Is there anybody out there like me ? I used to think that South America was a scary place- full of jungle and revolutionaries
wanting to kill me for my diner-money. Definetly not a place to relax and chiil-out !!
Around Feb. 2002 I was fortunate enough to come into a
little money and thought that I might like to go to Japan - you know the routine - 40 something year old thinks that life is too short and needs to see the world - NOW. However, Japan turned out to be a little more expensive than my Budget would allow and a very young, persuasive travel agent ( unusual for me to deal with one as I usually avoid them as I'm convinced they have three 6 's engraved on their heads ) suggested Buenos Aires with Montevideo as a side trip. I thought why not - I may as well go out to a revolutionary as trust my fate to the NHS. !!
So it was with more than a little anxiety that I set out from Glasgow to Birmingham to Paris to Buenos Aires. For such a long journey with the potential for so many people to ruin your your day the whole thing was surprisingly smooth ( I particularly remember the Air France in-flight meal - well you would wouldn't you ? ).
I got a taxi from Ezeiza to the city and checked in to my Hotel. After a shower and a sleep I went exploring. What a city !! over the next 7 days I ate steaks that I would only dream of _ they even served them on a seperate plate as the main event ! I went for a Tango lesson and enjoyed it so much that I went to several Milongas to test my new skills - whether I was good, bad or indifferent didn't seem to matter to me or to whoever I was dancing with. I visited Evita's grave, the Malvinas Monument, Cafe Tortoni and the Senior Tango Show. I had so many coffees in real, authentic, traditional cafes that I thought that I was either in heaven or, at the least, wired to the moon.
I went to see Boca Juniors at the Bomberera and have never experienced a match like it ( and I've seen Celtic v's Rangers ). I would hate to imagine the outcome if any Boca fans were given beer as they seem crazy enough. What an atmosphere !!
And the people, what can I say !! - it is true, if you make the effort to speak a little Spanish - and
believe me my Spanish can only be called a little - they are fantastic !! friendly and helpful. I can't not mention the stunning Argentine women - I'm convinced that 80% of the world's most beautiful women live in Buenos Aires. You really need to see them to believe it.
My trip to Montevideo was equally as exiting as I got to see the River Plate close up ( it is pretty muddy ) and went to the Estadio de Centenario to see a South American Cup match ( National v's some team from Peru ) - this has to rate as the best match I have ever been at - fights / riot police / 3 all draw with penalties and extra time / sending off's / flying tackles and great chorizos - everything a match should be really !
I left South America with a real feeling of elation - vowing to return at the earliest opportunity ( and I have done so several times but that's another story ), but a trifle disappointed that I hadn't met at least one revolutionary .
Ian G. McCready