Because we were flying Delta, our trip was less direct than it could have been as we had to fly through Atlanta.  Delta must have thought I really missed the Atlanta airport since our flight to ATL was rescheduled to leave almost an hour earlier than when we booked it and our flight to Buenos Aires left an hour late.  We had almost six hours in the airport during which we had lots of food and even got massages.  Buenos Aires is two hours ahead of the East Coast of the US, but is a ten hour flight from AT which combined with the time in the airport, made for a long travel day.

We arrived in Buenos Aires in the morning and met our driver to go to our hotel.  Luckily, the room was ready so we could check in and clean up after about 24 hours of travel.  We then walked to nearby Plaza de Mayo, argentina0015home of the Casa Rosada, where the president works (and Evita’s balcony).  We also take in the other buildings around the square, including the monument to Argentine Independence.  The weather is near perfect and not the hot sticky conditions we were lead to believe occurred in summer (and which we would experience on our return to Buenos Aires at the end of our vacation).  We wander around Florida St. (not named for the state) and its many shops and trinkets for sale.

After a pizza lunch, we explore other parts of the city like Avenida 9 de Julio, the widest street in the world (supposedly) at 12 lanes of traffic.  There are various monuments to see and we make it to the Plaza del Congresso to see the legislative branch of government.  We take in the various statues and architecturally interesting buildings en route. 

For a snack on the way back to the hotel, we eat at Gran Café Tortoni , the oldest such place in the city, dating from 1858.  I order a milkshake which seems to have almost no ice cream, but is still good.  As most museums are closed, we return to the hotel for some naps. 

Feeling refreshed, we then search for a dinner place.  While the man in the hotel this morning said everything would be open it (which seemed surprising), it turns out that almost nothing is open.  We finally track down a Chinese place that’s not too far and not ten times the price of what dinner should be.  It was more of a big buffet, but at that point we couldn’t be picky.  Finally, having had dinner, we’re ready to get some sleep and be ready for tomorrow’s trip to the Pampas.

View the photos of our travel and arrival in Buenos Aires here:

http://www.sanjoseabrams.com/photos/ArgentinaDec2011/Day%201,%20Buenos%20Aires/index.html#