So despite the jetlag and hotel in the business end of town (oh and the garbage strike and warning from tour guide about being mugged) am having a fantastic time.
Shabby chic is a bit flattering – much more like Macau away from the glitz of the casinos. Incredibly cheap and incredibly poor. Been hanging out with a friend who has very similar wishes (great food, shoes, away from “safe touristy town”). Great lunch yesterday at El Mirasol Del Puerto on the water (think brown Brisbane river rather than Syd Harbour glam) in a steakhouse. Incredible piece of sirloin for 70 pesos ($18!) like nothing I’ve ever tasted. Incred flavour and melt in your mouth meat (not marbled though so not sure how, why) with great smokiness. Veggies running scared. Great fresh, crumbly chorizo just lightly spiced, lambs tripe (tubular, chewy, smoky not great but glad I tried it) and empanadas with just there pastry (the din tai fung version rather than orange grove). Great round soft 2006 malbec reserve (a steal at AUD 18 a bottle!).
Then a 2 hour sleep (this time switch thing is a killer). Lobby rendez vous. Marriott Plaza which is just round the corner supposedly has one of the world’s top 10 bars. As it turns out, that was wrong but there was a lovely art deco bar in the basement. Rounded, veneered walls, tall ceiling, pianoman, great lights. And as it turns out very fine martinis. Nicole and I powered up and then headed out to the suburbs to find The Tango Academie where her Sydney based tango teacher works when in BA. Red door, steps, and a converted warehouse and what a fantastic first night. Luckily you switch partners after each dance as the class was in Spanish and I had NO IDEA but by keeping to the basics (and yes, following rather than leading) I did ok. At least til they got to the tricky lunge, foot flick, look seductive bit. More men then women and luckily they were all very forgiving. Finished there at 11. Back to the Marriott bar for bedtime martini, then lobby bar at 12 where we met up with lots of other TSAX delegates wondering around looking for something to do to make us sleepy. Bed at 3. Sun woke me up at 630. Heading off to the gym and then Nicole and I and some others heading up away from tourist town for shopping, breakfast etc.
No really, I am off to the gym!
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