Our arrival in Buenos Aires was well timed. The weather had been in the 90's Fahrenheit; then a cool front came through the night before our arrival to push temperatures down into the pleasant 70's. It was a one-hour car transfer from the airport to our hotel. The driver was talkative; first question was 'what do you think of your new President?' Then he launched into Argentinian politics and life. Buenos Aires metro area has almost 14 million persons; one third are at or below the poverty level. Eternal struggle between rich and poor.
After our ten hour flight, we crashed at the hotel for a few hours; then it was off to find dinner. Our boutique hotel (15 rooms) is in Palermo Viejo, an Italian neighborhood. It's considered a good area, but still reeks of "third world". Not necessarily a bad thing, but it has distinct characteristics. Watch out for the dog poo, uneven sidewalks, broken/missing tiles, and scattered trash. (That could also describe Washington, DC). Many small shops; you need to look closely to find their shop sign. The food and service is good; although not cheap. Our hotel staff are extremely helpful.
Our first full day was fantastic. We walked to Evita's (Eva Peron) grave; toured an outstanding open market of handmade goods; and then joined up with a tour guide and two other couples (from England and Denmark) for a tour of the area. Eva Peron (Duarte) is buried in Recoleta Cemetery, one of the most amazing cemeteries on earth. The monuments in this cemetery are huge and ornate. They are actually small buildings, extending 25-30 feet below ground with space for multiple coffins, stairways, windows, displays, and extensive original carvings and statues. Only the wealthiest and most famous get buried here.
Our guide was from Venezuela; trained as a professor but reduced to supplementing his income with conducting tours. With his background, he explained the economic and political history of Argentina. Quite complicated! We ended up at the Kirchner Cultural Centre (one of the largest on earth) for an evening concert. Our outdoor dinner started at 10:30pm (many restaurants open at 8pm). We were able to flag down a late taxi for a ride home.
We visited two locations today. First, we took a boat trip to Tigre, exploring the Rio de La Plata delta. The homes there are on the river, which is their means of transport. Apparently, even fresh water is brought in by boat. A wide variety of homes from beautiful to shacks.
Along the way we stopped in San Ysidro, very wealthy, beautiful area where the Argentina president has a home. A very tall and well-kept cathedral is located there. Many public spaces are not so well kept.
Next, we went right into downtown Buenos Aires to visit the presidential palace, "the pink house", national cathedral, and other grand buildings.
Then we came home on the subway during rush hour; wish I got a picture of that, but the subway car was so packed that I had no room to get my camera out. It was a real sense of accomplishment to get my SUBE card, load it with pesos and navigate the signs and tunnels of the subway system to get us to multiple locations around the city.
After our ten hour flight, we crashed at the hotel for a few hours; then it was off to find dinner. Our boutique hotel (15 rooms) is in Palermo Viejo, an Italian neighborhood. It's considered a good area, but still reeks of "third world". Not necessarily a bad thing, but it has distinct characteristics. Watch out for the dog poo, uneven sidewalks, broken/missing tiles, and scattered trash. (That could also describe Washington, DC). Many small shops; you need to look closely to find their shop sign. The food and service is good; although not cheap. Our hotel staff are extremely helpful.
Our first full day was fantastic. We walked to Evita's (Eva Peron) grave; toured an outstanding open market of handmade goods; and then joined up with a tour guide and two other couples (from England and Denmark) for a tour of the area. Eva Peron (Duarte) is buried in Recoleta Cemetery, one of the most amazing cemeteries on earth. The monuments in this cemetery are huge and ornate. They are actually small buildings, extending 25-30 feet below ground with space for multiple coffins, stairways, windows, displays, and extensive original carvings and statues. Only the wealthiest and most famous get buried here.
We visited two locations today. First, we took a boat trip to Tigre, exploring the Rio de La Plata delta. The homes there are on the river, which is their means of transport. Apparently, even fresh water is brought in by boat. A wide variety of homes from beautiful to shacks.
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