Town for recommended but expensive coffee.  Set within an indoor market, we assumed that was the San Telmo market we had heard about.  That was until we walked outside and found a market stretching at least one mile down a closed street, replete with food stands, clothes, barbeque, drinks, bands, social clubs and on and on. After making our way through the market, we went north of downtown to Palermo where we once more encountered large outdoor markets on all public spaces, and once again enjoyed a nice cafe (despite Amanda's reluctance to be photographed).

3. This city is oddly obsessed with the Rolling Stones. It's odd because Argentina and the UK have a very uneasy relationship, and the Stones are old. But that doesn't seem to matter. You don't have to look too haed to find t-shirts emblazoned with Mick Jagger's face (including our host's), to hear cover bands at markets or to hear them on the radio.

4. Make the effort to get soccer tickets, despite what you are told. We were repeatedly told by River Plate fans that they were so popular it was simply impossible to get a ticket. We doubted this, but nonetheless let their puffed chests prevent us from making the trip to the stadium. It was not until we starting watching their match in a bar not too far from "El Monumental" and saw the open seats that we realized our mistake. Not unrelated, we are Boca Junior fans now.

5. Don't book a 6:20am flight. What the he'll was I thinking? And I am sure the wine I am drinking right now will only make that decision more painful. Let's hope our Spanish was accurate enough and the cab arrives at 4:20 as we hope!