Ok, I admit I am having great difficulty working out conversions between the Aussie $, the US$ and the Argentinian $(or pesos). This morning I took a taxi to the touristy - but worth a visit - San Telmo Markets, and inadvertently tried to shortchange the taxi driver by giving him Argentinian $5 pesos (and saying "no no you are worth it, very nice person" - in Italian of course - no ablo espagnol and then realised the fare was $45 pesos! Luckily we had been conversing well about the Argentinian & Australian economy, along with something about Argentinia, Australia & Canada being the same in someway - I didn't understand that bit but just said "ah si, si chiaro" as I had seen Ms K do in taxis in Santiago. So we worked it out & I was suitably embarrassed.
I then went to have a cafe cortardo in the famous cafe - Bar Plaza Dorrego. The bill was $18 pesos, I only had $12 or $100, so I said, in my pseudo italspagnglo - how about American $? Hence this blog's title Dos ($2) or Doce $12. I gave him $12, he said thank you and walked off. I, of course, realised my mistake and watched him. After a few mins I gave him the look and he wandered over. I said, think there has been a mistake. He then feigned ignorance, in Spanish, saying no I am sure you gave me $2. Oh, looky here! How did that US $10 note get into my wallet???
Ahhhh Buenos Aires......
The markets were alot of fun to wander around. You can find some interesting items if you dig hard enough. I came across 2 stands with the colourful soda water siphons, which are more popular for photographs than they are for being purchased I think! One of the sights at the market, that got the most attention were the older couple, who look like regulars, doing the tango. I don't know how much money they make, but at least their images fill up visitors photo albums! Yes, Buenos Aires is all about photography. And romance I guess, for a lot of people who come here.
With the day being so cold I decided to visit the Museo di Bellas Artes, which holds quite a large collection of European art. In their temporary exhibition space there was an exhibition of the works of an Argentinian (with an Italian background) artist called Pino Collivadino , whose era was late 19th & early 20th century. A lot of his works in this exhibition recorded the city scapes of Buenos aires, the changes Argentina was undergoing, as well as reflecting many of the changes that were occurring in the European art genres. (This is from my reflections on his artwork, so best to read up on him if interested in actual facts!)
My sight seeing day ended with a lovely (late) lunch at a Spanish restaurant in Recoleta, called El Burado. The staff were very pleasant, the food looked and tasted divine. The clientele were lovely, chatting to me as we sat at the bar, a mix of italo-spanglese.
Photos of San Telmo Markets
I then went to have a cafe cortardo in the famous cafe - Bar Plaza Dorrego. The bill was $18 pesos, I only had $12 or $100, so I said, in my pseudo italspagnglo - how about American $? Hence this blog's title Dos ($2) or Doce $12. I gave him $12, he said thank you and walked off. I, of course, realised my mistake and watched him. After a few mins I gave him the look and he wandered over. I said, think there has been a mistake. He then feigned ignorance, in Spanish, saying no I am sure you gave me $2. Oh, looky here! How did that US $10 note get into my wallet???
Ahhhh Buenos Aires......
The markets were alot of fun to wander around. You can find some interesting items if you dig hard enough. I came across 2 stands with the colourful soda water siphons, which are more popular for photographs than they are for being purchased I think! One of the sights at the market, that got the most attention were the older couple, who look like regulars, doing the tango. I don't know how much money they make, but at least their images fill up visitors photo albums! Yes, Buenos Aires is all about photography. And romance I guess, for a lot of people who come here.
With the day being so cold I decided to visit the Museo di Bellas Artes, which holds quite a large collection of European art. In their temporary exhibition space there was an exhibition of the works of an Argentinian (with an Italian background) artist called Pino Collivadino , whose era was late 19th & early 20th century. A lot of his works in this exhibition recorded the city scapes of Buenos aires, the changes Argentina was undergoing, as well as reflecting many of the changes that were occurring in the European art genres. (This is from my reflections on his artwork, so best to read up on him if interested in actual facts!)
My sight seeing day ended with a lovely (late) lunch at a Spanish restaurant in Recoleta, called El Burado. The staff were very pleasant, the food looked and tasted divine. The clientele were lovely, chatting to me as we sat at the bar, a mix of italo-spanglese.
Photos of San Telmo Markets
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