Day Fourteen: Argentina – Across the waters to Uruguay

Our minds must have gone mad – when the plate landed on our table – it was an instant regret; this is EXACTLY what we had been trying to avoid for the past 2 weeks…

6.30am – Baquebus to Colonia del Sacramento– Uruguay. Just one hour across the Delta to another Spanish-speaking country. Within 10 minutes of arriving at what seemed to be an abandoned port and we were in the centre of Old Colonia.

A quaint city – village just a couple of hundred years old, proud of its old automobiles; their BBQ restaurants; and their craft shops. The village can be explored within 45 minutes. So we had to drag our every step. By hopping in and out of the shops we could while a bit more time. http://www.buquebus.com/cache/HomeARG.html

There were precious stores – all well made and certainly of exceptional quality than similar shops in Buenos Aires. The prices seemed extreme and near impossible to fathom; 5 x Argentina pesos – therefore about 25 x UK pounds. That makes it about 4pence (£0.04) per dollar – try the maths on that. When a beer is priced UR$100 it was a bit unnerving. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonia_del_Sacramento

There are some excellent art and craft stores here of both real leather, wool artefacts as well as some superb wood and metal designs that are excellent prices and a great souvenir. I stopped in Oveja Negra, a local boutique with goods made from local sheep – the black sheep’s hair is thick and unique to Uruguay – so I couldn’t resist buying a poncho.

Silvia Sarti established the brand Oveja Negra as artist/designer and travels the world selling here designs. While in sweltering heat of 30+ degrees we soon learned how cold it could get in winter – these intricate designs for sweaters, scarves and accessories were increadily well made.  Check below for details. See the shop in my video and the poncho I bought. http://www.ovejanegraweb.com/

It’s certainly worth taking advantage of the time to relax and stroll slowly around the small port town. Beyond here, a taxi ride away, there is a larger town but not one we felt was appropriate to visit.

On the way back to the port we stopped for a Paradilla – their special BBQ meat bowl. Our minds must have gone mad – when the plate landed on our table – it was an instant regret; this is EXACTLY what we had been trying to avoid for the past 2 weeks; black pudding sausage, liver plus some odd fatty substance. We only had a small bottle of water and salad to dilute the taste between us.

Our final night of luxury we spent in a 4* Axel hotel – Heterofriendly.  This hotel came complete with see-through shower, queen-sized bed, mini-bar, Jacuzzi, sauna, steam room and a pool with a transparent bottom from the foyer! http://www.axelhotels.com/buenosaires/index.php?lang=en

We spent the evening drinking Caipirinha in the bar before stumbling to the fifth floor for a late night spa.

The final day we took it easy on our last trek on the shopping streets of Buenos Aires before heading by taxi to the airport for our 24-hour journey home.

One excellent holiday – a great adventure.

COSTS:

Boat to Uruguay: AR$300

Night in Art Factory: AR$120 http://www.hostelworld.com/hosteldetails.php/Art-Factory/Buenos-Aires/23860?source=googleadwordshostelsbyname&gclid=CLXDkLGNu6gCFQoa4QodTktoBw

Poncho: UR$4,000

Axel Hotel: AR$454 http://www.axelhotels.com/buenosaires/index.php?lang=en

Taxi to Airport: AR$150

Sweets for family & friends: AR$75

Oveja Negro: Address: De la Playa 114, Barrio Historico. Tel. 052-21323. Also a store in Punta del Este. http://www.ovejanegraweb.com/

29 – 30 things to do before your 30

I’ve decided to bestow a challenge upon myself for the next 352 days; during the next year I aim to try to fulfil all of the below. There’s nothing like making a list and ticking each item off – so can I achieve all of them? What can you do to help me achieve a full slate?

 These are in no order, but I did have some limitations – no criminal activity, nothing that will put my life at severe danger (ish):

1.     Don’t die: If I am to achieve all 30 things, I must save two for my actual 30^th birthday. [DONE]

2.     Create a new pie: putting my culinary skills to the test [DONE]

3.     Learn french [DOING]

4.     Jump from a plane – sky dive

5.     Get on Daybreak – I do love ITV in the morning

6.     Attend the Summer Solstice at Stone Henge

7.     Attend the Edinburgh Fringe Festival

8.     Write a children’s book

9.     Build my own shelves [DONE]

10. Take up Kick-boxing

11. Somersault in Trafalgar Square - Circus lessons

12. Watch a game of tennis at Wimbledon

13. Visit Prague

14. Gain a Motorbike licence

15. Dress in Drag for Gay Pride, Ascot, or Greenwich Drag Race

16. Get a six-pack [Very NEARLY]

17. Take part in the London Naked Cycle Ride

18. Attend a football match [BOOKED]

19. Attend a rugby match

20. Train for a half marathon

21. Go Kayaking (White-water rafting)

22. Get a new tattoo

23. Take part in Porn Idol or Mr Gay UK

24. Write, Record a song and make a video

25. Write a letter to my heroes – Jonathan Ross, Graham Norton, Noel Edmonds

26. Go Go dancing [DONE]

27. Try Absinth

28. Do a Triathlon [DONE]

29. Go to G.A.Y & Heaven

30. Go-Kart Racing [DONE]

You will be updated with posts documenting my achievements with word, photo and video – so stay tuned for the latest updates.

Day Thirteen: Argentina – New Year’s Day, Dakar Race

But as she climbed the rails items in her hand flew across the room landing in different places – we heard ‘Merde’ before she gave up to the temptation of sleep.

New Year’s Day brought a clear skyline, pounding heat and streets lined with Argentine’s awaiting the start of the Dakar. We were in place for 2pm ready for showtime.

2.40pm they began introducing the participants (having not been familiar with Dakar in the past I was unaware of the proceedings): 2 hosts present each and every participant to the crowd, of the 600+ contenders. By 6pm they had only just finished the motorbikes.

 

The start of the Dakar continued late into the evening while we took a siesta and planned our pub-crawl. Again, the restaurants and bars being largely closed meant we hunted to find food for nearly an hour. However tonight was party night and the drink had to flow.

We stopped at Sitges (the bar) with a AR$70 entry fee for all we could drink cocktails until 2.30am – a stupid challenge for any Brit. A cab ride to the Club Human with two large dance floors and a huge outdoor terrace – where most seemed to spend their time chatting. We crawled back to the hotel about 6am, knowing that in just a few hours we would need to get up and lug our bags back to the other hostel. http://buenosaires.queercity.info/bars.htm

However we were actually happy to leave – I hadn’t been impressed with Gran Orly Hotel.

We spent the afternoon – a Sunday – walking around Palmero. While with a hangover it was a relief to find tree shade in the park to snooze beneath, but the large ants enjoyed nibbling at any exposed flesh they came across.

Palmero is meant to be the social side of town, slightly upmarket (which it certainly was) but there was little more to see than the park and Evita Museum.

The history of Evita was phenomenal and humbled myself – a 28 year old – who has only achieved a smidgeon of her achievements (to some though a glorified prostitute). http://www.evitaperon.org/eva_peron_museum.htm

On return to the hotel to our 4-berth room we scurried straight to bed. It was 10pm – our weakest night of the lot. Around 1am another roommate arrived – shocked to discover Francois in her bed – yes he decided to move and be on the bottom bunk. But as she climbed the rails items in her hand flew across the room landing in different places – we heard ‘Merde’ before she gave up to the temptation of sleep...

COSTS:

Entrance to Evita: AR$15

Drinks in Flux Bar: AR$38

Taxi to Human: AR$25 - 30

Drinks in Human: AR$165 (3 x AR$55) http://www.humanclub.com.ar/