The streets of Buenos Aires

I'm not quite sure what I expected but not the city we encountered . It is very sophisticated, clean, tidy and organized. The streets are tree lined with very mature trees providing good shade and relief from the heat. There are large trees with large vibrant pink flowers everywhere, these are the national flower. Quite European in places but also like most large cities in the commercial area it was like every where else and familiar. I feel safe and walking is easy. There are a few, but not many people living on the street and a few beggars but not noticeable and certainly not anything to be alarmed about. Cars stop for pedestrians no one seems to jay walk, the traffic is orderly. The streets are very clean, cleaner than Melbourne. The streets all have massive bins, apartment living in an old city means no place for garbage bins, residents bring their rubbish down and put it in these bins. The city is very walkable, wide footpaths generally in good condition, there are bike tracks some with concrete barriers. Quite a few people seem to ride. The temperature was around 30o with a nice breeze. An easy walk, the city, at least here, is flat.

We are up early even though our bodies think it's 1 am. I am really hungry, the last food we had was breakfast on the plane before we landed in Santiago. Bob, searches for the best cafes near us, I suspect he was looking for the best coffee rather than food. It's close by but with a limited breakfast menu. They had one gluten free option (grateful they had one) it was toast and jam served strangely with whipped cream rather than butter. They even had vegan dishes on the menu which was a bit of a surprise. At this hour many people are up and walking dogs, lots of daschunds. Most people live in apartments so of course so do their pets. People are better at picking up after their dogs so few hazards to watch for. Many dogs are walked off lead but well controlled.

We tried to pick up a prepaid SIM with data at the airport but alas that was not to be, we got the SIM but buying data was another issue. The first task of the morning was to find a place where we could get the SIM charged. That involved a significant walk. It's Saturday and a lot of the small places that would do this are closed. Finally found a place but Bob had to have his picture taken holding his passport. We now have data. Important when roaming the streets with no language. Google maps wonderful.

Next on our list was to find a supermarket. There are tiny stores all over this part of town. Small 'hole in the wall' shops, even the vet clinic seemed small and hidden. What we needed was a box of tissues. I couldn't find any in the smaller places but there is a large supermarket nearby. No luck there, have to assume the streets are clean because you just can't buy the things that cause litter. No plastic bags either.

What strikes me in new places and maybe it's just that I'm looking at everything is just how beautifully food is set out in shop windows. Not just cakes as in the window of the shop next door but also in small cafes and the green grocer. They seem to take so much care to entice you in.

Eating options are plentiful. Dinner is in a somewhat up market restaurant with beautiful decorations, like so much of this city the walls are art in themselves. Food was very good and so was the Malbec and grappa.Read more