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The day started with a great breakfast in the hotel. Hotel pick up for the day tour just before 9.30am, but it took a long time to get started by the time we picked everyone up.
Visited the Plaza Liberador General San Martin and on to parks of the Parque 3 de Febrero where dog walkers walk 15-20 dogs; quite amusing to see someone with all these dogs on a leash.
Past the zoo (didn't go in) - supposedly an old style zoo and on to the Recoleta District. We will return here to see the shops and the ornate cemetery with Eva Peron's grave supposedly a shrine for followers.
To the Plaza de Mayo, Government House-the Casa Rosada (colored pink!) A few demonstrators with signs and banners. Then across the road to de Cathedral de Buenos Aires- the Catholic Cathedral.
Next on to San Telmo district - we must go back there; and on to La Boca district - the poor district of BA. A stop at Boca Juniors Futbol Stadium ( guide says seats 60,000 although they probably crowd more in as much of the area is standing room). Paid for a very quick tour to get a look inside. Extra 1 hour tour available if you want to walk on the pitch and have a photo taken holding a cup. Had my photo taken with Maradona! I will load this photo in the next day or so. Look for it under "photos" through the link at the top of the blog.
Not far from La Boca is Caminito Street with colorful houses, restaurants with tango shows and tourist shops. This is where today's photo is taken. We hope to return here, perhaps Wednesday as the Tour stop was too quick.
Back on the bus to Puerto Madero - the old port area and central docks; also on our list of "return to" if time allows.
We elected not to return to the hotel but be dropped off at the end of the tour.
We chose Micro Centro district and the La Florida Pedestrian Mall - about 8 city blocks long with many high end shops and tourist shops. We visited the Galeria Pacifico - a large modern shopping centre. The food hall was a treat of various fast order stores selling fish, chicken, pasta, salad, sandwiches and noodle dishes. I ordered a number 14 - T Bone, fries and coke for 56 Pesos - about $12. Joanne had a chicken stir fry. Of course there was the usual McDonalds, Burger King and Subway-but in a different area. I think Macas and Burger King are slightly dearer that in Australia.
Shopping was good. Joanne enjoying it very much - she has had some fun buying a silver cross with a Rosario stone - only found in Argentina; and a pair of shoes! No comments permitted by those who read this blog!
What visit to a city would be complete without a visit to the Anglican Cathedral. As you can imagine Anglicans are very small in number in a very catholic country. We had a long talk to the rector John Wilkes - spoke church, politics and the indigenous issues. A very interesting man - an Englishman married to an Argentine.
Nearly 6pm by this stage - time to head back to the Wilton Hotel - probably about 5 kilometers. This time across town walking along another pedestrian mall called Lavalle, crossing over the wide Av. 9 de Julio, past the Teatro Coln, BAs famous opera house - didn't go inside so can't comment.
A long day and quite exhausted.
Backed up blog entries and now bed time - 10.30pm Monday night.
- comments
Aaron Baynes Great Blog dad! Sounds like a lot of walking lol