Kate converts to Islam and we discover the nicest spot in Buenos Aires

Kate thinks we managed to have breakfast in a "reasonable" amount of time this morning.  Reasonable means 2.5 hrs.  After which we hustled back to the apartment, changed clothes and presented ourselves to the Islamic Cultural Center.  There are tours of the center on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 12 noon.  I'm telling you all of this information so that you can avoid the Islamic Cultural Central on Avenida Bullrich on Tuesdays and Thursdays between noon and 1:30 pm.

The Center is located on a big, wide open plot of land in Palermo.  The land was donated by the Argentina government and the buildings and grounds were constructed from funds provided by King Fahd.  We entered through the main gate with a crowd of about 20 other interested tourists.  Women with bare arms or see-through sleeves were asked to cover them.  We met our tour guide and began the longest hour long tour I have ever taken in my life.

We hoped to hear more about the building's architecture during the tour.... but we did not.  We did hear all sorts of really compelling reasons to convert to Islam.  In fact, 99% of the tour was an attempt to convince us of the righteousness of Allah.  The crowd grew oppositional and bored.  There were a few snippy exchanges between one particular woman tourist and the tour guide.  I alternately felt uncomfortable about the tone of the exchange and bored out of my mind.  Kate made herself feel better by photographing the calligraphy exhibit.  I think she might convert to Islam...

After the tour was over, we raced out of the Center and made our way to Jumbo (the Argentine version of Walmart) for some relief and an ATM.

The plan for the afternoon was undefined.  We headed downtown on the bus-- the #93, fare AR$1.20.  We walked out to the Puerto Madero Ecological Reserve hoping to rent bikes and ride around a bit.  Of course, this is Argentina-- bikes are only available on alternate Fridays and two Monday mornings a month, so we had to enjoy the reserve as normal, boring bipeds.

The reserve is an escape from Buenos Aires.  The traffic noise and pollution are drowned out by grasslands and trees and the shores of the Rio Plata.  We sat on a shady bench and read for a while.  The afternoon was mostly tranquil... minus a run-in with stinging nettles and being surrounded by a pack of lactating wild dogs.  The contrast between the big, booming city of Buenos Aires and this special, quiet spot was such a unexpected and appreciated surprise!

We ended the day with a fancy steak dinner on Puerto Madero.

["I'm medium rare."  No joke.]