Buenos Aires, Argentina

Ecobici update: I’ve been suspended from using the service until Wednesday. Thomas messaged me last night and said he was heading back to Holland early, as he has a standby ticket. All flights for the next few days are full, so he was taking what he can rather than be stuck in BA when he should be working (for KLM). Good new is his friend Thomas is back from Mendoza and would like to go to the Ferias de mataderos with me. We arrange to meet at Plaza Italia at noon and catch a bus to the city suburbs when the feria is based every Sunday, in a more traditional neighbourhood. The bus was quicker than I expected, taking around 40minutes for less than 7 pesos! (35p). The fair is billed as a traditional gaucho market, where there is a market, parillas, milonga and horse races. I feel it delivered on the first three but I didn’t see any horse racing or more traditional cowboy type activities. The milonga was great, I loved watching an old gaucho dance in traditional clothes with so much passion for the dance, and lady he was with. Tango is a very expressive and flamboyant dance when it is in a bigger group, a bit like country dancing. We also heard some local bands and singing which seemed to go down well. Wilfred and I had great fun scouring the market for presents he could take back to family in holland. We liked a man making belts, and also there were some very kitch stalls. The stand out winning gift was the lidded pot, crafted from a lemon skin which is destined for his stepmom. It was another sunny day which gave us a thirst for some craft beers, honey beer was very tasty. We also enjoyed some freshly fried empanadas which were delicious. We spent the afternoon here into the evening before catching the bus back to the city. Nice to have explored a new area and had a break from the bustle of the city.