Hola

Greetings from Buenos Aires! It has been overcast and we've had the occasional shower since arriving Tuesday morning, but today is the first total RAIN RAIN RAIN day. There has been thunder and lightning since last night.

We've been really fortunate though. It did rain on us during our long walk back from our first Argentinian steak dinner. But our four-hour tour on Wednesday went off without a hitch, yesterday at Recoleta Cemetary we just had a light shower, and it didn't rain during the soccer game we watched last night.

Today's plan is to hang out at the hotel until lunch (thus blog update), eat around here and then head of to the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes (National Fine Arts Museum), hang out in a bookstore, get/write/mail postcards, and then have dinner at this "underground" restaurant (meal cooked by an American ex-pat in his home).

Tomorrow though...the rain is supposed to stop! It would be nice to have one somewhat sunny day here.

Initial impressions:
- As a modern country, Argentina is not that old, and has a big immigrant influence, particularly Italian...accent, gestures, pizza...
- It's government and financial policies have been unstable
- It's very European influenced, very little "indigenous" influence
- It's very meat/starch heavy...they also like their pastries and coffee
- Because of its history it's now very big on freedom of expression and social justice, the graffiti is very interesting and protests and practically encouraged
- It's a big city, and we've been comparing different parts to different sections of New York(we're staying in the oldest part of town...E compares the feel to Red hook, Brooklyn, yesterday's visit to the "UES" was something else)

We've been enjoying walking around (lots and lots of walking), seeing different parts of town, trying different food. I think we've done a decent job of not doing "too much" each day. But it's nice that today is somewhat of a rest day.

Sunday we're off to Bariloche. I don't think we'll have wireless internet there, but maybe I'll post again! Photos will have to come post-trip as I forgot to bring the cord with me.