Admittedly, it wasn’t the best idea I ever came up with. We were walking down Avenida Santa Fe, which, towards the Recoleta end, is like Fifth Avenue in New York. As we passed a pastry shop, I noticed some apple strudel sitting invitingly in the window.
Knowing how much we (especially Zenchai) enjoy strudel, I suggested we go in for a snack.
So we sat at a table, ordered our food and devoured it. Then came the bill – a whopping 78 pesos (£13). I nearly fell off my chair. Is that the most expensive strudel in the world? There had to be a mistake.
After all, in Croatia in the summer, when we purchased strudel nearly each morning, it cost us 10 kuna (£1.19).
I didn’t check the price before ordering because, on the whole, food in Argentina hasn’t been too expensive. But I learned my lesson – again. Always check first!
To make matters worse, though, on the way home in a taxi, Zenchai was sick and up came his strudel. But he felt a lot better, which is the important thing.
The strudel episode came shortly after we’d visited the El Ateneo Bookstore (1860 Santa Fe – between Riobamba and Callao).
This is no ordinary bookstore. In fact, on one blog I read recently it was voted in the top 10 most stunning bookstores in the world. And it truly is impressive.
A renovated theatre, there is now a café on the stage and books on four levels, including downstairs. All the magnificent details, especially on the ceiling, have been left in tact.
We spent most of our time in the children’s section, but were asked by one member of staff not to read the books! Can you believe that? Who doesn’t read books in a bookstore?
It left a sour taste in our mouths. I wasn’t sure if it was because Zenchai was wearing his Brazil shirt. Whatever, we left fairly promptly afterwards – and still purchased a few books.
And we would still recommend anyone visiting Buenos Aires to make a stop here. But avoid the restaurant selling pastries a few shops along.
Well, looking at the size of the thing on Z-man's plate, I imagine that each portion you ate was equivalent to three Argentinian portions; so, three of you ate for nine who'd have had a small slice with coffee (£1.45 per person: more reasonable for an exotic pastry).
Too bad you weren't into ice cream or alfajores (alfajor = thick Argentine sandwich cookie); they're lots cheaper, and pretty good (for us dietary slackers, anyway). Of course, asking the price in advance always is a good idea when on the road; add in the value of the lesson, and the strudel was a bargain, ¿no?
Posted by: Bill Moss | 04 November 2010 at 06:27 PM