Buenos Aires Day 222 28/04/2015

We were up at 0630 as our taxi was picking us up at 0715 for the short drive to the airport for our flight to Buenos Aires via El Calafate. Our hosts had kindly left out some breakfast things but we couldn't manage more than a cup of tea at that time in the morning. The people who owned the b&b were very friendly and helpful and they spoke really good English which was really useful (didn't help Simon who is desperately trying to learn enough Spanish to be able to be of use when we get into the less touristy areas of South America later on in our trip). They were busy packing up to go and live in the centre of Argentina, near La Roija for the next 5 months. They said they love Ushuaia but after being here for 32 years decided that they would spend winter in a warmer and lighter climate (and 2 of there 3 sons live near the area). They were leaving the next day and were still in the throes of what to take, what to leave and trying to pack it all into their car for the 2500km journey north! Our flight left on time at 0910, the runway jutting out into the Beagle Channel. Unfortunately low clouds meant we didn't get many views as we climbed, however an hour later as we fly over El Calafate the skies cleared to give us a great view of the Andes and we tried to guess which peaks were Fitzroy and Cerro Torro. We didn't really recognise the town from the air, not surprising noting it must have changed so much in the last 12 years when we were here last. We touched down smoothly and after the plane filled up with embarking passengers, we were in the air 30 minutes later. The onward flight to Buenos Aires was only 2.5 hours and we arrived at the domestic airport, Jorge Newbury just after 1400. It was nice not to have go through immigration and within 30 minutes we had our bags and, deciding not to take the expensive taxis, got the airport bus into town. We recognised some of the sights of the city on the way in and after been dropped off near the centre walked the 17 blocks to our hostel, America del Sur, in the San Telmo district. Quickly checking in we walked half a dozen more blocks to have late lunch at the famous Es Desinivel cafe. Back at the hostel we decided we would save a few quid the next day and go on the free walking tour. The savings were used to pay for the following nights entertainment of dinner and Tango show. Whilst we had seen one before in BA it was on the 'must do' list as it really is a fantastic spectacle. We had dinner nearby at a local 'parrilla' Simon having a bife de chorizo and Diane homemade pasta with a small bottle of Malbec (it would be rude not to drink our favourite grape in its country of origin especially with steak and pasta - well that's our excuse anyway!!).