Day 399 Monday February 16th Buenos Aires “Rest Day”

Last night we took 2 taxis and went to a suburb called Palermo. I think it was more a lunch spot than dinner spot as a lot of the Market Stalls were already packed up, or busy packing up. There were lots of restaurants and pups and after Rocky bought his wive a traditional “Mate Tea Cup with Strainer Straw plus 10 years of tea-leaves,” we chose a restaurant and had some Empanada and steak.

Together with Rocky’s Tea Set Purchase for his Lovely Tea Loving Wife he also got her a special hat too wear as she sips her Mate:

Then we went to bed as I was still suffering from the no-sleep-night the night before.

This morning we had a nice breakfast (it did not have bacon, but it did have scrambled eggs and lots of cake and toast, good coffee and drinking yoghurt, but also had some Muesli and other cereal with Fiber, not just Coco Pops and Fruit Loops.) Strange how my perception of a Good Breakfast has changed since we started this adventure 14 years ago, now things like Fiber and Yoghurt excite me. After Breakfast I got all the little ducks in a row behind me and off we went, them following me, with the help of the good old Prof Google Maps to Recoleta, the famous cemetery 2km away from our hotel. In the olden days the rich did not just get buried but were placed in a Moseleem  (ok, my little AI Friend can’t recognize the word I am trying to spell, but you are a clever bunch, figure it out, I did try several ways.) It is like a little house above the grave, bigger than most huts found in Rural Africa, and then some has steps going down as entire families are buried there. It is an impressive place and when I was there in 2012 I took some Black and White Photos and made a collage, but today the sun was bright and I am on a motorbike trip, so no arty photos in black and white.

There are several huge monuments erected for War Heroes and politicians and aristocracy, but the one grave we came to see was that of Eva Duarte Peron, 1919-1952 when she died of Cancer.

But the cemetery if full of famous people:

Pie bent our ears as he spoke about the marble and the granite and erosion and the effect of water etc etc etc. And then he enlightened us about the structural engineering of some and a few other facts that just took up lots of space in an already small and overcrowded brain in my head. Back to Evita as she was know as. The words on her grave were the catalyst to the Andrew Loyd Webber Musical Evita in 1976 with the famous song, sung from a balcony in the Musical,  Dont Cry For Me Argentina. Quick History Lesson, she was a poor girl from a broken family, with 3 half sisters who became an actress and then married Colonel Juan Peron in 1945, he became President, and she became the 1st Lady. She was a champion of the Workers Class and became very popular as she stood up against social injustice, workers rights and for the up lift-ment of women. On her grave were the words “Dont cry for me Argentina” and “the Truth is I never left you.” The Workers Unions of Argentina all had lots to say about her and how they will not cry for her as she had done so much for their rights. Then, the twist, her body disappeared after her death as there were lots of social upheaval as the people wanted her to be made a Saint. So the Catholic Church had to stall the people and the missing body added to the confusion and then the church decided she cant be made a Saint as the did not lead people to God and was only a good person helping people, but not good enough the be made a saint. And then many years lated when the people had stopped their pressure on the Catholic Church her ashes appeared in the Vatican and sent back to Argentina.

We then walked 7km to Casa Rosada where Eva Peron and her husband stayed and where she stood on the balcony behind her husband many times as he made speeches, but the people came to se herm not listen to him. In the climax of the Musical Evita sings the hit song from the pink balcony of Casa Rosada. So I dragged my friends there on a marathon walk and showed them the pink balcony.

There was lots of walking and moaning and several stops for water along the way. Mainly from me as my one calve and ankle has swollen even more (after the bike blew over onto me, and my other calf muscle has gone on strike, so my lovely wife will have to get me back up and running soon after I arrive back in South Africa as we leave for a Scuba Dive Trip with a whole Group of friends, some from Austria to go and dive, and I cant let them down.

The Balcony above the big oval entrance:

The square is called Plaza del Mayo, and it has lots of flags and monuments and beautiful buildings:

Then the new motorcycle group that was formed, the Kronkel Campers, with their new Logo, who leaves for Uruguay tomorrow, leaving the other three to shop their bikes to USA, went to the Ferry terminal to buy tickets and make arrangements for tomorrow when we sail to Uruguay. I won’t be part of this group and as we sail, DadAss will change ownership and leave Argentina under the ownership if me, with my Temporary Import Permit, but then arrive there 1 hour later with a new owner, Rocky, with a new “Title” in his name, and then a new TIP will be issued for DadAss under the name of the new “Owner,” Rocky. So I am a little half and half. No longer part of the Oros World Tour Group and also not part of the Kronkel Campers (Twisty Campers.)

