Posted by Lee on April 3, 2008
We lost internet for a few days so this post is a few days old. We are back in Panama City and soon to Boquete.
Jennifer has thrived in urban Beunos Aires. I miss the calm of Boquete Panama. As she charged off to another exciting day of being urban I decided to hop a freight, well a commuter train the the town of Tigre Argentina on the Rio Plata Delta.
The Retiro train station is short walk from our apartment and a piece of art itself.
The trains run fast and furious all day and I intelligently did the opposite of the commuters. I went rural in the morning and returned as people were leaving the city.
If you can see the artful steel work supporting the roof on right of the photo you will enjoy knowing it came a long way.
The ride brought back memories of my daily commute on the Long Island Railroad when I was a student; not the best of my memories.
In about an hour I was looking back at the Tigre train station, a little newer than Retiro
and looking forward at,
believe it or not McDonalds; I could of stayed in David if I wanted McDonalds.
So I started walking into town, first to the river to peak at the river cruisers that give tours of the Delta.
Then in search of lunch, I was thinking burger, somehow imprinted on my mind. I discovered
Zi Teresa and thought any name beginning with a Z is worth consideration so I 
ordered a burger with a beverage not available at the golden arches.
They have good beer in Argentina; must be all the German immigrants.
After lunch I walked to the next store Los Robles and ask for two small pastries.
Mrs. Robles would not accept payment, I don’t think I bought enough to weigh and sent me on my way enjoying her baking.
There was little traffic, clean air and not much noise and I started to think about why I like the hills of Panama.
There are some wonderful buildings in Tigre showing some of it’s history. WAIT! There is more to read… read on »
Posted by Lee on March 30, 2008
Saturday was a walk, shop, eat, walk, shop day. Started with a Subte (subway) ride to the leather district. The Subways in Buenos Aires are older than Santiago and they have buskers and beggars selling wares when ever there is space for them to display.
This blind singer entertained us with a song and earned a peso. Local friends said the leather district is out of the way but worth the trip. Is centers on Murillo and Malabia streets and it easy to access by Subte.
The district is out of the way but it has been discovered so if there were deals to be had they are hard to find and overall it was not much better than other areas of the city. However there is such a concentration of shops that it is still worth the short subway ride.
It was fun to pass from one store to another squeezing the goods and enjoying the shade of the Sycamore trees. I did discover Capybara leather also known as Carpincho it is the most subtle leather I have ever felt. The Cabybara is a large rodent and although I have not seen it on a menu it is supposed to taste good too.
After feasting on leather we started walking down Malabia street. Jennifer’s keen nose discovered a little place baking pita and wrapping shwarma.
It was cordero (lamb) shwarma and salad as street food and it was excellent. WAIT! There is more to read… read on »
Posted by Lee on March 8, 2008
Still here until tomorrow and we have been walking miles a day and have covered just a small part of this city. We went downtown to the main square and saw political expression is alive and well in Argentina.
Retirees protesting by painting the sidewalks red.
Veterans of the Falklands war are also protesting for benefits.
Someone has give this statue of Julius Cesar voice and Jennifer found a tree with some wisdom to hug.
Tomorrow we head for a cruise ship and further adventures.
Posted by Lee on March 6, 2008
Our view from the window in Boquete Panama is the tranquilo Volcan Baru, not anything like this urban scene. I am going to just post a smattering of photos with descriptions for my children and anyone else who has never been here.
Jennifer discovered Flan in Argentina has an Italian flavor and this one did not survive long. In fact our first blush is Buenos Aires feels like Paris, sounds like Spain and tastes like Italy.
With tables of luscious pastries tempting all the time.
and Pizza that was more an antipasto on a crust than Papa Ricos and real, REAL Bock Beer.
Some lonely unadopted shoes found a warm hug. (Prices are Pesos not dollars)
We wandered the Botanical gardens and I discovered Jennifer hiding behind Romulus and Remus. Is this Rome?
and this wonderful sculpture of a Roman Saturnalia returned to the Botanical Gardens when the military dictatorship returned to democracy and orgies became legal!
The botanical gardens is home to a large number of well fed cats.
Did I mention shopping?
This Florida Street, reminds me of Amsterdam.
and transportation, no horses in sight.
Fleets of Radio Taxis with meters and no negotiation fares.
and to make an old New Yorker a subway with fares of yesteryear, $0.90 pesos like thirty cents for a ride. More tomorrow!
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