Hiking in Patagonia - Chile and Argentina
February 2-18, 2013
Part Two - Argentina
Page Seven - Buenos Aires
We said goodbye to our tour leader Sergio at the El Calafate Airport and caught an
afternoon flight to Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, where we transferred to our
hotel in the elite Recoleta District. The following day we had free to explore Buenos
Aires before catching our overnight flight back to Denver via Dallas.
Jeff and I had prearranged an English speaking tour of the
historic part of the City. Her is Santo Domingo Church. This
18th century Dominican basilica has a colorful history. On its left
tower are the replicated scars of shrapnel from fire against British
troops who holed up here during the 1806 invasion. The statue
outside is a tribute to General Manuel Belgrano, the creator
of the Argentine flag.
Buenos Aires has numerous churches. Roman Catholicism is the
officially supported religion of Argentina, but the Constitution was
changed in 1994 to allow non-Catholics to serve as President.
The new Pope, Pope Francis, is from Buenos Aires.
Statue of Alejo Julio Argentino Roca Paz (July 17, 1843-October 19, 1914)
He was an army general who served as President of Argentina from 1880 to 1886 and again
from 1898 to 1904. Under General Roca, the so-called Conquest of the Desert extended Argentine
power into Patagonia and ended the possibility of Chilean expansion there.
French style architecture
Buenos Aires is a vibrant city, known for its art and culture, good food,
wines, and lively nightlife. It is a city of diverse architectural influences,
especially from Italy, Spain, and France. Our guide Jessica, an expat from
Chicago, said there is a joke that Buenos Aires citizens are largely
Spanish-speaking Italians who think they are British living in France.
Memorial to Evita (Duarte) Peron
Eva Maria Duarte de Peron (May 7, 1919 - July 26, 1952) was the second wife of
President Juan Peron and served as the First Lady of Argentina from 1946 until her death
in 1952 at age 33 from cervical cancer. She is usually referred to as Eva Peron or by the
affectionate Evita.
Along with her husband, she visited every corner of the country,
become the first woman in Argentina history to appear in public
on the campaign trail with her husband, which often offended the
establishment. But, she was very popular with the general public who knew
her from her radio and motion picture appearances. She has remained
an important figure in Argentina.
The homeless appear to be the forgotten population of Buenos Aires,
although they are visible amongst doorways and piles cardboard on many streets in the city.
A homeless woman with her family shaving her leg on a street corner where they have staked out a "home."
Pat and Jeff having coffee at Cafe Tortoni - Founded in 1858, it is the oldest coffee
shop in the country. With a rich history, it is visited constantly by intellectuals, politicians and
artists and is located on famous Avenue de Mayo. Over the years the cafe has been visited by many
renowned people, including politicians, popular idols, and international figures like Albert Einstein, Robert
Duvall, Hillary Clinton, and now, Pat Jameson and Jeff Damp.
The Pink Palace that is the seat of the Argentine Government.
Casa Rosada (Pink House) is the office of the President of the country. It is known officially as
Casa de Gobierno, which means House of Government. The Casa Rosada sits at the eastern end of the Plaza
de Mayo (the political center of the City), large square, that since the 1580 foundation of Buenos Aires has
been surrounded by many of the most important political institutions. Eva Peron rallied the Argentine people
from the balcony of the Casa Rosada (see balcony on the left), as did her husband Juan Peron and many
other politicians. If you've seen the movie "Evita," the Plaza de Mayo was the setting for many key scenes, and
Madonna sang from the balcony.
Recoleta District where our hotel was located. It is a downtown residential
neighborhood. It is an area of historical and architectural interest, especially because
the Recoleta Cemetery is located there. It is also an important tourist destination and
cultural center. It is one of the more affluent neighborhoods, and the cost per square foot of real
estate is one of the highest in the city.
Here in Recoleta Cemetery in the Duarte Family vault is buried
Eva Peron. Recoleta Cemetery contains the graves of many
notable people in Argentina, including Presidents and Nobel Prize
winners. You could wander for a long time here, where there
are numerous lanes lined with statues and marble sarcophagi. It was in
very short walking distance of our hotel.
One of the plaques on the outside of the vault
Alongside Recoleta Cemetery is Iglesia de Nuestra Senora del Pilar, a baroque colonial church and historical
monument. In front of the church is the Plaza Intendent Alvear that holds craft fairs and is a gathering
place for tourists and for residents of the area.
Finish of a tango dance in the Plaza. Buenos Aires is known
internationally for being the city where tango music and dance
was nurtured. There are numerous shows for tourists.
THE END
Link to Page One of Part Two - Argentina
Link to Page One of Part One - Chile
Pat's Home Page