Author: craig_lazarski

 

 

 

As we woke up to our second day in Buenos Aires, Argentina, we were greeted with an interesting situation. After eating breakfast at the hotel, we were informed that the bus was running late due to traffic. The interesting part was that the traffic was the result of protests in Buenos Aires near Casa Rosada, the government building, on the Plaza Mayo. People were protesting because the Argentinian government previously raised the bill on gas, light, and water by 50%, and congress is currently planning to raise the bill by 100%.

 

Despite this small obstacle, we safely got onto the bus and headed to a town called Tigre. We first visited the Naval Museum, where we learned lots of information on Argentina’s history of ships, including the evolution of Argentine boats/ships, as well as their broad spectrum of boats and ships as well. After, we rode a boat on a river near the town to a small island for lunch. The small island was home to a school with students about the same age as us. While waiting for lunch, time was spent throwing around the football and attempting to play fetch with the local dogs.

For lunch, we were treated to authentic Argentine cuisine. First, we had empanadas with beef, which were delicious to say the least. However, this was only to start. Following the empanadas came salad, sausage, steak, ribs, and last but not least, ice cream with peanuts for dessert. While some things were well out of our comfort zone, almost everyone managed to find a few new things that they liked. Our favorite was the empanadas and the ice cream. With our stomachs full from lunch, we needed some things to do with the newly gained energy. Activities included playing indoor soccer, chasing after the local dogs, and wandering around the premises.

After a long afternoon of activities and sports, we headed back to the hotel to recharge, in preparation for the tango dinner. Workout hour was cancelled after an afternoon filled with indoor soccer, but some individuals still hit the gym during the free time. For the final night in Buenos Aires, everyone dressed in fancy attire for a tango show. Prior to the show, we sat down for a nice dinner with many choices on the menu. It wasn’t a buffet, but the choices were not limited at all. From steak and chicken, to pasta and salad, it’s safe to say that there were options for everyone.

Tango is something very typical in Argentina and it was an essential part of our Argentine experience. Originally, tango was only danced by the lower class and upperclassmen only danced waltz. La Boca, the immigrant neighborhood we visited yesterday, was the birthplace of tango. Tango can be danced between a man and a woman, as well as between two men or solo. The performance included singing, guitars, and dancing. Moreover, the music was live, so it really added to the spirit and energy of the show. The show ended around 11:30 pm and by the time we reached the hotel, it was close to midnight. Everyone headed to his or her room for a good night’s rest, which was very much needed after the event-filled day. Tomorrow, we are excited to head to Quilmes to reunite with our exchange students, but for now, we continue to enjoy the sights and places Buenos Aires has to offer.

 

 

After an extensive 5 hour layover in the Newark Liberty International Airport, we were able to board our 10 hour flight from Newark, New Jersey to Buenos Aires, Argentina. During the flight, we were treated with plenty of entertainment to divert us from any agitations. Distractions such as a variety of current and classic movies/tv shows, as well as games such as sudoku and poker, pleased our boredom. We were also treated with a very eloquent dinner which included a choice between chicken or pasta served with crackers & cheese, bread, and a delicious bowl of couscous.  A beautiful sunrise awoke our fatigued bodies as well as a small, but fulfilling breakfast which included a warm croissant with a side of Vanilla yogurt. The flight landed on time around 9 am where we then waited in line to get our passports checked and claim our luggage. After a few unexpected delays, we were finally able to meet our tour group, Laura, who took us to our intimidating double decker tour bus.   As we continued our journey, many were able to take pictures of amazing new sights that were observed on the 35 minute drive through Buenos Aires.    We eventually arrived at our marvelous hotel called “Feir’s Park: Hotel & Rooftop” where we were given “seis minutos” to check into our assigned rooms before returning back to the lobby and heading out for lunch.   The group was gathered and taken to a restaurant in downtown Buenos Aires called “Il Gatto”. We were treated with a choice of main dishes, along with a desert and a choice of drink.  After our delicious and experiential meal, we ventured to “La Boca”, a what was Italian neighborhood and now stands as a marketplace and popular tourist attraction. La Boca is so unique and identifiable by the different colored walls surrounding each place and building. When an old neighborhood, random walls were chosen to be painted with the leftover paint at the end of the day in which this tradition grew into a sporadic and colorful trend. The market aspect provided a very interesting and rewarding experience as many of the artifacts being sold were hand made and crafted. From soft, plush llamas to soccer jerseys and jewelry, there was something for everyone in the beautiful town. Not only this, but we saw many people coming for the Argentina soccer game tonight. La Boca is home to it’s own youth soccer team, Boca Junior, which has many connections to the Argentine national team.     From La Boca, we finally got the chance to rest our feet and shower after the long start to our adventure. With thousands of miles covered, we were all ready to collapse before a big buffet dinner. Workout Hour, led by Carson Baker, was a huge success in building hunger to embrace the “free fork” styled meal. At our dinner, we were met with the glorious discovery that this restaurant had chocolate fondue fountains. But before all that, an amazing main course meal was had with all you can eat, made to order stations that specialized in different types of foods such as Sushi, Pasta, or Meat. The food satisfied the hunger that grew from traveling of both the Pilar and Quilmes groups.    Our night finished with a walk under the lights of a boardwalk that surrounded a nearby river. The lights of the city shimmered and reflected on the water in front of us and the sky above. It was a very beautiful sight that captured the true heart of Buenos Aires. We saw pirate ships, skyscrapers and left all the new construction to our own imaginations. Luckily, dodging a bullet, the rain that was expected all day hit right when we finished our walk. Thunder crackled as the bus doors shut and we drove safe and sound to our hotels. So far, Argentina has been everything we wanted it to be and more. We cannot wait for another way.

We’ve made it to Buenos Aires! As soon as we arrived we hit the ground running and spent all day exploring the city. We are in the good hands of our tour guides and learning all about the culture and history of the city. More details to come soon!