Exploring La Boca y Caminito en Buenos Aires

Waking up, Andrew and I still had no idea of how to fill our day, the non-plan  plan being our preferred mode of travel. Heading down to breakfast we saw our friend Mauro from the night before. After a quick meal of bread, fruit, cereal and coffee, we decided to go with Mauro to La Boca stadium and the surrounding barrio.

As I walked, I was gripped by the feel of the city. The buildings, only 4 or 5 stories tall, seemed to tower over the narrow avenues with their European styling and gated balconies. As we walked through an open park we stopped for a brief photo shoot of the bronze statue that stood in the middle. Continuing, we reached La Boca Stadium home to one of the most popular futbol teams in South America. After being denied entrance to the stadium due to a team practice, we browsed the team stores and then entered the museum beneath the stadium chronicling the history of Argentinian futbol and displaying the copas won in heated competition.


Exiting, we explored the neighborhood and walked through Caminito. Caminito, a famous street leading from the stadium to an ocean port was alive with the culture of the city. Tango dancers danced in the street, trapping tourists in the net of excitement and drawing them into the overpriced restaurants.  The vibrant greens, yellows, oranges and pinks painted a perfect backdrop for the intricate stone-carved murals sunk into the buildings' exteriors, screaming of South America. As we walked, local artisans were busy peddling their paintings, drawings and crafts adding to the feel of the barrio. Finding a restaurant, we clinked our glasses as we watched the tango dancers display their skill.


Leaving Caminito in search of cheaper food, we followed our friend and translator, Mauro, hopping a bus to the city center. Finding some inexpensive hot dogs, topped with onions, peppers and jalepenos, we devoured them in seconds trying not to gawk at the beautiful latinas as they passed.  As we strolled the central boulevard, locals congregated and relaxed in the park running down the center of the street, some lazing in the sun on their long lunch break, and some finding refuge in the shadow of the central obelisk that marks the center of the busy city and resembles the Washington Monument in D.C.  Passing the obelisk and finding out street, Venezuela, we made our way to our hostel, Che Lagarto for a siesta of our own.

Waking from our nap at 8pm, we headed downstairs for dinner, only to discover that it would not be served for another 30 minutes. While waiting, we met Tammy, a beautiful stewardess from Chicago who would be staying in the city for the next month. We chatted while we waited for our pizza, and invited her to the Argentina vs. Chile World cup elimination match that would be held on Friday.  An hour and a half later, our pizza finally arrived. Despite having no sauce, and toppings that consisted of 1 olive cut up and divided amongst the slices, it was some of the best pizza I have ever had. The freshness of the ingredients used in the food here is    without a doubt something to be envied in my home country, Los Estados Unidos.

Walking her back to her hostel, three blocks away, we discussed our plans for Argentina, and Andrew and I borrowed some of here research to add to our own to-do-list. After walking the streets and exploring the city a little longer we returned to our hostel and retired for the night.