After class today, the original plan my friends and I had made was to first go to "Tierra Santa"- a religious theme park! Yes, you read that right. Apparently, they have reenactments of the biblical days, a 40-foot Jesus that rises from a mountain (every hour, on the hour!), and a holy roller coaster! Haha! So bizarre, but worth checking out! After the park, we planned on taking a bus to Puerto Madero to eat a nice Argentine steak by the port at "Estilo Campo"- a restaurant where the waiters are dressed as Gauchos! Our plan seemed so great...however, they ended a little differently!
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| 40 Foot Jesus! ...Hallelujah?! |
We asked Guillermo (an ISA coordinator and Buenos Aires local) to help make sure we got on the right city buses to connect our destinations. He gave us directions to the park, but then suspiciously asked, "you know that the restaurant is super expensive, right?" Eek! No! All Google reviews of the restaurant claimed "very affordable! Great value! AR $10-20!" Haha, rule number 1: never trust Google. Turns out the restaurant is one of the most expensive in the city, with the price of AR $150-200 a meal! No way, José! Also, turns out the restaurant was close to La Boca, a place NOT to be caught at nighttime. We quickly scratched our plans and asked Guillermo his recommendation of the best steakhouse in Buenos Aires instead!
After changing our dinner plans, we got on a bus to go to Tierra Santa. However, when we got off at the stop Guillermo told us, we were very lost and couldn't find the road we needed. After walking down a street for a bit, we got a little tired and gave up. Yeah, a yelling "hallelujah!" down a Jesus roller coaster may have been fun, but we settled for taking the bus back to Belgrano and staying in a familiar area! Rule number 2: never take the bus if you don't know exactly where you're going! We did get to see "La Ciudad Universitaria"- the Public University of Buenos Aires during our little bus mishap though. It made me fortunate to be taking classes at Universidad de Belgrano...because the public school just seemed a little
sketchy.
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| Buenos Aires City University |
When we got back into Belgrano, it was merienda time (snack time), so we opted for the best choice: ice cream! Since we don't have ice cream like this back in the U.S., I don't feel bad for eating it two days in a row! I had 2 flavors: dulce de leche with brownie & selva negra (black rainforest)- cherry ice cream with bits of chocolate and rum soaked spongecake pieces! We ate at a place called Jauja, a place that serves Argentine made ice cream from Patagonia. This country is too good to be true!
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| No licking allowed! Only eat with the baby spoon! |
After the Jauja ice cream, we walked around El Solar- an upscale shopping mall. Everything was out of our price range, but it was fun never-the-less. My favorite thing about the mall? Cute old men walking around in suits and top hats, handing out free chocolates! WHY DOES THIS NOT HAPPEN IN RIVERTOWN MALL?! AHH!
After the mall, it was nearing 8:00; still a little too early for dinner, but we decided to be the Americans we are and eat anyways. Guillermo's recommendation was "Las Cholas": an extremely cute and cozy parilla (meat) restaurant- one in our price range! Since this is Argentina, there was only one thing I wanted and need to try: the steak! I got bife de lomo (Filet Mingion), cooked medium-well. I'm not a huge steak eater, but please, believe me when I say; this was EPIC: juicy, flavorful, cut like butter, and didn't have a spot of fat on it. It was served on a wooden cutting board with a side of french fries and pureed pumpkin; I paired it with a super delicious glass of vino tinto (red wine), taking advantage of the fact I can do that here! The meal was enormous- I don't know how it was physically possible, but I finished every last bit. Usually, after eating a meal that large, I'd feel overly full and remorseful; but I will never regret this meal. Ever!
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| Las Cholas |
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| Best. Steak. EVER. |
Although the day ended up very different from our previous made plans, it turned out better by just "going with the flow" and taking a local's advice. As they say in Buenos Aires, "Gran exito"- Great success! :)
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