Arrival in Buenos Aires

Well I left you at Heathrow, that sounds like the title of some dystopian novel. A seven-hour wait at Heathrow is in itself slightly disturbing, broken up as it is by malt whisky, red wine, coffee and grazing on snacks.

The flight was great, we were on-time leaving and on a clear night had a great view of Poole Harbour and the Sandbanks peninsular. It just feels late to be eating dinner after midnight. Unexpectedly I slept well for almost eight hours and woke to bright sun streaming through the windows as we flew over Southern Brazil. Indeed the clear skies made the approach over the River Plate spectacular.

The flight was a bit of a celeb fest, Marion was sat across the aisle from Tim Rice while Timothy West and Prunella Scales were also spotted. Arrival in Buenos Aires was smooth. It seemed quite a way into town through heavy traffic and some very poor slum areas. There is not much green in urban Buenos Aires, it is also flat as a pancake.

Fortunately despite the early hour we were able to check-in to our hotel and it was great to have a shower. Outside it is very hot, about 32 centigrade and quite humid, so as we are quite tired we resolved to have a quiet start. There was an old style-shopping arcade with a great café near the hotel where we had a simple salad lunch. Fairly bizarrely it was under a dome with frescos portraying naked women.

I have discovered a restaurant near the hotel that specialises in steak, so tonight will be steak and Malbec. Perhaps some more celebrities!!!