Visiting El Tigre

When I first got on the commuter train, I didn't see any real seats. People stood on the sides, rested on ledges near the doors, sat on the ground, or walked up and down the train. It was around 11am and more and more families, couples, musicians, and so on got on at each stop. First came a blind man taking a few careful steps with his cane and then he reaching into his pocket he pulled out a harmonica. Next was a short older man carrying a harp just slightly taller than him. Suddenly he stopped and began energetically strumming a Chacarera. Then one at a time men would appear with boxes or baskets that they would set down and tell the wonders of the package of gum, oreo cookies, pastries, or whatever they were selling. In between children came by handing out bobby pins or cards hoping to sell them to you. After handing them all out they would go back and collect them hoping to have sold one or two. Finally at Tigre everyone poured out of the train to walk along the banks of the muddy river, go to the amusement park or wander through the large craft fair on the port (best place for souvenirs I think). I read there is another 'turistic' train, but I quite enjoyed the people watching on the commuter train.

An older couple at the B& B suggested I take a wooden boat to visit some of the islands. After walking all around town I found the tourism office and the boat dock right next to the train station where I started. No one knew about the three islands, but told me I could visit the place where three rivers went. I got my ticket for Tres Bocas and was loaded onto one of the wooden water taxis. Luggage was thrown on top of the boats and then they set off down the canal like river. All along the banks of the river were docks for summer houses, restaurants, etc. People sat along the river in big hammock like lawn chairs, others fished, and a brave few were in row boats being bounced about by the big brown waves created by the passing boats. It took about half an hour to get to Tres Bocas. One of the clubs we passed along the way had a a series of flags painted on small pieces of wood. I caught a glimpse of a 'Canadian' flag that had modified the maple leaf with three holly leaves. I wasn't quite fast enough with my camera.

When we arrived I realized I was not in the same place the couple had told me about. They said they had had a hard time finding the restaurant on the 'island'. Here there were about three just steps from the dock, but I was more interested in exploring. I went to go see the 'tres bocas' and started to follow a trail that twisted around the 'island'. The further I walked the less people I saw and suddenly I felt like I was walking through the yards of private cottages. I decided to turn back and went back to the start and a lady told me the three river mouths were only about 50 metres away. Much less obvious than I had expected she showed me how the three muddy 'rivers/canals' came together. That was it, so I went back to the dock. It might have been interesting to try the parilla meat platter at a restaurant, but not for one person. Back I went to the dock, to the train, and to the city.