Buenos Aires
The city of good airs
Floralis Generica Sculpture in Un Plaza, Recoleta
Buenos Aires is only 6,451 miles from San Francisco,
as the crow flies. Or a 13 hour and 30 minute flight.
It's a longish trip as these things go, but it is sure
worth the effort. A good way to reduce the stress of the
journey is to make a stop-over in Florida; there you can
soak up some sun on your way to the city of good airs.
The
Wilton hotel (yes the Wilton not the Hilton) is a
quick taxi ride from the Buenos Aires airport. You"ll be
tucked away and
dreaming of electric sheep before you can say blade
runner. The Wilton is neither a great hotel nor a bad
one; it is clean, safe, and very central. You"ll be able
to enjoy to the sounds of Buenos Aires city traffic
through your open window as you drift off to sleep.
If you have a longer stay in mind (recommended) then
consider an apartment in Palermo Hollywood. Palermo
Hollywood is a suburb of Buenos Aires and it takes its
name from all of the movie, TV, and radio production
companies in the area not to mention the numerous actors
that live there. The neighborhoods will remind you of
many San Francisco neighborhoods, only with very uneven
sidewalks, a trademark of Buenos Aires.
The food in the city of good airs is delicious and
inexpensive. For $20 US you"ll gulp down a gourmet lunch
for two that will consist of a first, a main, sparkling
water, and three glasses of wine! There are many local
neighborhood restaurants to choose from, so you will
find something you like. However, be prepared to eat
dinner late, as it is the custom there not to start
dinner until around 10:00pm.
The Buenos Aires Botanical Garden near the
zoo is positively worth a walk around. It is filled
with native plants and the zoo next door is filled with
native fauna. Of course just walking around the downtown
is a terrific experience too. Tour the city center and
do some clothes shopping there is generally a good
exchange rate between the US dollar and the Argentine
Peso. Buenos Aires is famous for ladies "tango" shoes.
These are stiletto heeled shoes that are claimed to be
extremely comfortable to wear; even while dancing the
tango.
No trip to Buenos Aires would be complete without
visiting Florida Street in the city center. It is a long
pedestrian mall filled with activity and shopping and
the famous tango street performers, very entertaining.