Family Flies In

Around 13:00 the doorbell rings and Gerda, Jerome and Ludmila are downstairs in the lobby having arrived from Sydney. They are all in good shape having had a good flight after being upgraded to premium economy.

They clean themselves up and we head out for a walk and lunch. We went back to where Mish and I had lunch after he arrived. Apart from the banana pancake which was great, the food was quite ordinary - but fantastic compared to the humourless waiter whose service, like Arturo yesterday, warranted the "zero" tip.

We headed back to the apartment where everybody had a siesta. At around 19:00 I started cooking dinner. It comprised two pieces of beef, one of which was great and the second which we think might have been silverside - not so good. After a lot of computer catch up, skype calls around the world and talking etc. it was off to bed.

Next morning Danielle and I went for an hour walk including Starbucks and on our return to the apartment we headed off for the Recoleta church and very unique cemetery which includes the mausoleum of Eva Perron.

Mexican lunch at the Buller Micro Brewery really hit the spot and finally a waiter deserving of a good tip. The ladies enjoyed the 6x100 beer sampler with the honey beer being a big hit.

Back to the apartment to be picked up for our city tour. Last pickup at 14:45 Danielle was told - guess what, first pickup at 15:00 we continue collecting people until the 46 seat bus was full but we had good seats - for the collection anyway. As we were ready to hit off they decided to move the six of us to another bus on the last six shitty seats including one next to the toilet which could only see out of one side of the bus.

After we kicked off Gerda marched down the front of the bus to tell the guide who was doing the commentary in Spanish and English that she was speaking at such a pace that nobody could understand what she said. Guess what - didn't help.

The tour was effectively a familiarity tour taking in the various districts, a stop at Boca Juniors Stadium and an art market. Anyway very interesting. At the end of the tour Gerda was taken back to the apartment while we stopped to look for a New Year's Eve restaurant with a show but the prices were pretty high so we deferred a decision until, well New Year's Eve.

We moved on to the main shopping district where we had a light dinner in the food court of the Galleria Pacifico - Sushi for Danielle and I and meat grill for the other Sterns. A quick shop and back to the apartment where I sit now.

The weather has been great quite warm (27-30) but without humidity it been very pleasant indeed.

A few photos and more soon

XD

Mooching Domingo

Sunday morning and Danielle drags me out for a one hour walk to Starbucks and some small shopping on the way back - remembering the Rose for Jerome and Ludmila. A quick shower and off to the Cafe Tortoni (to meet the Rothmans) - the oldest cafe in Buenos Aires (1858) - Think Pargagon at Katoomba.

Was not the easiest menu to negotiate especially with the Rothmans being Kosher - eliminating about half of what was available. Anyway after resolving not to leave Arturo the most humourless waiter imaginable a tip we catch two taxis to the San Telmo antique market.

There were some nice shops with antuique silver as well as many street stalls with arts, crafts and paintings. However having just spent an eterbity decluttering I resisted the urge to buy anything.

We then moved on to the Palermo markets again nioce stores and street vendors and the only thing that took my eye was a gelato and bloody good at that. Back to the apartment where everybody had a sleep for a few hours followed by dinner of leftover beef fillet and chicken - where are the dogs when you need them.

I went for a lengthy walk at 23:00 - amazing how everything is alive and open at that time.

This morning Danz and Mish went to Qantas to try and fix their tickets but I got an SMS that it was a bust whatever that means. I went and did a last minute shopping as I intend to make dinner this evening.

Enough from me

Love to all

David XX

Sleepy Day and Danz

Mish was asleep at midday and having been awake since 02:00 I decided to lie down on the bed. When I finally got up at 15:30 Mish was sitting there all ready to do something. So with only 4 hours till Danz arrived we went to the......Buenos Aires Casino. No don't think an elegant gambliung saloon with men dressed in white suits smoking Havana cigars - think a verkukter Paddle Steamer converted to a casino. Anyway I played Blackjack and lost a few dollars while Mish won $40 so all was good.

We decided to have a small meal at a Patagonian cafe at Port Madera near the casino. Now I need to report that Patagonian cuisine consists of.....pizza, gnocchi, french fries and agua con or sin gaz.

