URUGUAY - COLONIA DEL SACRAMENTO

An hour from Buenos Aires by boat, lies Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay's tourist attraction. Founded in1680 by the Portuguese to smuggle goods into Buenos Aires,it is now a colorful reminder of days gone by.

And that is it folks.

BUENOS AIRES IMAGES

Yummy yummy yummy Meat for my tummy! A restaraunt around the corner.

No It is not a mugging.They were doing a tango and he dropped her.

The famous Cafe Tortoni, Beunos Aires oldest coffee venue with tango shows.
Until later

BUENOS AIRES - SECOND VISIT

Back in BA for my final visit.This is the throughfare to Colonia,Uruguay and my last tourist activity.Regret not having stayed longer in Mendoza as BA is city life and is more about night life. And night life here is clubbing. And I hate clubbing.But being my last Friday here in BA, I thought I might at least experience some clubbing.Booked an excursion with the hostel to visit two clubs and a ride on the city train.The whole thing turned out to be a lemon for me (and as hard as I tried I could not get a tequila to go with it).The ticket included VIP entrances to the clubs and free vodka drinks on the train as well as free pizza and sushi at the first club called Hummer (like in the Hummer vehicle). There was one parked at the entrance of the club. Once tagged and barcoded we walked into the club and no one had a clue of where we were supposed to be seated or how to get drinks. This was sorted out about half and hour later when somebody led us upstairs.Half and hour later some pizza slices appeared and were devoured by about  40 people.No sign of sushi. Had a beer at R30 and sipped very slowly on it not knowing how long we would be stuck here as this was the departure point for the city train.Another 20 minutes passed and we were finally whisked away to board the train. Another surprise - the train was a truck and carriage, lit up like a christmas tree.

So off we set through the city, packed like the missing sushi into the carriage and the young ones screaming and banging on everything they could find, discovering their new found freedom in a christmas tree and alcohol.Oh and the free vodka drinks - I had two out of an average plastic cup - some were not that fortuanate.Another half an hour later we arrived at Asia De Cuba - our clubbing destination.This was around 1 am and already a major queue at the entrance. BA people only start their night at 2 am.Inside the music was pumping and the place even more crowded than the carriage.

Then we had to buy tickets in order to get drinks and with my Spanish failing me as to what exactly is required, besides wanting my money, I stripped and left.I was not going to shape here anyway!And this is what I missed out on. Boo hoo hoo hoo !!!

And the other hundred or so.That was my last Friday in BA and I swear again, I will be speaking Spanish when I come back.

POST MENDOZA

So Mendoza turned out to be the best part of my journey so far.An intial stay of 3 days turned out to be 10 days and all because of Mendoza Inn, its staff and the travellers that came through.For the first time I could really sit down and communicate in a relaxed atmosphere.Hostel parties were arranged with other hostels in the city and the other nights we made our own - making music, singing and drinking.We were the happy travellers.Made great friends and great memories.It was amazing to see our happiness spill over to all new arrivals.Called Jukebox Daniel I racked up songs from the past, many whose words I have forgotten and the other people did not know. That did not stop us..we just sang lalalalalalalala...Leo and Matthuie had us spell strucked with their Spanish and French music and songs.Patrick later came along with the saxophone and everyone tried the harmonica, Coco being the only one that could really play it.And not forgetting Axel with his ukulele.Those were the days my friend, we thought the'd never end.......Yeah, we were The La La La Band for a short while.

At this point I was going to make a philosophical observation, but decided that in the end you will have to ask.