Now that´s a Sunday....

Trip Start Nov 26, 2009

Trip End Jul 31, 2010

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Where I stayed

Trip Recoleta Buenos Aires

(Buenos Aires hotels)

Flag of Argentina Buenos Aires, Argentina
Sunday, November 29, 2009

I woke this morning with the first hangover of the trip after last night´s beer and jengafest with Nick, Jess, Aaron, Tim, Sam, Daniel, Morwen and Jojo. Still a 10 am start after a 2am bedtime isn´t too bad. The plan was to head off to the football this afternoon and then try to catch Manu Chao who just happened to be playing this weekend. The match was at San Lorenzo´s home ground and against La Boca Juniors, one of the biggest local teams in Argentinian football. What we didn´t initially know is that this match is a bit of a grudge game between the two teams with the poorest fans in BA. We headed down in three taxis and all the drivers said we must be mad to be going. Our one actually shook his head and told us he would never go to San Lorenzo as it was too dangerous. We could see why on arrival as it was surrounded by slums. So we were all a bit nervous, but as there were ten of us we took the chance and it turned out to be fantastic. The chanting between the Boca and SL fans was incredible with drums and brass on both sides, flares and smoke being let off and an incredible atmosphere despite sheeting rain

San Lorenzo Stadium

. The game itself was so fast compared to the Premiership. I can´t claim to be a football expert or even a football incompetent, but the pace was dazzling. Two goals went in for SL in the first half and both were ´blink and you miss it´ events such was the pace. The tumult after each one was incredible.

We were told by police at the stadium that we should probably leave during the second half so we would stand a good chance of getting taxis and not getting mugged (nice!). This we did just after SL scored their third. Unfortunately it must have looked as if we favoured La Boca somehow as the last of the group to leave just faced a torrent of abuse from the SL fans as we made our way down the steps to the exit. A quick dash to the exit and the security guard actually helped get us into taxis. Nick and Jess shot straight off to pick up the Manu Chao tickets she had found via the internet once back at Recoleta. Time for a few beers and some food and then the three of us headed to the concert. We got there just after 9pm and could hear he was already playing. Unfortunately it turned out that the tickets we´d been sold were fakes. The security were actually pretty good about and asked the boss if they could let us in. They couldn´t, but fortunately there were tickets still available. Once in the area in front of the stage there was nothing left to do, but join the throng dancing and bouncing. The band played over three hours straight and once again we left just before the end to score a taxi. None to be had so we queued up for the bus and I enjoyed my first choripan (spanish sausage in a bun with salsa). Delicious. In bed just before 2am.

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