The Best Air

Hola from Buenos Aires! With almost half the country´s 40 million population coming to the big city has been quite shocking (most pleasantly) for me, transitioning from the company of giant torres, glaciers and guanacos.

Mike and I arrived here on the afternoon of the 28th after a 21 hour bus ride from San Martin de los Andes. San Martin, a more toned down Bariloche that comes to life in the winter, as it is another ski town was pleasant: streets with three story high ski condos, rose lined parks, still an overabundance of artesianal chocolate shops, and overpriced parrilla (traditional meat feasts, yum) experiences were to be had. We did not climb Volcano Lanin as we had planned because there was a special event in Buenos Aires we had to be here for.

As I sit here drinking coffee, eye goop probably still wet in the corners of my eyes, ears still ringing just a little, I will tell you!

As part of a global tour, Muse and U2 paired up for their 360 degrees tour. Last night was the first of three shows playing in Buenos Aires at the La Plata stadium.

It twas incredible!!! A sold out show that we managed to buy tickets to. It´s really still a mystery but somehow, we travelled 70km south of BA to go to the show, picked up our tickets and rocked out for 5 hours with Muse (Mike says they are one of the few bands that are really rockers these days, and you can tell so because when they play you want to go nuts with an air guitar) and U2. Those guys know how to entertain!!!

In the pit, in front of the stage I believe we had the best view of the alien space craft which they turned into a stage. This other worldly GIANT alien-lander looking stage was ridiculous!! I won´t go too in depth in the concert but they played all the classics, some new stuff, little Beatles and Bob Marley mash-up, politically charged with shout outs to Aung San Suu Kyi and the remaining prisoners of Burma, Bono is made of lasers (and swings from laser microphones) and the streets really don´t have any names (in the city of La Plata, as Bono remarked, they are indeed numbered, not named.)

So, yeah we had a pretty good night with The Edge, Bono and the rest of the crew.

I was so excited, I forgot to mention our delightful accommodations here in Buenos. We are staying with Mike´s grandfather´s childhood friend (a friendship of over 80 years!) who lives now with his wife in Buenos Aires. They are treating us so well, we are being taken care of most sweetly, advised on where to go, well fed, and overall, spoiled. The vista from their apartment looks over the river which separates Uruguay and Argentina. It is a beautiful home.

The day is young, and lunch is served! Ciao for now!