We had a slow start to the day with just relaxing around the
hostel and then taking a walk to the supermarket to get some drinks for the
party later. We also got some food for the trip to Colonia for the next day as
we were warned that everything would be closed on new year’s day.
At the hostel we had a few beers meeting everyone and
discussing everyone’s plans. We had found out that the locals tend to spend new
year’s with their family and then go out at about 2am so we were feeling very
lucky to be going to Rory’s party. Most of the other people in the hostel went
to a dinner in the hostel next door and then went to Puerto Madero to watch the
fireworks.
At about 9:30 Olivier, Christina, Brian, Damien and I made
our way to get some ice, then to grab a cab and off to the party... We rang the
bell and as the door opened one of our bags broke and SMASH, there goes a
bottle of wine (fortunately it wasn’t the champagne or rum)! We were warmly
greeted by Rory and ushered up a flight of stairs where we saw the size of this
place. It was amazing and huge. Downstairs was a massive L-shape lounge and the
kitchen (which was full of emponadas and charizo). We grabbed a few drinks and
made our way up the stairs passed a few bedrooms and bathrooms and eventually
up to the roof. Up here was a braai, a skylight looking down on the lounge and
a hot tub (which had no water in it). From the roof you could see the Boca
Juniors stadium down the road.
The venue just set up the most amazing night. All the guests
were extremely friendly (even if they couldn’t speak English) and the start of
the new year was kicked off with many wishes and champagne in plastic cups.
Shortly after 12 the tango started. It was, once again, mesmerising! After
watching the tango and I eventually made my way up to the roof where the
fireworks were still going off until at least 1am.
We basically spent the rest of the night on the roof top
looking over San Telmo and meeting new friends. At some point the hot tub got
filled up and inevitably was full of people in minutes. The drinking, laughing
and conversations continued well into the morning and Damien and I decided to
make our way home at about 8.
Since we were not too far away from the hostel we decided to
walk. Along the way we met a local and asked him where we could get a beer. He
proceeded to tell us to follow him and we could get some beer and champagne,
and as we do, we followed him.
We walked into a building and up some stairs and found
ourselves on the roof where we found a pool and overlooking the church that we
had been to a few days earlier on the walking tour. We then asked again about
that all important beer so we made our way down the stairs and into a hotel
room where he grabbed a beer from the mini bar and poured us each a glass. We
went out to the balcony and enjoyed the beer while overlooking the church and
talking about what we had been up to n Buenos Aires. We made our way back
inside and out the door when Alex then said that we had only seen one side of
the city. He continued to give us his card and phone number and told us that if
we need any strip clubs or hookers we must give him a call! We took this as our
moment to get out of there.
We got back to the hostel where we met some Brazilian girls
who were also only getting back from the night and started chatting in broken
English / Portuguese / Spanish. The finished their breakfast and went to bed
while we decided that it wasn’t worth getting any sleep as we were leaving to
Colonia in a few hours. We then continued to chat to other residents who were
coming down for breakfast.
At around 12 we made our way to the port to catch the ferry
to Colonia...