We hopped in a taxi and I hit one of my most disliked parts of travelling - hiring a taxi driver assuming he will know where to take you and having you ask for directions - GRRR! Anyway found our way to the supermercado as Danielle ordered Vino Tinto with her dinner which I planned to cook for her. While buying the wine I got an SMS that she was in the lobby so I left Mish to finish the shopping and raced the 3 blocks to the apartment. Danielle has managed to get the Concierge to let her in. Turns out that she got the boat back from Colonia in Uruguay where she met the Rothmans at the luggage carousel getting off the boat and brought them back to the apartment for some Vino Tinto.

When they left I cooked a fillet of beef for dinner which Danz and Mish enjoyed. I am sitting here now exchanging stories with Danielle.

Tomorrow we are meeting the Rothmans at the cafe Torlino (founded in 1858) and then to the San Telmo markets for a mooch.

Anyway enough for now

XD

Hiya Neph!

As is normal with travel these days nephew Michael's plane is 40 minutes late and he rocks up tio the apartment at 13:10. I hear a knocking at the maid's entrance - back service stairs and there he is - seemed strange he didn't get the lift but you have to understand that the lift has one automatic door and one manual one and when the manual one is open there is a shrill alarm to remind you to close it. I think he was nervous about this sound. Anyway all's well.

He cleans himself up and we wander to a nearby cafe where he has a hamburger and I have a banana pancake - which was great as the banana was glazed on top - can't describe it but was awesomely good - I am thinking Gerda about it. Anyway a mild surprise at the cafe each item had a price for inside (salon) and another (about 20% more) for the outside - weird no?

Anyway we then start our Grand Marche - a three hour walk down towards Av 9th July - widest street in the world with 9 lanes in each direction - down to the Pacifico Galeria and about 2km long street with shops. The shops seem to revolve around leather and cashmere with a whole lot of others to boot. Great if one was in the mood to buy clothes - which I am absolutely not after counting around 20 polo shirts unopened in my drawers to match the XX unworn pairs of shoes. I am sure however that I will sucuumb before we leave.

After three hours of walking and only buy things for Mish and some poker chips for playing cards on the cruise we get a tax back to near the apartment. We stop at the Disco - no we didn't go dancing that is the name of the supermarket chain - and bought various supplies including some food for dinner.

However when we got back to the apartment both Mish and I fell asleep (19:30) so dinner is now officially leftovers - a BBQ chicken and salads. I woke again at 23:00 to find Mish pecking away at this computer. So here I am headed off back to bed.

For those in transit the weather is 30 degrees warm and sunny and expected to continue so.

Love to all
XD

Navidad in BA

I woke very early on XMas morning, 02:00 to be exact and not a sign of Santa Claus anywhere. I mooched, fiddled, computed, watched and amused myself till 07:30 when I decided to go for a long walk. I found 2 cafes open at Avenida Santa Fe and had a coffee (that's what they called it) and fired eggs. Fortunately they had wi-fi internet so I could read the New York Times on my IPhone rather than the Hola (Hello in Spanish) magazine they had lying around. Anyway only bad news in the newspapers these days. The cafes could easily have passed for Parisian brasseries.

I continued my walk till around 11:00am and discovered that:

• all items in shop windows have prices which makes window shopping kinda fun
• there are nearly as many beauty salons and mani/pedicurists in Recoleta as Double Bay
• prices seem to be on par with Sydney but we are staying in the most expensive part of town so that is to be expected
• don't order Schnitzel - I think made with beef and not so great
• food doesn't seem great but not too bad
• the architecture in the area is very interesting - clearly modeled on Paris
• I thought the area was very safe until I saw a security guard at McDonalds
• there are many antique, furniture, manchester and similar shops in the area
• I found Burger King which forntunately doesn't sell my favoutite fast food - deep fried chili cheese balls
• Starbucks do serve consistently good coffee

Anyway the weather is sensational hovering around 30 degrees and sunny which is the forecast for the next 5 days.

This morning I woke at 02:00 and decided to take a sleeping pill which did the tricks then sleeping till 09:00. At 10:00 the agent called around for the rent - in cash surprise surprise but was happy with Euros and $US which worked well for me - but I did get a receipt.

I have reports from the 'hood' that the dogs are well going for two big runs in the park and two short walks each day - shit! more than I do. Their diet is going well (poor things) and after barking in the middle of the night even slept on Espen's bed who now reports to being their best friend as they follow him around everywhere.

