Sunday, January 20 – Colonia
Today was another beautiful day – clear skies with temps in the mid 70s. I’ve been super lucky with the weather! (did I just jinx myself??) I did some more wandering today, but this time off the beaten path – outside of the historic centre.
To the east of town I found this amazing cemetery. Very well maintained, yet in a rather scruffy neighborhood.
I’ve told you about my boycott of the Colonia restaurants. Well, today I was determined to find something reasonably priced, and not from the super-mercado! The solution was there right in front of me as I roamed outside of the tourist areas. Street food!!
I ended up getting a sandwich called a chivito. It is said to be the national dish of Uruguay, and contains thin sliced beef, cheese, tomatoes, olives, lettuce, and a mayo-based sauce. It was still about $6, but better than a $12 grilled cheese! I ordered it take away so I could enjoy it on the balcony of my hotel room.
Finally, the reach of the NFL is impressive! I was able to watch both conference championship games live in my hotel room – via Fox Sports Latin America and ESPN LA. With spanish commentary of course!
Let’s Talk Money!
I thought you might be interested in the cost of stuff so far on my trip.
- Apartment in Buenos Aires is $70/night. I’ve booked it four different times, all at the same rate. The longest booking was for 6 nights though, so no discount for an extended stay.
- Bed and breakfast in Colonia was $60/night. Cheap, considering the exorbitant restaurant prices. (Calm down Tim!)
- Ferry ride: $60 each way
- Meals at the cafes in Buenos Aires were about $7
- Empanadas: between 75 cents and $1.25
- Tango show with dinner/drinks/transport: $65
- Teatro Colon Tour: $16
- Round trip airfare to Iguazú Falls: $140
- One way airfare to Bariloche: $130
Let me know if you have questions about any other costs. Below are pictures of the Argentine and Uruguayan banknotes and coins.
It’s interesting that, due to the fluctuations in the Argentinian peso, all real estate for sale in Buenos Aires is listed in U.S. dollars. Here’s an example…
