The Journey Begins... (Day 0-1)

Hola from Buenos Aires! It is currently 6:15pm local time in Buenos Aires (update: it was 6:15 when I started this post). I've been in the country for about 30 hours, which incidentally is also the amount of time it took to get here. So to get us started, here's a recap of Day 1 of the Big 5Six.

Saturday morning, at 4am PST, dark and early, B and I braved the slick, frost covered roads and headed south to Seatac International Airport. Traffic was nonexistent (as was any daylight) so we quickly reached our destination. After checking in my luggage, we spent our final hour together for the next couple weeks over a warm cup of hot chocolate (me) and Mango-ey Odwalla (her).

Soon it came time for me to go through security and catch my flight. The first leg was to Dulles International Airport. It was uneventful, with the only surprise being the snow covered tarmac that welcomed our plane to the airport. Fortunately for me, it did not play any part in my second departure (7+ hours later) to Buenos Aires. After killing time by surfing the web, chatting with B on the phone, eating dinner, and watching a movie in the terminal, my fellow passengers and I boarded the 767 as scheduled. Ten red-eye hours later, we touched down in the flat, green lushness of Buenos Aires.

I've travelled around the world to multiple countries, and gone through multiple immigration and customs checks. I've learned the key to going through the process is simply to be patient. No matter how tired you are, as long as you expect the system to take another hour or so, you'll be fine. BA was a perfect example of this. They had three lines -- one for nationals, another for diplomats and families with young children, and the third for everybody else. Yesterday, when we arrived, the latter group was the largest by nearly triple. Yet they only had 3 custom agents assigned to our queue. In turn, the line snaked around the customs room. By far, it was the longest wait in customs I have experienced in the past decade.

Nonetheless, once through customs, immigration was non-existent, and before you could say "Nothing to declare", I was in a taxi heading to my hotel.

Buenos Aires has 13 major neighborhoods (I think). My hotel is located in the north side of the city, in areas called Palermo. Palermo is dotted with grassy parks, modern hotels and hip restaurants. Funny enough though -- these were not the reasons I chose the hotel. I picked it because it was ranked high on TripAdvisor and the price was right. Only later did I realize that I was in cool area. (Luckily for me.)

Anyway, once I arrived to the Dazzler Juncal, I quickly showered to wash away the "travel grime" that had accumulated over the last 8000 miles, and proceeded to go to the Recoleta neighborhood. Where Palermo is known to be a middle class area, Recoleta is known as one of the wealthiest neighborhoods. Perhaps the most well known feature of the barrio though is the Cementerio de la Recoleta. This cemetary encompasses mausoleums entombing many BA's influential families and powerful individuals. The most famost resident is that of Eva Peron, of "Evita" fame). Walking through the cemetary, one experienced equal parts of fascination and morbid curiosity.

When we finally decided to leave the cemented crypts and dusty coffins, we lightened the mood by strolling through the adjacent church and nearby art and crafts fair.

The last thing I wanted to talk about are the "Parrillas" of BA. These parrillas are known for preparing one of Argentina's best known products: BEEF. In this country, you never have to utter the question "Where's the beef?". Just look around, and you'll see/smell/taste it everywhere. We're not just talking steak either. We're talking about all parts of the cow. Offals (kidney, tripe, blood sausage) are prepared as often as the tenderloin steaks and beefy ribs. So it was fitting that my first two meals in the country were at parrillas. I had a rib-eye for lunch (and only a ribeye, no side) and a sirloin for dinner (with many, many sides). Both the steaks are flavorful and tender. Traditionally, Argentinians prefer their meat dry and well done, but many restaurants cater to the American tourist by cooking it to a medium rare. If there was nothing else in this country besides the beef, I would still love this place. After all, Argentina epitomizes "Beef, it's what for dinner." (Sorry, couldn't help using one more tag line.)

So there you have it... Day 1 of my southern adventure. It was a memorable day: I stepped onto my fifth continent, dined on delectable meat, and visited the final resting places of Buenos Aires' rich and famous of years' past. All in all, it was terrific beginning for the next fifteen days.