NorbertsNiece

Outside the cemetery there was a cab parked up. That's how we met Franco, cab driver extraordinaire. We negotiated a price to take us to the Evita museum. $5. On the way there with our limited Spanish, his WiFi ( he let me use it!) and Google translate on both phones we got along swimmingly. He offered to take us on a tour of choice after we'd been round the museum and for $30 for 3 hours we struck a deal. When we got out at the museum he didn't take the initial $5, we could've scarpered! The building itself, built at the start of the 20th century, was originally the home of a wealthy family and was acquired by Eva Peron's social foundation in 1948 for use as a refuge for women from outside Buenos Aires. It has a café with a nice space to sit outside. I had no idea she'd been such a prolific film star! They were firmly against taking pictures of her dresses ... . There was a black satin Dior evening gown that was stunning. All the Péron dresses were simply cut but so so elegant. More about the museum here. . . . . .

Geoff changed some USD for pesos. Paid the cabs in USD! Food at the tango show was very good indeed. Did not eat elsewhere. No time or energy! Will share cabby info later, highly recommend him. Geoff finished the bottle of champagne British Airways gave him this afternoon while I was blogging 😀🥂🍾

I really want to finish off our day today but my eyes are telling me they need to rest. We embark tomorrow afternoon so I will do my very best to cross the T's and dot the I's in the morning. We had a super taxi driver guide for the rest of the afternoon and loads to share. ¡Mañana!

Now being perfectly honest I had an ulterior motive in coming here. To visit the family tomb of the Duarte family, and the burial place of Eva Péron.

Liliana Crociati..... such a sad story. You can read about her here .

We've had another awesome day today. The concierge at the hotel called a cab for us and we went straight to the Recoleta Cemetery. In this maze like city of the dead, over 6,400 monuments, sarcophagi, coffins, and crypts memorialize some of Argentina’s most famous citizens. I was in danger of becoming extremely morbid.... exposed and occupied coffins not something I am accustomed to. Some of the monuments were the size of small cottages! . . . .

Yesterday we got 950 pesos per USD at a cambio.

For your future reference the dinner/tango show was booked through Viator as an 'early show. Signature Tours was the vendor.

Have started my blog pre cruise. Link in sig. Have just finished writing up our first day. Linda

Heading back to the hotel. What a day we had!! This is the balcony at the Pink House from where Evita Péron spoke to the crowds. The Obelisk.The iconic Obelisco de Buenos Aires stands at the intersection of two of the city’s most important streets: Avenida Corrientes and Avenida 9 de Julio, the widest street in the world with an incredible 16 lanes. The monument was erected in 1936 to commemorate the first foundation of the city by Pedro de Mendoza in 1536, and marks the spot where the Argentine national flag was raised for the first time.

Some gaucho action here And here

Last night's dinner / tango show was fabulous. The meal was delicious and the dancing sublime. The gaucho display was spectacular. At the outset we were asked to not take pictures of the show, so I obliged. Then after the trio of couples had finished their various routines, to rapturous applause, an older couple danced with perhaps less vigor but as much beauty. Then I was told to take pictures!!

Back at the hotel we had lunch in the hotel bistro. Was excellent. I always try and get a specific mug on my travels at the local Starbucks. There's an office block right next door to the hotel with a Starbucks concession. Sadly no mugs but they do give away the coffee grounds to use as fertiliser! We then rode the hotel lift to the top floor (19) to see what views we could get. On 17 there's an exclusive lounge to which we don't have access. Will see if I can sneak a peek! . . . .

We are at our last stop Happy Hanukkah! Gomero de la Recoleta. The most amazing rubber tree The sculpture of the Atlantean was inaugurated in 2014. The figure is 1.85 m. high, weighs approximately 250 kilos and rests on a circular iron base. It is made up of more than three thousand car parts, welded and assembled Basílica Nuestra Señora del Pilar, The Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar in Recoleta, Buenos Aires, was built as part of the Franciscan monastery, completed in 1732 and dedicated to Our Lady of the Pillar. It is the second-oldest church in Buenos Aires, and has served as a parish church following the expulsion of the Franciscans in 1821. Recoleta Cemetery. Entry wasn't included in the tour. We returned the next day The cemetery wall overshadowed by a memorial behind it! There is Jacaranda everywhere! Recoleta Cultural Centre I'm famous albeit associated with fast food!

Back on the tour bus we head towards Recoleta . . Bentito Quinquela Martin, responsible for the brightly coloured houses, watches over La Boca BA has an underground transit system Faculty of Law .Floralis Genérica. A city gift from an architect, this striking steel flower sculpture sits above a reflecting pool. A modern balletic sculpture of Eva Péron in a park The Monument to the Mayor Torcuato María de Alvear is a monument to the first Mayor of the City of Buenos Aires between 1880 and 1887

Here is a link to a detailed history of Caminito. We were given some free time at a small shopping arcade. Geoff changed some US $ : 950 pesos per $ at an official cambio. .

Pics from the tour bus. We are headed towards Caminito, a street museum and a traditional alley, located in La Boca. Messi and Maradona feature heavily in murals etc. There are comic strip characters scattered around BA as small 'statues'. More about them here. . .

