Birthdays in Buenos Aires

The Plaza Hotel - This historic hotel was also celebrating it's birthday of 100 years. Distinguished guests before these two backpackers include presidents from Eisenhower to Chirac, artists from Walt Disney to David LaChapelle, Eva Peron of course, plus royalty from as far as Japan.

Steph and I were so excited to be touching down in Buenos Aires to finally meet my whole family. It was going to be the first time the Zimmermans were reunited since Christmas two years ago. My parents and sister Monica were meeting us to celebrate almost all our spring birthdays (except sister Mono).

We were meeting my parents at the Plaza Hotel overlooking the St Martin park. Calling this accommodation an upgrade would be the understatement of the year. I think our beat up backpacks must have confused the bell and door men.

Jorge Luis Borges, Argenitna´s most renouned writer, lived around the corner in Piso 6B from 1944 to 1986 before moving to Geneva and dying that same year.

We waited for my sister to get there (she is always running a little - 7 days is only fashionable) before opening birthday presents in my parents room, that seemed to be some kind of presidential suite overlooking the rooftops of Buenos Aires.

As if travelling the world was not enough on your birthday, seeing my family in South America was a once in a lifetime experience.

We were so touched to receive presents that Steph's parents had gone to a lot of trouble to deliver through ash clouds and via Washington. What a surprise. They knew exactly what we needed for the Patagonian winter weather only weeks away now - warm, sensible clothes! Gill knitted Steph a beautiful sweater and matching socks that almost brought her to tears. Our friends Cat and Imran even got in on the surprise and sent over Chatwin's In Patagonia with a card that made light of me being an old cheese, which is a good thing of course.

Mom opening a paumou jade ear ings from New Zealand.

The family birthday continued when we went for a splendid steak dinner in Palermo that night. I think we had all been dreaming of Argentine steak and malbec since the idea for this Buenos Aires birthday was first proposed. All of us except Mono the vegetarian who decided to just focus on the wine, dulce de lece and stupendous desserts.