Dave and his Bike

Days 203 to 206.

Day 203.

A good sleep and a lie-in after yesterday’s early start was really nice. Late-ish breakfast at 0900hrs before getting started with my tasks for the day, or actually the single task I had.

Dismantling and packing my bike took a couple of hours. I haven’t sealed the box up yet as I think I may look for some more padding for it. When I’d finished it was lunchtime, so I had a walk down to the Plaza de Congreso, bought a couple of empanadas and a bottle of water, then sat in the sun and had lunch. I walked back to the hotel via the supermarket where I picked up a cheap sandwich for later. I’ve got to a point where I don’t want to go to a restaurant every night, for both calorie and financial reasons. Plus tomorrow evening will be both calorific and expensive.

By the time I got back to the hotel it was about 1500hrs, so I duly fell asleep. I’m still tired from yesterday’s lack of sleep and early start. Feeble excuse. When I woke up it was time to ring Jane, then Lottie rang.

So pretty much a lazy and reasonably boring day. And again no photos. I’ll maybe make more effort tomorrow. Or not.

Day 204.

The early night last night meant an early morning this morning. After breakfast I finished packing my bike with a bit of extra cardboard and my helmet as padding. The helmet is cracked in several places, so is destined for the bin as soon as I get to Madrid and Jane brings me another one, so using it to protect my bike is it’s last job.

I then ventured back out onto the streets on Buenos Aires. With nothing particular in mind, just exercise and fresh air, I walked down to the Plaza de Mayo, where by coincidence there was a military parade taking place. I’m not sure what it was for, and Google didn’t really help. I know it was ‘Malvinas Day’ on Wednesday (good time to have been out of the country), so it may have been something to do with that. I didn’t ask the locals as I didn’t really want to get into a conversation about that particular subject. The marching band was good all the same.

Once the parade was over I walked a circuit around the city centre, bought a sandwich for lunch and ended up back at the hotel. The majority of the afternoon was spent resting and relaxing before my evening out.

At 1930hrs I was collected by taxi and taken to the Mansion Tango, having booked a package through the hotel. Theatre itself is impressive both outside and in.

The package included drinks and dinner, so rather predictably I had a steak, preceded by a vegetable melange, followed by a chocolate mousse. All accompanied by a plentiful supply of Malbec and sparkling water. I can’t remember the last time I had a three course meal. Since drinks were included all night I had to continually refuse refills of wine, which im not partial to without food. I’d had plenty anyway.

The tango show itself was great, and included a rendition of Don’t Cry For Me Argentina in Spanish. Dancers, singers and musicians alike seemed to be enjoying themselves, and the atmospheric location made for a brilliant experience all round. I don’t think that there’s anywhere better to have seen a tango show than Buenos Aires.

Day 205.

Late up due to the time I went to bed after the show last night. Leisurely breakfast then out walking again. Today’s project was the Recoleta Cemetery.

It has been another sunny day in Buenos Aires, so the 2.8km walk to Recoleta was nice, if chilly in the shade. I paid the fee to go in, and strolled around the impressive, architect designed family mausoleums. Some people really do want to be remembered, and must pay an extortionate amount of money to be buried in style.

Not knowing any of the names (other than one) on the brochure accompanying their plot numbers, I admired the architecture and enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere of the place. The one name I did know was Maria Eva Duarte – aka Eva Perón. She was interred in her family mausoleum, not her husband’s for some reason. Something of a Princess Diana of her day, due to her popularity she was buried 5m underground to deter grave robbers.

One thing that I did notice which I think is different to European traditions, many of the small buildings just contain wooden coffins on display, not encased in any form of tomb, and clearly visible to the public.

After an hour of getting lost amongst the departed, I found my way back out into the land of the living, had a coffee and strolled around the adjacent market. Similar to the one I went to last weekend, it was full of art, jewellery, and tourist stuff. Not only is it adjacent to the tourist ‘attraction’ of the cemetery, but is also nearer to the cruise ship dock. Am I being cynical? It was nice though, and forced me to walk further, ending up near to the National Museum of Fine Art and an impressive university building, accessible by walking across a ‘rainbow bridge’.

My walk back took me again to the obelisk en-route to my hotel, where I rested my weary feet for a bit. Having seemingly overlooked lunch, I had dinner slightly earlier back at my usual restaurant. A final massive Milanese (and a beer) before leaving South America tomorrow.

Tomorrow is a travel day – sort of. My flight is not until 2355hrs, so I’ve got plenty of time to kill during the day. The hotel staff are happy for me to leave my boxed bike and luggage here whilst I occupy myself somehow, and rather helpfully have arranged a van to get my bike to the airport, since there are no Uber XL vehicles here at all. More expensive, but needs must.

Day 206.

What to do today… I always find it difficult to find something to do when I’m flying later in the day. With my flight being so late in the evening, and having to check out of the hotel by 1000hrs, I’ve got plenty of time to spare.

So a leisurely breakfast started my day. Followed by a bit of lounging around, a conversation with the concierge, and an extension to my check out time. Partly because it’s was going to rain on-and-off throughout the afternoon. I then thought a walk was probably in order, and having remembered that I was going to get a haircut set out to find a barbers that was open. Most weren’t, but I only needed the one that was. A very reasonably priced short back and sides later and I was on my way (albeit a circuitous route) back to the hotel.

A second foray out dodging the showers for a final empanada lunch, and to find a bookshop with English books, was all I managed until my final pack. Due to the rain, the traffic was worse than usual, so I brought forward my taxi time, and left the hotel at 1745. It took over an hour to cover the 30km to the airport, even with a bit of hair-raising taxi shenanigans.

Checking in, paying for extra legroom, and depositing my bike with the oversized luggage crew couldn’t have been easier, or the staff more helpful. I was therefore soon through to the departure lounge and looking for some sustenance. There wasn’t much (affordable) choice. Junk food won, unfortunately.

I had managed to buy a book earlier, and passed a couple of hours reading and people watching – always fun at airports.

As much as I grumbled at times about the landscape, terrain and headwinds, I am going to miss Argentina and its people – actually South America in general. It has been a fantastic experience.