Well MIsh will be here soon so I better get showered and dressed. Hope everybody has a good day and that those of you who went Saleing today bagged a few bargains.

Love to all
XD

First Day - Staying Awake

Well got to the apartment at around 11:45 and unpacked and settled in setting up my wireless network in the apartment. Went out for a walk and discovered:

• this place has the beauty and charm of Paris without the obvious disadvantage of Paris
• we must be staying in a good part of town as we are near Ferragamo, Armani, Nespresso, Chanel and heaps of other couture labels
• the local gelateria which although good doesn't come near the Lody Shop in Krakow.
• a gathering of restaurants adjoining the park
• the supermarket where I spent 180 pesos ($A90) on what even now I don't know what. Basically imported expensive local overpriced.

By the way don't know if I put it in my first post but I need to renew my vows - not to change money at the airport - no matter how small the amount is. ATMs are the way to go.

So two long walks have kept me awake so I'll test my theories on jetlag. It's now 20:30 so bed is a good option so I can celebrate Navidad tomorrow - maybe watching some movies and going for another lengthy walk.

Espen reports: "Everything is good here. Telstra fixed the phone line so the alarm is ok now. The front gate got stuck, but Helen managed to repair that. (I was very impressed) The dogs are fine Ziggy was barking alot last night, so I took him and Georgie into bed with me that shut them up. Took them running in Moore park (Ziggi is a poo monster by the way) - sleeping with dogs - hope he doesn't get fleas.

Love to all
David

Hola Buenos Aires

The dogs certainly knew I was leaving as when I took the luggage to the car they jumped in the boot and refused to get out. Also when I left I had to go back to get something (only my glasses) and they were standing downstairs at the garage door. They will be in good hands as even Espen has become quite attached.

Bailey is following his new diet – basically 40%-50% of what he used to eat – same with Puppies but around 60%. Surprise surprise no food gets thrown out. Probably be easier for the Erichsens to keep them on their new regime. Opening weights were 8.6kgs 11.6kgs and 15.4kgs – I will report on my return. The vet (Robert Krochmalik’s brother) confirms that there is not a flea to be found and that all their scratching and they do this nonstop seems to be an allergy. He has taken away all treats, chocolates and any food other than meat and chicken wings tot try and narrow down the cause of the allergy. Doesn’t seem to have helped so far but here’s hoping. For the past 3 weeks I have taken longer walks in the mornings hoping this also helps the dogs (and me).

Arrived at the airport no dramas - till I had to deal with customs that is. Last time I travelled you went to the office landlside showed your goods and then put them through with your baggage. This time all small items must be taken on board the flight so loaded with 3 computers a camera, flash and video camera I boarded the flight.

At the airport I ran into Stephen and Sandra Rothman, parents of Danielle’s best friend Sasha, and we will have a meal with them in BA which will be great as they are very nice people. They are also staying in Recoleta in a hotel.

It was quite empty and I had four seats to myself. Not only that the row was long enough for me to lie flat and still have 6 inces to spare (15cms for the youngies). Anyway I didnt sleep but did manage to watch 11 episodes (506 minutes of The Bill).

Being the considerate person that I am I bought two bottles of Vodka from the inflight duty free - just what I needed to add to 3 computers two cameras and a flash. When the steward came to deliver it he askled me if I was Jewish. Turns out he is from Uruguay and his parent came from Ukraine and Latvia in the 1920's. He told me about a very storng Jewish community in Argentina and Uruguay.

With hard economic times I decided I would negotiate for a taxi. 98 pesos ($A45) official rate but our hero managed to negotiate $A38. NEVER AGAIN. I was a little concerned when I got into the taxi which looks like it had been used in some James Bond movies - blown up that is. The door knobs were missing, the front passanger seat was broken half way down and dnagled on my knees as we sped (see later) along. When the taxi looked like ti was doing 150kms on the 130km freeway the driver put on his seatbelt - a disturbing sign in itself - until I reached for mine only to fine a frayed piece of seat belt 15cms long with no buckle. Oh an I couldn't really tell how fast he was going as the speedo only registered zero kms.

I must say I can now see why South America has produced so many top racing drivers.

Anyway arrived at the apartment which is excellent. Slightly sixties style with parquet floors and older style but not old furniture. Lots of air-conditioning, nice kitchen and quite good facilities. I have the internet working and hence the blog.

Anyway enough for now
Love to all
David