Today was city tour day. The first stop was the Plaza de Mayo where the Pink House is located. It is the main building for Argentinas government and where the balconies are where “Evita” Paron and her husband would address the people. The square is also where many Argentinians will come to protest. There was even a statue that was surrounded by many stones with peoples names and dates on them representing people that have died from Covid.
We then wondered over to the Metropolitan Cathedral, the main Catholic Church in Argentina.
As we were walking to the church we took in the obelisk, which looks similar to the National monument in Washington. Don’t know much about the history, but seems to be an Argentinian attraction.
We then stopped at the marina area, basically where I went yesterday to get my hard rock t-shirt. From there you could really see the difference in the city between new and the old European architecture. It is amazing to me how much it feel like Europe here.
We then drove past the lagoons in Puerto Madero on our way to La Boca and La Bombonera stadium home to Boca Juniors, one of Argentina’s top futbol clubs. We got out and walked around a bit looking at the colorful houses on Caminito street. The story is that the tenement homes were built by Genoese immigrants by going down to the docks to get materials that were being tossed, mainly sheet metal. They took what they could get and since the colors could change frequently that is how the area became so colorful.
We were then told we were going to stop for a snack. I figured it would be a few empanadas, but no it was a choripan, basically a large sausage on a bun. Not a snack, but a whole meal.
We were then given 45 minutes to walk around the area. A lot of street vendors and we were told not to venture too far. We were back to the hotel by 2 pm. Not wanting to sit in my room for the rest of the day, I took a walk to the Recoleta Cemetery, while we are likely going there on a tour when we get back, I figured this would give me more time. The cemetery features thousands of statues, mausoleums that resemble Gothic chapels, crypts, fairytale grottoes, sarcophagi, coffins, and elegant little houses that hold the remains of some of Argentina’s most iconic and celebrated figures. It was pretty interesting.
As I walked back to the hotel, I saw some people from our group and stopped by to chat. When they left for dinner, I went up to my room and packed. I really wasn’t hungry and had leftover empanadas to eat. Got my bigger suitcase packed up as they are picking them up at 8 pm tonight outside our door. Our flight leaves at 5:40 am so we have to be on the bus at 3 am. It is going to be another long day tomorrow. Good thing I am use to functioning without sleep!
Photos
Recoleta Cemetary
