After almost 15 hours of traveling, we arrived in Buenos Aires! After grabbing our bags and getting through customs, we were greeted by two IES abroad members, who handed out alfajores ( a must have when in Argentina). During our bus ride to the hotel, I was able to see many different parts of Buenos Aires and multiple different types of buildings. As we turned down the street of our hotel, I was amazed with how comfortable the bus driver was squeezing down the tiny street. Thankfully most of us were able to check in to our rooms and freshen up before our welcome lunch at IES. IES had planned a perfect lunch on this beautiful patio with a great view of the city. They served us salads, grilled vegetables, and perfectly smoked different meats. The perfect meal after such a long day. It was so nice to talk to other people in the group and get to know them even better.
After lunch, we had a health and safety orientation to prepare us on the safest ways to go about different things. I feel so much better knowing simple tips from locals and hearing that if we ever need anything or have any questions, there is someone we can ask. After this meeting, we had our own time to do what we wanted. A lot of us went to exchange money which was such a cool experience to see. We walked around and explored some of the streets by our hotel and saw many places that we all want to try later this week. The buildings and the streets give off a completely different vibe than the very modernized New York City, which I grew up going too. Some car brands were common ones in the United States but others we couldn’t recognize, which I found very interesting.
I’m looking forward to seeing other parts of Buenos Aires, trying more amazing food, and building friendships with the others in this group!
