Buenos Aires. Ahhhhhhhh.

I just got back from a trip to "the other side," as a friend of mine called it yesterday, meaning the other side of the Andes.... meaning Buenos Aires.

Buenos Aires!!! It was so much fun! As you may remember, I have visited Buenos Aires before. This trip had a little more relaxed feel to it. Exactly what my earthquake rattled nerves were in need of. Ahhhhhhhh.

Leaving Santiago was a bit of a challenge, as the airport was still in pretty bad shape after the earthquake, even though it was more than a month after it had happened. For example, the ONLY working bathroom in the airport was after security in the international terminal. And it wasn't even signed. Most of the plasma screens that give information about flights and gates had fallen, and there was no attempt to provide the information they usually provide to passengers through another medium. The staff seemed really cranky when you asked them questions, which was kind of funny because the only option was to ask them questions or stay lost in the international terminal for all eternity.

Most of the floating ceilings and much of the duct work fell as well. As far as I can tell, not much has been repaired yet. Although, more bathrooms were open when I arrived back yesterday. This is one of the first things you see after you land in Chile.



The ceilings that have fallen over the lines you wait in at immigration. I spent awhile looking around, looking for a safe place to take cover in the airport during an earthquake. I really couldn't find one. Once again, I realized we were very lucky that this earthquake happened at 3:30am, when most buildings like this were empty. No wonder Chileans have such a fatalistic outlook!

Anyway, I arrived in Buenos Aires to an airport that was completely intact! I really enjoyed the cab ride into town. All those buildings standing! The hustle and bustle of city life when I've grown so used to the country! A taxi driver that sounded like an old Italian man from NYC, only speaking Spanish! What fun!

I relaxed a lot. Read a lot. Wandered a lot.

There was a crazy birthday party for a four year old at the apartment I was staying in. It looked a little somethin' like this. I made cupcakes (not pictured.). The cute little kid on the right helped me decorate them.



This is Parque Centenario, probably one of my favorite parks on earth.



Oh, and I visited the Natural History Museum! Natural History Museums are one of my favorite things. Chile's been pretty disappointing on that level, so I was really excited to give the one in Buenos Aires a try. Because, you know, Argentines make everything look awesome... right?

Doesn't this look awesome??



Okay, so it was pretty disappointing as well. Oh, I'm not being fair. It wasn't that bad. It just wasn't that great.

But.... how could there be world without frogs?!?



Oh, I'm not sure, they never actually answered this question that they posed to all of us...

Okay, okay, I'll stop.

Still, Diego and I had a pretty good time with our new found museum friends.



Now I''m home and refreshed and ready to take on the next adventure.

Ahhhh.

Besos,
Allie