I can walk for miles and miles …

|23 – Apr-2017| Headed out this morning to Parque Centenario to meet up with brothers Diego and Ariel,  the electro-duo Farmacia.  Our friends at Lady Boy Records put out their cassette “Suero” which Jeff reviewed in March. He and Diego stayed in touch and today we met the brothers at the park and chatted about their musical journey from 2000 to today. We were able to pick up some of their back catalog including some wicked-looking compilations. Looking forward to getting these gems home and into the CD player! Such nice guys; so fun to hang with some locals for a while.

Unfortunately, Popcorn Vendor who took this pic for us, missed the auto-focus part of the process and it’s a little blurry.

The meet up took us about 2 miles in the opposite direction of today’s other agenda items. After leaving the park, we walked for a good 1.5 hours back across the city.

Always time for an ice cream break. It’s popular here, and the double-scoop is “industry standard”.


Generally knowns as the “Government House”, Casa Rosada is a bright pink building anchoring Plaza de Mayo on the eastern edge of the city. The park area in front of the building was heavily fortified with riot fencing, however one could walk around either side and stroll right on up to the front entrance. Interesting architecture, but still just another building. Onward.


Next up, strolling the 10 – 12 block extension of San Telmo Market that spills onto La Defensa on the weekend. After the other “markets” we’d seen yesterday and today, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but it was pretty cool. The weather was gorgeous and everyone was out soaking it up.

Lots of really cool, artistic items, crafts, housewares, food vendors, etc. We did duck into the historic San Telmo Market itself to take a look. The permanent structure is home to antique shops, farmers market stalls and gourmet kiosks.
 
After a stop into Eureka Records we started the  journey back to Palermo Soho. But first, beer. We stopped at La Puerta Roja, a dive-y upstairs bar in the San Telmo neighborhood. When we arrived around 3:30pm, locals were coming in to watch the Real Madrid v. Barcelona match on TV. Great entertainment while we savored cold beers, a good lunch and about 45 minutes off our feet.

Congreso de la Nación Argentina

The walk back to the apartment was completely utilitarian. The shortest distance between two points is a straight line, but unfortunately Buenos Aires doesn’t have many diagonal streets. We walked on or crossed over streets we’ve been on multiple times already in just 2.5 days here.

As the sun started to drop below the rooftops, we stopped in the grocery for wine, cheese and salami to go with the loaf of crusty bread purchased at the market.

Slightly sunburned, tired,  feet up, wine in hand, I’m ready to call it a day.  It’s 10pm – the Apple Activity app clocks 16.4 miles today (that includes the midnight walk home from dinner Saturday).

The plan for tomorrow – less walking, perhaps?