No digas nada, por favor...

Today was a cloudy, on-again off-again day of sprinkles and light rain, so we spent most of it walking downtown and darting in and out of shops and restaurants. But not before I left bright and early for an exhilarating 6-mile run through a nearby park, the misty air exposing my breath as I exhaled. It was a great run, only diminished by the unattractive propensity of middle-aged Argentine males to wear tight spandex while running in front of me. The only positive: It made me run faster to pass.

We began our sightseeing today with a typical "porteño" breakfast of café con leche with 3 medialunas and freshly squeezed orange juice in tiny cups.

Following breakfast we made our way to the city's most famous bookstore, El Ateneo. The building used to be a late-19th century theater that had fallen into disrepair; but it was bought and rescued, and the owners tastefully redid it into the bookstore it is today. We bought a map and guidebook of Argentina in anticipation of our cross country drive, as well as a small book and DVD for the girls.

Then it was off to wander the streets along Avenida Santa Fe, Calle Florida, and Calle Lavalle. 

There were street performers like "the windy businessman" (who us standing still in the photo below, believe it or not):

Then we ate a pizza and empanada lunch at a little cafe. Note: pizza with large chunks of garlic bathed in olive oil and fresh oregano on top = delicious.

Some more shopping (Pauli bought a dress, sweater, and tights; Drew bought a Coke as he gave helpful insights and opinions...well, kinda).

And finally, a bus ride home, small dinner, and a great $4 bottle of wine that could only have come from steak-obsessed Argentina (drunk while listening to our new favorite Argentine song, "No digas nada, por favor" by Cali Y El Dandee).