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I woke up at 8:15 AM and was ready to head out by 9:15 AM. I paid up for my 2 night stay - 900 pesos (close to US$45) and took a taxi to the Ferry terminal. The short ride cost me 40 pesos (US$2). For the first time during my 6-day stay in Uruguay, it was bright and sunny - and I depart in less than an hour! All I can hope is that the same sunny and bright weather will continue in Buenos Aires as well.
As the Taxi was not allowed to enter the port area, I had to get off at the entrance and walk 30o-metres or so. I am so glad I purchase this wonderful duffel bag in the US before my departure. It is quite rugged, has excellent wheels and can pretty much go anywhere. The check-in was quite easy. There was no security check. I completed my Immigration formalities (Uruguayan exit and Argentinean entry) here. I boarded the ferry around 9:50 AM and it departed for Buenos Aires around 10:20 AM. The ferry did not appear crowded.
The ride was uneventful. The waters were quite muddy.
March 8, 2008 - Buenos Aires, Argentina
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We reached Buenos Aires in an hour. I had to wait 15-minutes to get taxi. It cost me 8 pesos (US$3 approx) for the ride. I was staying at Hotel Marbella (yet again) for a night. I got a room in a different floor this time.
After checking-in, my first order of business was to collect my long overdue laundry. I heaved a sign of relief upon picking it up. It was turning out to be a nice sunny day. I walked to the Palacio del Congress and Casa Rosada and took pictures (just wanted some nicer pictures as the ones I had shot earlier were taken during cloudy and rainy days). I had breakfast (rather lunch) at Cafe Tortoni. I wanted to visit Cafe Ideal (another historic cafe) but they seemed more interested in giving Tango lessons than serving coffee hence the choice of Tortoni yet again. Tortoni was packed.
I walked to the San Telmo neighbourhood and was quite disappointed. All the guidebooks build it up as some great place. Far from it, is all I can say. I found an old memorabilia store and purchased magnets of Argentine Greats (Fangio - Formula 1 Champion) and Borges (poetry).
I went to an Internet cafe to backup my memory cards. During my 1-hour stay here a fellow internet user lost his bag. As always with all these kids, they carry their entire credentials and valuables in their bag (Passport, IDs, Credit Cards, Cameras etc.) and when in an internet cafe, they get so carried away with their e-mailing that they fail to pay adequate attention to what is going on around them. Carrying your passport with you at all times is a DUMB thing. It is NOT required. Despite their stupidity I felt sorry for him.
I headed for dinner once again to Tandoor restaurant. I had a decent meal of Dal along with Appams. I met Shahrukh there and he told me that I was the first customer whom he had seen ordering appams! I had a nice Voignier from 2007 and it went well with the Indian food. Shahrukh was dining with the Indian ambassador to Argentina and he introduced me to the entire family. From the name it sounded like this Ambassador was from the Southern part of India and from my recollection (during the conversation I had with the Honorary consul in Belo Horizonte, Brasil) it appeared he had moved from Brasil.
I got back to the centre of town and took some night-time pictures of the broadest street in the world (Av. 9 Julio). I headed to an Antique bookstore and purchased first editions of a James Hadley Chase novel as well as a book containing speeches by the former president of India - Radhakrishnan. I wanted to have dessert at Cafe Tortoni but it was too crowded. I headed to an Internet cafe and checked and answered e-mails.
I got back to my hotel, wrote my diary and went to bed.
I head for Salta tomorrow afternoon.
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