WHEN ONE TRAVELS YOUR HORIZONS ARE EXPANDED IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE. WE WERE INCREDIBLY FORTUNATE TO ARRIVE IN BUENOS AIRES THE WEEK OF THE 25th DE MAYO! THE 200 YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF ARGENTINA´S DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE FROM SPAIN.
THE POPULATION OF BUENOS AIRES IS 3 MILLION, WE WERE AMONG THE SIX MILLION REVELORS THAT CELEBRATED THE EXHIBITS, PARADES, CONCERTS, GALAS, PRESENTATIONS, SPEECHES, FLOATS AND FANTASTIC FIREWORKS DEPICTING ARGENTINAS 200 YEARS. THE JOY, EXUBERANCE, AND EXHILARATION OF THE ARGENTINES WAS THE MOST INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE WE HAVE EVER ENCOUNTERED IN A BIG CITY....AND WE HAVE BEEN TO BOTH TIMES SQUARE AND TRAFALGAR SQUARE ON NEW YEAR´S EVE! SINCE PERON´S RETURN FROM EXILE THERE HAVE NEVER BEEN SUCH CROWDS GATHERED. THERE WERE SEVEN PRESIDENTS, FROM OTHER SOUTH AMERICAN COUNTRIES, WALKING WITH CRISTINA FERNANDEZ DE KIRCHNER (ARGENTINÄ´S PRESIDENT), THROUGH THE MILLIONS AT PLAZA DE MAYO.
WE ARE STAYING IN PALEMRO, A VERY CHIC SECTION OF BUENOS AIRES. RENTING THE WOOLVERTON/JEWELL FAMILY APARTMENT. A HOME AWAY FROM HOME! MANY EXCELLENT RESTAURANTS, SHOPS, PARKS, AND MALLS TO KEEP US ENTERTAINED, EXERCISED, AND FED. AFTER A COUPLE OF DAYS WE MASTERED THE "SUBTE", AND HAVE VENTURED ONTO THE BUSES AND TAXIS. ON THE 25TH OF MAYO ALL PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION WAS FREE!
WE HAVE WALKED KILOMETERS, WHICH, IN OUR OPINION IS THE BEST WAY TO EXPLORE A CITY. THE OTHER INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY IS TO KNOW A FAMILY. WE WERE SO PRIVLEDGED TO MEET THE LERICI FAMILY, WHO ARE FRIENDS OF THE STEADMANS, FRIENDS OF OURS IN BRECKENRIDGE. NOT ONLY DID FERNANDO AND CINTHIA TREAT US TO AN UNBELIEVABLY FANTASTIC, AUTHENTIC TANGO SHOW, BUT THEY ALSO INVITED US TO THEIR HOME FOR A DELECTABLE DINNER. THEIR THREE CHILDREN, MATIAS, MARINA, AND CLARA ARE VERY TALENTED AND SPEAK ENGLISH BETTER THAN WE DO! BOTH NIGHTS WITH THEM WE DID NOT GET BACK TO THE APARTMENT UNTL 2:30 AM!
OUR FIRST LUNCH SPOT IN PALERMO...LA PHARMACIE
AVENIDA 9 de JULIO AS THE CROWD GATHER!
THE LERICI FAMILY, CINTHIA, MARINA, CLARA, MATHIAS, FERNANDO AND US!
FERNANDO VERY KINDLY SHOWED US THE PROCESS OF MAKING MATE...THE ALMOST UNIVERSAL DRINK MADE HERE IN SOUTH AMERICA, DRUNK OUT OF A GOURD...SOME OF WHICH ARE VERY ELABORATE! MATIAS IS SINGING US A SONG, HIS OWN COMPOSITION ABOUT A TRIP HE AND HIS FRIENDS MADE TO URAGUAY...MATIAS IS IN LAW SCHOOL, A VERY TALENTED YOUNG MAN!
PLAZA DE MAYO - DEDICATED TO THE REVOLUTIONAIRES OF 1810 WHO ORCHESTRATED ARGENTINA´S INDEPENDENCE. FITTINGLY IT IS HERE WHERE MOST DEMONSTRATIONS AGAINST THE CURRENT GOVERNMENT ARE HELD, AND WHERE THE PERONS GAVE MANY OF THEIR SPEECHES.
PLAZA DE MAYO HAS SEEN POST WORLD CUP VICTORY DANCES AND THE DEAFENING SILENCE OF LAS MADRES DE LA PLAZA DE MAYO´S WEEKLY MARCHES...WHO ARE DEFIANT MOTHERS OF THE CHILDREN WHO WERE ABDUCTED AND DISAPPEARED DURING THE 1976-1982 MILITARY DICTATORSHIP. THERE WAS AN EXCITING, FANTASTICALLY BEAUTIFUL LIGHT SHOW ON THE FRONT OF THIS BUENOS AIRES TOWNHALL DEPICTING THE HISTORY OF ARGENTINA ON THE EVENING OF MAY 25TH.
GENERAL MANUEL BELGRANO, CREDITED WITH THE DESIGN OF THE ARGENTINE FLAG, IN FRONT OF CASA ROSADA, WHERE CRISTINA ENTERTAINED THE VISITING DIGNITARIES, PLUS 200 OTHER INVITATIONS WERE SENT OUT FOR THE CELEBRATIONS. ...I GUESS OURS GOT LOST IN THE MAIL!
EL OBLISCO COMMEMORATES THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY THE FOUNDING OF
BUENOS AIRES.
PLAZA SAN MARTIN - MONUMENT TO GENERAL SAN MARTIN, HERO OF THE FIGHT FOR INDEPENDENCE FROM SPAIN.
GALERIAS DE PACIFICO ON CALLE FLORIDA DEFINES LUXURIOUS !
EL CAMINITO, A SECTION OF LA BOCA WHICH TEEMS WITH ARTISTS AND MUSEUMS! TANGO DANCERS ON THE STREET ARE COMMONPLACE!
LA BOMBONERA (THE CHOCOLATE BOX) HOME OF BUENOS AIRES MOST FAMOUS FOOTBALL TEAM BOCA JR...SQUEEZED IN AMONGST THE HOUSES AND BUILDINGS!
WE WERE OVERJOYED TO SEE THE RE-OPENING OF TEATRO COLON, ARGENTINA´S MOST BELOVED BUILDING, ON 24TH DE MAYO AFTER TWO YEARS OF EXHAUSTIVE RENOVATION.
PASSIONATE, INTENSE AND SOULFUL SUMS UP THE VIBRANT TANGO, WHICH WAS DEVELOPED IN BUENOS AIRES...WE WOULD BOTH BE TOTALLY BRUISED IF WE TRIED IT!
THE ELABORATE CULMINATION OF A FANTASTIC SHOW...WITH 12 HUGE ARGENTINE FLAGS!
