Arrival in Buenos Aires!

Here we are enjoying some relaxation on the rooftop terrace of the hotel in downtown Buenos Aires!

The air is warm, the breeze is refreshing, and the view is spectacular.

The flight from Toronto to Buenos Aires via Santiago was relatively uneventful - luckily.  Some much needed sleep, a couple movies (The Ides of March was rather disappointing, as was The Dream House.  Thank goodness for Modern Family reruns) - a couple mediocre meals, and voila - here we are!

Checked in to the hotel - the 725 Continental - very nice boutique hotel in the heart of downtown. We would definitely recommend it - here is the link - http://www.725continental.com/continen-ing.htmAfter our rooftop drink we were off to sample Argentinian beef at a fantastic riverside restaurant called Happening - which it definitely wasn't until around 10:00 p.m. - as per Latin dining culture.  So our early arrival at 8 only added to our obvious foreign sensibility.  But once the crowd started pouring in the place came to life. Had a lovely conversation with a retired couple from Kamloops B.C. who warned us to travel with a personal supply of toilet paper (you never know) and gave us a good tip on a free walking tour of the city which starts at the "Congresso" - we are assuming that is the parliament buildings, but will find out for sure tomorrow.  A brief chat with an Argentinian woman whose children and grandchildren were throwing her a birthday dinner - the people, by the way, seem very friendly and helpful with a pretty good grasp of English for those of us not worldly enough to speak Spanish - and then a leisurely stroll along the river to walk off the heavy beef dinner.  Passed a bridge somewhat in the shape of the Nike swoosh which a sign by the river informed us was supposed to be in the shape of a couple dancing the tango (artistic license, I suppose - but beautiful nonetheless) and finally a walk back to the hotel, after a brief disagreement about which way the hotel was.  Push was right, just for the record.
And now I am once again indebted to Erin for the relative ease with which this blog is coming along, photo and all - and if the technology gods are smiling down on me again, you will all be able to recognize us in the photo above and it won't seem as if we are seated behind a heat mirage.
Tomorrow more exploration of the city and perhaps some shopping.
Until then....