January 7th
Say “Beef”
On the evening of the 6th, we were scheduled to meet up with our new Intrepid Tour group at our hotel. It turns out to be a very small group with four from Australia, two from the UK, plus Tim and me.
Our guide, Juani, has been with Intrepid for two years and about the same age as our son.
Three of the Aussies are a family (father Peter and two daughters, Sarah age 30 and in her final year of nursing school, and Leyna who I have not had a chance to visit with much yet). This is Peters first International trip. The fourth member of their party, James, is I believe 29, and a former musician who was Juilliard trained. The four of them met 23 days earlier when they were all together on the optional Ecuador, Bolivia, Peru portion of this trip. They have already bonded, having hiked the Inca trail together and survived what was described as a miserable rainy experience.
The two from the UK are Mehul, a librarian, born in Kenya of Indian heritage and Uma who lived in Sri Lanka for the first 30 years of her life. We were supposed to have one more lady with us from New Zealand who never showed up.
We walked a distance from the hotel for dinner out as a group. Steak was the main suggested offering, and the proportions were so enormous that half portions were offered. Tim and I both tried a top loin, ordered medium rare, but it was delivered to us medium to medium well done, which resulted in a less than tender result. Wonderful flavor though.
We have still to have THAT steak dinner we had hoped for.
The group is friendly and we are looking forward to getting to know everyone better as we progress.
The next morning was our first full day of the tour. Meeting in the lobby at 9:30, we were off for a long walking tour that would also combine riding on city busses as well as the subway.
I am the oldest in this group. It paid off when we were traveling on a standing room only bus, as I was offered a seat 🙂
Several places, including Plaza de Mayo and La Boca were repeats for us, but we did gain a little more insights as Juani filled in some blanks with stories and history. Tim and I are starting to learn our way around and now appreciate how well located our hotel is.
Here are a few pictures taken today:
Back in the Boca Caminito area
Can’t get enough of these brilliant colors
So much fun!
It seems to be all about FOOD here. At least meat. These were taken over a couple of days, but the amount of meat is overwhelming to those of us who only occasionally eat red meat.
Bone in rib eye steak from Intercontinental Hotel
At restaurant for group dinner
A different grill
BBQ on the street in Boca
A refreshing change – fresh squeezed orange juice with a splash of lemon. Delish!
Ah, very sweet and fresh
A hot day of walking – worth the wait for drink to be freshly squeezed!
Lunch time we stopped for pizza. Juani ordered three varieties for our group. They were wonderful. My favorite was one piled high with thinly sliced onions and stuffed with ham and cheese. Another one had red peppers and olives on it.
Sorry for poor picture, but wanted to share this one because it was so tasty!
Pepper and green olive pizza with lots of cheese
As an optional evening, Tim, Mehul and I went to a tango show. The evening started at 8:00 with a tango dance lesson. Both Tim and I have two left feet, but we did get a few laughs out of our attempts to learn a few basic steps.
In truth we were total failures, lol!
The women lined up to learn their steps
The dinner was just OK, as is often the case with dinner shows, but the tango show itself was fabulous. The music and vocalists were very talented and their performances were woven in between some of the most impressive dancing we have seen.
Especially after having tried to learn even the most basic of steps and failing miserably, we could appreciate even more the intricate steps, quick foot and leg flicks, lifts, splits and sensual teamwork.
The close to a very fun evening:
Fun night at the tango show
GRATITUDE MOMENT: Today I am grateful that I will never have to see the people again who witnessed our feeble and pathetic attempt at dancing the tango, LOL. I now have even more respect for the amazing talent, artistry and athletic abilities of the tango dancers!
A Note From Abroad 
Glad to know someone else has two left feet! I told my gringo father it has to be his fault.
Those pizzas look scrumptious. Interesting how red meat is so prevalent there.
LikeLiked by 1 person
HaHa, we really were terrible! And yes, the pizza was quite amazing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love the colourful buildings. I’m thinking a veggie (me) might have trouble. I’m also thinking I probably have at least three left feet.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Anabel, I found a lovely heart of palm and mixed lettuce salad tonight with a veggie pizza that was pretty good. There are some veggie options, but a HUGE amount of beef is served. Beautiful fresh fruit (papaya, watermelon, pineapple) at breakfast.
LikeLike
We would just have to pick our restaurants carefully I suppose – a lot of places are like that, but not so many as when I first went vegetarian in the early eighties. On my first visit to France I ate 9 omelettes in 14 nights! Each chef came up with it as if it was a brilliant idea.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely colours in the pictures of the buildings! Wow.
As an almost vegetarian, the meat thing worries me just a little bit, but I won’t let it stop me from visiting Argentina. I could live a long time on cheese and bread (pizza is included in that food group).
LikeLike
I just replied to Anabel who had similar concerns. There are veggie options available, but not plentiful in comparison. We have eaten at two different buffets this week and a lot of varied salad options were offered.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love the colors of the buildings, but that’s a lot of meat! The pizzas look delicious, though. I’ve heard that Intrepid Tours are wonderful. As for tangoing, I imagine we wouldn’t do too well, either, We took ballroom dance classes once and it didn’t take. Besides, if you don’t do it regularly, you forget anyway. 🙂
janet
LikeLike
Janet, the pizza is good and different combinations are offered here. Tonight Tim and I had a veggie pizza that besides cheese had bell pepper, mushrooms, green olives and heart of palm.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Laughing. My two left feet have forever been a challenge! Kudos to the two of you for getting out and shaking a leg! –Curt
LikeLike
Sadly those legs were shaking to a different rhythm than everyone else. Good for a few laughs though!
LikeLike
If you only could have controlled the shakes to the rhythm! You might have invented a new dance, Joanne… 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Finally the Tango. DId you and Tim get out and tear up the dance floor?
LikeLike
We did try, so should get some points for effort even if we failed miserably 😏
LikeLiked by 1 person
Whee’s the video? HAHA
LikeLiked by 1 person
Just want to let you know that I am continuing to read your posts, are amazed at how you write, and am enjoying everything about your trip! When we were in Australia and New Zealand, our meals were quite large and contained meat or fish. I usually ordered something different than my sister…and then we shared. However…there was too much food…and we both hate to waste!
LikeLike
Thank you for that nice compliment ❤️ Tim and I often share a meal when we eat out. We order one salad, one entree and if we feel like splurging or still not full, one desert and share it all. Seems to work quite well that way.
LikeLike
At least you tried the tango.
LikeLike
Tried – yes – successfully- no 😬
LikeLike
*sigh* South America is on my travel to-to list. I’ve been to Brazil (Rio de Janeiro for work – lucky me!) but the Inca trail, Iguassu Falls, Buenos Aires, Galapagos Islands etc are all waving invitingly at me from across the Atlantic. Thanks for sharing – you’ve definitely made my feet itch!
LikeLike
There is tremendous diversity on this continent. We have been to seven countries here now and feel like we have just scratched the surface.
LikeLiked by 1 person
hello tim and joanne its dennis the vizsla dog oh hay wot fun!!! my mama and dada like to do the tango espeshly the argentine kind!!! ok bye
LikeLike
I’m sure that your mama and dada are much better at the tango than we were 😊
LikeLike
Great Pizzas 😉
LikeLike
Yes, they were!
LikeLike
LOL, I am glad you tried the tango, how fun!
LikeLike
Watching others dance was a lot more fun. There are four left feet between a Tim and I. 😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can relate 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person