Adventures of Cameron & Emma in Buenos Aires

Argentina is known for its beef, the tango, and, of course, the gaucho. We ticked the first two off our list with a first dinner at La Cabrera, and with a snippet of tango music on the streets and a mini show in La Boca. However, the gaucho proved to be elusive to the Peakes, although we definitely tried to see one.

We first attempted to take everyone to San Antonio de Areco. After failing to rent a van, then two cars, we went to the bus terminal but missed the micro that had just left, meaning the next one, leaving in 2 hours, would give us just under 4 hours in San Antonio. Instead, we went to Tigre, and put the gauchos in the back of our minds.

George and Jody’s flight did not leave until midnight on Sunday, so during the day we attempted to go to the Feria de Mataderos, a fair that sells goods from the interior provinces and has traditional gaucho dance and music. After taking a hot, sweaty and crowded colectivo (public bus) for an hour, we arrived at the fair to find an empty stage and vacant streets. We finally asked why there was no fair, and we were informed that it had closed the week before Christmas due to the heat, and would only be resuming after Easter. (Our Time Out Buenos Aires had only explained that it happened every Sunday, rather than following a season. Damn bi-annual publications). So, we sat down to eat more beef at a parilla and took the trek back. Gaucho-less.