Good morning and thanks for following. Will keep posting in chronological order. Plaza de Mayo contd. The Casa Rosada, the Pink House, is the headquarters of the Executive Branch of the Argentine Republic. Inside is the office of the president of the Argentine Nation and its different secretariats, and the Chief of the Cabinet of Ministers. Originally built in 1594 on the River Plate as a fortress the building has been rebuilt and renovated over the years. Under the presidency of Domingo Faustino Sarmiento, 1868 -1874, the building was painted pink, a color that it preserves to this day. According to legend this color is due to Sarmiento's desire to symbolically represent the fusion of the parties that carried out the bloody civil wars of the first half of the 19th century. It arises from the combination of lime paint with bovine blood, the latter being used for its water-repellent and fixing properties. Pirámide de Mayo May Pyramid 19 meters high, it was built in 1811 to celebrate the first anniversary of the May Revolution. From its summit emerges a figure representing Liberty. Around her, starting in 1977, the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo began to gather to demand the appearance of their children kidnapped during the last military coup in 1976. On the ground, around the Pyramid, are painted the characteristic white scarves that the Mothers wear on their heads. The Equestrian monument to General Manuel Belgrano The stones around the statue are in memory of the victims of Covid placed by their loved ones 😢 The National Bank of Argentina

HUGE apologies for my posting foul up in previous post. Need to get ready for dinner/tango so no time to edit again. 🤦‍♀️🫣

What a beautiful city Buenos Aires is. We had a lovely guide, Lolita, and saw a few sites. Will be going back to Recoletta tomorrow by Uber more than likely, or Remis which is similar to what we call minicabs in the UK. I recognised little from my previous visit 6 years ago when I took a totally different tour. Pics from the minibus and our arrival at Plaza de Mayo, May Plaza. Almost all the most important political events in Argentine history occurred here. Its name is in homage to the Revolution of May 25, 1810, which occurred in this same square and which began the feat of Argentine Independence, from which a form of self-government arose. It is also the place where the City was founded for the second time , on June 11, 1580 by Juan de Garay, with the name of the City of the Holy Trinidad and Puerto de Santa María del Buen Ayre. The primitive village grew around this square, until it became the political center of the country. Statue on top of the Diario La Prensa building, the HWhat a beautiful city Buenos Aires is. We had a lovely guide, Lolita, and saw a few sites. Will be going back to Recoletta tomorrow by Uber more than likely, or Remis which is similar to what we call minicabs in the UK. I recognised little from my previous visit 6 years ago when I took a totally different tour. Pics from the minibus and our arrival at Plaza de Mayo, May Plaza. Almost all the most important political events in Argentine history occurred here. Its name is in homage to the Revolution of May 25, 1810, which occurred in this same square and which began the feat of Argentine Independence, from which a form of self-government arose. It is also the place where the City was founded for the second time , on June 11, 1580 by Juan de Garay, with the name of the City of the Holy Trinidad and Puerto de Santa María del Buen Ayre. The primitive village grew around this square, until it became the political center of the coWhat a beautiful city Buenos Aires is. We had a lovely guide, Lolita, and saw a few sites. Will be going back to Recoletta tomorrow by Uber more than likely, or Remis which is similar to what we call minicabs in the UK. I recognised little from my previous visit 6 years ago when I took a totally different tour. Pics from the minibus and our arrival at Plaza de Mayo, May Plaza. Almost all the most important political events in Argentine history occurred here. Its name is in homage to the Revolution of May 25, 1810, which occurred in this same square and which began the feat of Argentine Independence, from which a form of self-government arose. It is also the place where the City was founded for the second time , on June 11, 1580 by Juan de Garay, with the name of the City of the Holy Trinidad and Puerto de Santa María del Buen Ayre. The primitive village grew around this square, until it became the political center of the coWhat a beautiful city Buenos Aires is. We had a lovely guide, Lolita, and saw a few sites. Will be going back to Recoletta tomorrow by Uber more than likely, or Remis which is similar to what we call minicabs in the UK. I recognised little from my previous visit 6 years ago when I took a totally different tour. Pics from the minibus and our arrival at Plaza de Mayo, May Plaza. Almost all the most important political events in Argentine history occurred here. Its name is in homage to the Revolution of May 25, 1810, which occurred in this same square and which began the feat of Argentine Independence, from which a form of self-government arose. It is also the place where the City was founded for the second time , on June 11, 1580 by Juan de Garay, with the name of the City of the Holy Trinidad and Puerto de Santa María del Buen Ayre. The primitive village grew around this square, until it became the political center of the country. Statue of Pallas Athena, made by Maurice Bouval, in the House of Culture in Buenos Aires, Argentina. City Legislature building City Hall When Juan de Garay arrived from Asunción to found the city of La Trinidad y Puerto de Buenos Aires on June 11, 1580, he set aside for the main church or cathedral the same quarter of a city block that it occupies today. Two brothers from the Jesuit Order, architect one and bricklayer the other, completed this first cathedral, as well as several other religious buildings of this early city. This is the final incarnation of the Metropolitan Cathedral.

Buen día and thanks for following. Slept well enough. Been to breakfast which was lovely. GF croissants were not good lol but the chorizo was! Discovered the pool, gym and a roof terrace. There's also a sauna.

Our TA had us booked with a company called Grupo Summa SRL We're both exhausted. Ordered room service. Absolutely delicious! Have booked a small group BA tour through Viator in the morning. 0935 pick up and drop off at hotel.

Our TA had arranged transfers for us. Not sure what remiss means. There were hire car booths as we exited the baggage hall. Oh, speaking of the baggage hall, before we exited all our bags had to go through scanners.

We're staying at the InterContinental Buenos Aires This is more of a business hotel than one designed for tourists. We're on the 10th floor with a city view. A while back I emailed them requesting a room with USB points. Fortunately we brought adapters. There are just 4 sockets all in the desk, nothing accessible by the bed. And no USB points. It's a large, darkly furnished, room with a decent ensuite. There's no tourist information whatsoever. Looks like Viator, other tour companies are available, will be our way forward.

Checked in to hotel after a 44 min drive along a very straight road. First impressions very green outside the city, interesting churches; very densely populated with many high rises as we neared the city. Room not ready yet. Passed a memorial to Eva Peron on the Government Health Ministry building. Glad I got a shot off.