We checked out of the hotel and walked over to the Pink House and were permitted inside; there was a long snaking line which we couldn't quite figure out, but finally realized you had to get in line to get a piece of paper with your tour group on their, and then line up when your tour time was called. A little disorganized, but everything run by the government usually is.
We had a fabulous tour guide who spoke in Spanish and English (bonus) - otherwise I was going to have to feed a broken Spanish translation to Kyle. The Pink House is where the Argentine president works. Their presidential residence is 1 hour away, which would be awful to drive to and fro ever morning in Buenos Aires traffic, but good thing there is a helipad right next to the Pink House. We went through the press room where the president gives all official press conferences. We also got to stand on the famous balcony where Eva Peron addressed the Argentines in the 1950s and where Pope John Paul addressed the people in the 1980s. Great tour to end our stint in Buenos Aires.
Our next important task before leaving was to find a Pope key chain for Kyle. Luckily the main city cathedral was surrounded with many souvenir sellers hawking many pope items.
We returned to the hotel to meet our airport taxi. We had reserved one online at the cost of 180 argentine pesos (about $36 US). The airport wanted $80US for a car, or would set up a taxi for about $50US. You know me and my deals, so I set off to look for a reasonable ride to the airport that was secure with good reviews. I found Taxi Ezeiza.
We approached the taxi driver in the lobby of the hotel who was flustered searching for us because the hotel said "no one by that name is here." I knew to look out for him, so I was able to find him. Christian, the taxi driver, explained the "the hotels like to rob you" in his broken English with an Spanish\Italian accent with some random Portuguese words which we took to mean there was not much cooperation between taxi airport companies and the hotel. He was there 20 minutes early, which was great.
We get in the white station wagon marked with Taxi Ezeiza and take off for the airport. Christian immediately doubts our knowledge of the proper airport we are supposed to be going to - beenasthough there are two Buenos Aires airports - he says "the silly tourists have ended up at the wrong airport before." You know me - I had done my research :)
We start off, and Christian informs he is always a tour guide, and immediately begins pointing things out and telling Kyle where to find the "expensive prostitutes that you pay in USD, not Argentinian pesos that live in Recoleta" which was Kyle's favorite neighborhood before he found out this gem of knowledge.
Our tour continues on the highway, and then Christian realizes all of a sudden we have no gas, and says we must stop at the gas station. Kyle and I both look at each other with a little concern, but we really have no choice. Christian seems quite harmless, and I think we both could take him. He resembles a young, slightly awkward Tim Curry. We pull off the highway and stop at a gas station. Christian informs that we have to get out of the car while gas is being put in the car through a valve in the hood. I am starting to internally freak out, but then Christian points to the sign that all passengers must get out of the car - I internally calm down a little bit. We learned most cars run on natural gas in Argentina, and getting out of the car is to probably avoid being blown to smithereens if something goes wrong. It was quite mindblowing that these cars all run on natural gas.
Back in the car, and back on the highway our tour continues. We find out about Ciudad Evita which the original street plan looks like the profile of Eva Peron - quite incredible. Because of the messed up streets due to the odd shape - each address has 6 parts to it. After this exit, Christian informs us that we are going to stop by his mothers to get his dinner because the restaurants at Ezeiza "are too damn expensive." Kyle and I look at each other again. We had survived the potential gas station incident, so hopefully we would be okay on this one. Luckily we had left with plenty of time to get the airport.
We head into what Christian describes as an Italian neighborhood (we also get his life story with the free tour). He was born in Italy, moved to Argentina. Has a French father and Italian mother. He got a degree in graphic design, and spent some time in Canada during university. Now, he serves a taxi driver and tour guide for his father's company. We arrive at a house, and out pops this older lady with something in a sack with a vitamin water. Sure enough, this is Christian's mother who we were introduced to. After being wished "buen viaje" (safe trip in Spanish) we were finally off to the airport.
We finally arrived about an hour later - the trip should usually take 40 minutes. We now have Christian's card and information AND his home phone number if anyone needs a tour or crazy taxi ride in Buenos Aires.
Tonight, we flew to Lima, Peru, and tomorrow we fly to Cusco. Good night all!
Pics
1. Inside of the Casa Rosada
2. The press conference room of the president in Casa Rosada, Buenos Aires, Argentina
3. The view from the balcony Eva Peron spoke from, view of Plaza de Mayo
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