Back in Buenos Aires

I knew I was headed back to Buenos Aires when there was a clamor upon boarding my American Airlines flight. A mix of Hasidic Jews, little blonde kids in boots and blue and white sweaters in late June, Korean passport holders speaking better Spanish than I could ever hope to, and very vocal South Americans with funny accents pushing their way to get on the plane even though their row was far from being called.

And this morning, as I was awakened by horns, and an inexplicable, impromptu show/protest/concert at the national congress building down the street, I thought, "Ahhh, it's good to be back."

My love for the city came back full force and there are moments when it feels like I never left. Only two things threaten to ruin my 3 week vacation here. First, the inflation. It's no joke. Prices have doubled on a lot of stuff. Buenos Aires is no longer a relatively cheap city. When I left, getting in a cab at night started at 3,80. (Pesos) Now it's at 6,90. In July 2010 a cheese and onion empanada down the street was 3,50, and now it's 6,00. I've gone out to eat a couple of times and have found prices to be similar to what I'd be paying in the suburbs of LA. And these are little luxuries that one can do without. So I don't have that much to really complain about. My boyfriend has been talking about the rising cost of rent and other food items for a while now. The subte and buses are the same price, thankfully.

The winter is also pretty sucky. It's so cold. So cold. Perhaps if I'd had the transition from summer to fall to winter, it wouldn't be so bad. But going from 87 degrees and sunny to 35 degrees and gray was just a cruel thing to do to myself.

Still so very happy to be here, though.