Buenos Aires-Iguazu Day 2
Buenos Aires-Iguazu
Post Trip OAT Day 2- Saturday, December 15, 2007 - Discover Buenos Aires - Optional Tango Show & Dinner
Getting to bed at 2:45 am after trying to get on the internet and then getting up at 7:30 made for a short night!
We organized our bags then had breakfast at the buffet in the hotel. At 9:30 our group of 18 on this post trip met our local guide Veronica. We got on our bus with our driver Carlos and began our exploration of Buenos Aires.
This capital city is an elegant mixture of Spanish colonial architecture and several traditional European styles. As we traveled, Veronica gave us a running commentary of the history and politics of the country and this beautiful city. Because it was Saturday, most of the shops were closed but the streets were busy with traffic.
Our first stop was the Avenida de 9 de Mayo, which runs into Plaza de Mayo, where many buildings important to Argentine history are centered. We saw the Casa Rosada (Pink House, Government House), the Metropolitan Cathedral, and the Cabildo, the first City Hall built during Spanish rule.
As an extra special adventure we were given a ticket to ride the 1913 underground, a subway with wooden cars that is in remarkable shape! We rode two stops and then visited a feira, street market, where Veronica purchased a wonderful pastry with dolce de leite covered in powdered sugar!
Then we visited La Boca, Buenos Aires’s first merchant and fishing port. We had 30 minutes to visit the famous Caminito, an outdoor museum and art show where painters offer their tango pictures, or stroll along the renovated waterfront promenade.
What a BEAUtiful day - the sun was bright and there was not a cloud in the sky. It was 77 degrees with 46% humidity. The air was surprisingly fresh for such a huge city with 13 million people.
We passed the Boca Soccer Stadium, where the Boca Juniors play. Everywhere we saw the blue and gold colors of the famous soccer team and pictures of the hero, Maradona.
We thought Brazil was crazy for soccer - but these fans are just as fanatical. Even Coca Cola, who sponsors the team, agreed not to use their traditional red and white colors but their logo here is in blue and gold!
Our next stop was the Recoleta District with its elegant homes, fashionable restaurants and shops, and famous cemetery where Eva Peron is buried. We had 40 minutes to stroll through the huge and towering mausoleums, a demonstration of the affluence of the powerful and wealthy families.
We then walked on to Uru Recoleta for a presentation on the famous Argentinean leather industry. We were given the opportunity to look and then shop for garments.
We got back on the bus and were driven narrow streets to one of Buenos Aires most famous steak restaurant, La Posada de 1820. We were served empanadas, sausage, then our steaks with salad and French fries. Wines and water flowed freely. For dessert we had Neapolitan ice cream.
We walked back to our hotel stopping at a little market where we purchased some water. We returned to our room where we packed our small carry-on bags for the two day trip to Iguaçu Falls and got a couple of hours sleep.
At 8 PM we met in the hotel lobby and were driven to the El Quarandi for dinner and a tango show. We had another great meal with Argentinean wine and dessert. At 10 PM the show began with a short video history of the tango.
We were then treated to a musical variety show with four instrumental performers that sounded like and orchestra. Interspersed were two singers who performed a wide range of tango songs.
The highlights to me were the six dancers - what agility, grace, and foot movement. I can now see why Argentina is one of the best soccer countries in the world - they have the footwork.
At 11:30 we returned to the hotel knowing that we could sleep a little later because we do not have to be out until 10:30 AM to catch our next flight to Iguaçu Falls on the border of Argentina, Paraguay, and Brazil.
Accommodations: Reconquista Garden Hotel - - - Meal: B, L
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Comments
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