Since the ferry to Buenos Aires didn't leave until 12:00, I had a little time to kill. I found a market and bought a few things. I didn't even know what I was getting, but picked it up anyway. I realized that I did like mate' after all and wanted to buy a mate' cup, but this early in the morning, the vendors were not out yet. So I did buy a couple of bags of mate', which was crazy after all. Just saw it at Island Naturals for pretty reasonable price. 

The Bulquebus ferry back to Buenos Aires was very classy. Its name was Fernando. I wasn't even in first class, and it felt first classy. Highly recommended! There was food to purchase on board, duty free shopping, as well as currency exchange. Seats were comfortable. You had to wear these plastic booties to protect their nice carpet.

And then I was back in Buenos Aires. An area of note, Puerto Madero, is next to the ferry station, so I had planned to spend the rest of the day there, thinking it was a shopping as well as a restaurant area. Although very nice, it really was just a restaurant area. I have a pretty good sense on direction in BA, I think it's because I purchased a map earlier. I knew that we were near the heart of the city, where there was shopping. I went looking for a mate' cup, but never did find one. I did find a place to shop though, the Galerias Pacifico, famous for their ceiling paintings, and also in the Christmas spirit already. 

I did not have enough time to have a steak dinner before I had to get to the airport, so I had some ceviche, back at Puerto Madero. It also came with a mushroom "relish" and bread, while I waited. And so, after getting to the airport via the company of a very nice cab driver who loved American music from the 70s,  I said Ciao to South America. And Gracias. With Hope that I will return someday.

When I went to Ciudad Vieja on a Sunday, I felt lost. It seemed abandoned. A few places were open, like the Teatro Solis, but there were so few people on the street that I was disappointed. What a difference it made to go there the next day, on a Monday. It was bustling, compared to the day before, but there were pockets of emptiness, especially around the Puerto del Mercado. 

After spending the morning in Colonia, took a bus to Montevideo through the Uruguayan countryside. Lots of open space and agricultural activity. Arrived in Montevideo around 5 in the afternoon (a 3 hour bus ride), and decided to walk around the area. 

One of the sights and things to do in Colonia is climb the Lighthouse, El Faro. It was one of those pyramid things, a physical challenge that brings you to a stunning view. If I did nothing else, I knew I would have to do this.

While I was having my cafe' and media lunas, right by the restaurant I was at last night, beside me there was the sound of percussion and then I saw a woman and man dancing in period costume. Wow, that was a treat. 

Other sights that day. Very nice, quaint town.

Getting to Uruguay from Buenos Aires is so easy, only an hour on the ferry. When you check in, they put you through a very easy immigration procedure. We took the ferry to Colonia. Not only is it a closer point than Montevideo, and therefore a shorter ride, it is more importantly a UNESCO world heritage site. 

We took a 3:00 pm ferry to Colonia, Uruguay, so we had the day in Buenos Aires. This really cute cafe, En El Nombre de Postre, was right around the corner. How's this for breakfast? Media lunas and macaroons. 

On to Uruguay!

We had found out that on Thursdays, the Madres and Abuellas of the Plaza de Mayo hold a march to continue to call attention to injustices at home and in other places in the world. The week before, it was in the news that they called attention to the "disappearances" of the student teachers in Mexico.

As I mentioned in my previous post, we were given Guillermo's name by a Honolulu tango enthusiast as someone we should look up in La Boca. We were so glad that we did. One tango lesson, and we're hooked.

I took these photos of street art that was on our route to the subway station. One of the first impressions I had of Buenos Aires was how much graffiti was everywhere, but I got used to it after a while. But I do believe it is a sign of some social unrest that has yet to be resolved. I love how these paintings cover up some of the graffiti. Like saying, there's better ways, people. I heard there is a tour of BA street art. If I ever go back, I want to take that tour. 

One of the "must-sees" seems to be the Recoleta Cemetery, where Evita's crypt can be found. 

Instead, we went to a modern shopping center called the Alto Palermo. I didn't buy much, but did find this CD called Memphis La Blusera, which the cab driver from the night before was playing. I liked it and asked about it.

We returned to La Manger, the tapas place we had found on the first day. Later, on our walk back to our apartment, we found this place, Simplemente Palermo. The waiter there was raised in Orlando Florida, was Columbian, and spoke perfect English. We weren't that hungry, but really had to use the bano. So we just had this snack of empanadas, with some wine, of course.