I woke up around seven, which was way too early, but managed to sleep until 11. I didn't really feel like going out and go sightseeing, so I went shopping instead.

The only problem with that being that I can't actually buy anything because I won't be able to carry it. Plus, my wardrobe seems to be perfectly balanced now, it may upset the system if I add anything...

I had a sandwich and watched the world go by, lots of porteños going to Micky Mouse jobs not earning a lot of money... I like Buenos Aires, it's a bustling city, and seems a bit more alive than Chile, somehow. I also like the cafe culture, sitting in a cafe, with the paper or a book, or just peoplewatching...

Argentinians, on the whole, score better than their Chilean counterparts on looks, and especially here in Buenos Aires, there is a lot of diversity as well. Which makes the score for best looking people on this trip so far:

Cubanos: 1/5
Argentinos: 1/15
Reino unidenses: 1/25
Bélgas: 1/30
Chilenos: 1/50

I read my book on the Plaza de Mayo and ran for shelter to the cathedral when it started to rain. One thing you do see a lot in BA are street children, opening the door of your taxi or selling flowers to earn a few pesos. And at the other end, there are loads of Burger Kings and McDonalds' around. In Santiago, there did not seem to be as many of either, so perhaps they have found a better balance.

In the internet café, I had a keyboard with no keys: the letters were all but gone, which made it hard to type without any errors. Back at the hotel, Kirsty seemed to have left as she is staying at a posh hotel for the last two nights. So I took another lovely bath. In the evening, we had dinner 'al fresco, next to the Rio Plata in Puerto Madero and had to start saying our goodbyes as everybody is leaving at a different time.

I would say the JLA trip was good, and it gave me a good taste of what I wanted to see in Chile and Argentina, but travelling independently still feels infinitely more rich. In a group, you just need to follow, but when it's just you, you need to pay attention a lot more, which makes you a lot more observant, makes you look out of the tourist bubble a bit more. Plus you have more time to digest it all.