We had only 320km to ride to Buenos Aires this day but overnight the rain had poured down and continued in the morning. As a result, we waited until 10:30 to get started by which time it had stopped - then we caught up with it again and became super-soaked on the way into the Capital. The roads in, inlcuded a number of expressways which gave us up to three lanes to dodge the worst of the traffic, this being very welcomed. We were stopped twice to pay 150 pesos in cash (efectivos) as our expressway fee.
BA has only 3million people in its CBD but the greater area includes 17 million persons, most inside the new Province of Beunos Aires City and the rest in the surrounding BA Province, their equivalent to a State of which there are 24 one being the "Federal District".
Argentina was settled by the Spanish in about 1520, but they had to have another go at it 40 years later. It was on the River Plate, about 200 nautical miles from the Sea, and without its own mineral wealth nearby, unlike other parts of Argentina. However, people from many other countries also contributed in partiular Italy, France and England. Now, most of their buildings have been lost or removed by various Junta's and only some have been rebuilt.
The big event for today was to attend a dinner and Tango Show, which turned out to be truly amazing. Dinner started at 20:00 and the show at 22:30~ so I was still awake until 01:30 in the evening. Due to the rain we could not get a taxi and eventually ended up with two Ubers which had to be paid for in cash (unkike anywhere else in the world that automatically takes a card).
The show was classic Tango, with a local band led by a pianist, plus cello and violin. Dancers recreated the steps from three eras, early, traditional and modern post 1955, and the routines were spectacular feats of timing and practice, combined with dancers in special costumes and shoes.
We walked home to the hotel under clear skies, after a superb evening.
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