We booking our ferry for tomorrow:

They are still working on their Logo and Group Profile Picture, but here are the early suggestions:

Above I see a 4th person standing alone, who is he, is he the guy that myst ride my old bike??? And where is DadAss in this ????

Another concept going around is this, but my question remains, where it the 4th person who will be riding DadAss??? Is this poor friend that is going to be invited to join, or, poor old Danny-Boy a faceless-wonder right from the begin ????

To me the word “Gay” means happy and smiling and up-beat, based on that, (mostly,) I cant help but feel the word “Gay” needs to be included in their name, dont you?

Then we took a taxi to La Bocca, an old slum that he now been revived into a tourist area with colorful old corrugated houses, little streets and many bars and restaurants and shops selling tourist trinkets. They have lots of puppets looking down onto the street from balconies and Evita features a lot, so does Maradona their biggest soccer hero, and a few others I did not recognize.

We found a spot to sit and look at the people walking by. Then there was a Tango Show at the restaurant we though was too expensive, but we could see the whole show from across the street from our little cheap restaurant where we are more Empanadas, the best we have ever had, and sucked on some cold local beer while watching the show. After the Tango show came a singer who sang Argentinean songs and I watched as almost of the people walking past started sining along as they walked past. I guess 80% Local Tourists from Argentina and the balance made up of Chinese, all walking a long line following a poor tour leader holding ups her flag.

See short video below:

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Then Peens, who was all Empanada-ed-out went in search of a real restaurant and discovered the best restaurant and food we have had since we entered Argentina early last year, 3 legs ago. I also walked around, some people were selling meat over their garden wall”

But Peens’s find was TOPS !!!!! It even had a Sommelier!!!!!! And I really hope I did not lose some followers with that word.

Then Rocky wanted to speak to the Pope, but he declined speaking to Rocky, said all hope was lost, I am almost certain I heard the word “Voetsek” and then the Pope pointed inappropriately into the direction he wanted Rocky to Voetsek.

During lunch we spoke and so many memories flooded back. Where do you start winding down such an Adventure of almost 14 years? We shared stories and laughed and just had such a good time remembering the amazing time we could share together. Words like Blessed, Fortunate, Thankful, Special, Lucky does not begin to describe what not just I feel, but even the bunch of could be assassins feel that I am fortunate to have shared so many memories.

Tomorrow the 4 Black & White 1190″s will attempt to cross into Uruguay. Poor Dog will remain with Pie and Tex, who has not made any plan for tomorrow. The Plan Is No Plan works for them, but not for me. There are several tours I suggested to them, like going to a Ranch, riding a horse, see the cowboys horseman ship, then join them for a Asada (big Braam.) then watch a Cultural show which includes the Tango Show, The Spanish Guitar Show, followed by several cultural dance shows, but, they did not book, so their plan to have no plan is right on track and I cant wait to get a photo or two tomorrow to post on the Blog of their exciting day ahead. They cant load their bikes into the container until Wednesday as tomorrow is another public holiday.

I would like to tell all you beautiful pumpkins that I am off duty now and going to find my friends who has probably woken up from their “40 Winks.” (Sounds so innocent.) Others admit they go for a SCAN (senior citizens afternoon nap.) But I can see from the traffic on our WhatsApp Group they are awake and re-grouping, but I cant join them, yet. I have to put “pen to paper” to start writing the Final Blog that will go out in a few days time. I told them I will be harsh and tell you all the truth and lots of washing will be aired. But in fact, that is just part of our joking. I will have to say goodbye to them and you in a Final Blog and it is really and end of an era, 14 years, big friendships, and just like that it is over and we move on.

So, I am signing off from today’s Blog. Hope you enjoyed the colorful day we had, and then I will start with the Final Bog and start putting some thoughts together. I was not planning to use any old photos from Past Blogs in my Final Blog. But hoe can I not just slip in a few old photos? So, my beloved pumpkins, prepare yourselves for a deep and emotional Final Blog in a few days time. Remember to get the box of Tissues ready because it might just come in handy.

Lekker Week

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Fleisch