5 – 11th January 2009

Know you did not expect to hear from us again, but as usual in the world of shipping, we are delayed!  This will, however, be our last update before we sail - hopefully on 13th – fingers crossed!!

Our vessel the MV Grande Buenos Aires is a cargo vessel and the delay is with the extra cargo to load in Brazil.  Just thought you should all know, just in case you think we are swanning it on a 5 star cruise ship.  There will only be two other passengers on board but we have bagged the best cabin!  We will call at many ports in the 28 days it will take us to get back to UK, along the East coast of South America, the West coast of North Africa and up into Europe as far North as Hamburg before we finally arrive in Tilbury.  Well that is the plan anyway – who knows with shipping.

The Toyota is all packed up with everything securely locked in the back out of sight.  She looks a bit sad and “unlived in” now but I am sure she is glad of the rest.  She has done a sterling job all along our route.  JC goes and talks to her every day (yes really!!)  just in case she is lonely without us!

We did some shopping – JCs boots were nearly down to his socks – if they had been tyres, he would have replaced them ages ago!  I attacked the underwear stores with a vengeance.  Lesson learned – never bring white underwear on a trip like this – most of mine is now very grey and in the bin!!

Buenos Aires, like most big cities is a place of many contrasts – wide sweeping boulevards and small alleyways, centuries old churches and large modern office blocks,  upmarket designer stores and families living on the streets.   The old docks have been converted into a residential/tourist area with a marina, fabulous apartments and many many restaurants and bars – a great place to promenade in the evening and watch the world go by as the sun sets. The beer is good, the steaks are out of this world or so JC says, and we have enjoyed our short time here, walking the streets, soaking up the atmosphere and seeing the sights in the 30C heat. Sadly, we missed the beginning of the Dakkar rally and will not be here for the finish.  Amazing as it seems, there are no T shirts, posters, caps or stickers relating to the rally – imagine that in London or Beijing!!   Here’s some photos to give you a taster of what we have seen here in Buenos Aires.

     

Clear out and packing up..........           He's leaving home.........                              Along the renovated dockside..................

     

Around the city...................................................................................

     

     

This flower sculpture closes at dusk..   Just the job - wot no beer??    Cooling off in BA .....             Sadly, several people live under this tree!!!

     

  Ways to earn money in Buenos Aires.......................................................................................................          If they were tyres?????

     

You can buy silver............................. Grandma Gooder's soda syphons...........Antique stirrups or even ... learn to Tango at San Telmo market.....

The only bit of the rally that we saw - sad....

On board ship we may have access to email for free, but will have to pay for every attachment that we receive so please save your pictures and jokes until we get home then we can spend more on beer!!  You can still, of course, leave messages on our board.  It will be great to know that you are still thinking about us when we are “all at sea”.

Bye for now – our next update will be from home – how strange to say that!!

 

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