Day 228 – Buenos Aires, Argentina
April 8, 2011 12 Comments
Day 228 – Buenos Aires, Argentina 04/06/11 Mileage: Local miles
This morning it was back on the train downtown to the Brazilian Consulate to apply for a visa. Luckily there was only one person ahead of me in line and it only took 20 minutes. They said it would be ready tomorrow at noon which would be great, as I was told by others it would take at least a week…sometimes two! That done I was off to see more sights, this time heading for the upscale bario’s of Recoleta and Polermo. First up was Recoleta and it was nice just to walk the streets.
I found a nice sidewalk cafe for a small bite to eat and then walked across the plaza to tour the famous Cemetario de la Recoleta…the final resting place of anyone who was anyone in Argentina…ex presidents, generals, aristocrats and Eva Peron are all buried here.
But that alone is not what makes this cemetery famous, it’s also the mind boggling array of mausoleums and tombs in every conceivable architectural style that make it like a small city itself. Some look like miniature chapels or the stone edifice of an old bank, while others have monuments and sculptures.
The Duarte family mouseleum….Eva Peron’s maiden name….
Most are well kept and some have fallen into disrepair, but for sure there is a unique story behind each of them.
This one was glass on the front and sides…a close-up of the inside is below…
After making the rounds at the cemetery, I walked to the bario of Polermo taking in the scene along the way. I picked up a sandwich and had a relaxing picnic lunch in the botanical garden…a little oasis of tranquility in the bustling city.
After strolling around Polermo I started making my way back towards the train station, then back to Dakar Moto’s to finish up the work on the bike.
I also relocated from Dakar to a friends of friends house who live in Martinez…a very nice suburb of Buenos Aires. It was short ride over to Gustavo and Helena’s house…and what a nice house it is! It was a significant upgrade from the “modest” accommodations at Dakar and they are very gracious and welcoming hosts. Photos coming soon…
From Deadhorse Down 
This was so interesting. On Long Island, where my grandfather’s family is buried, there are mausoleums like these too but very plain…not ornate. I loved seeing this. The town looks like a wonderful place to visit. Enjoy.
Yeah, Buenos Aires is a great city to visit….probably my favorite city so far…Medellin, Colombia maybe a close second…
Lenny, it was great talking to you. When I just checked the blog I saw Carla’s comment and wondered what she was talking about and as I scrolled down I saw something really out of the ordinary…….to say the least. What a magnificient place to rest in peace. They were just beautiful and so very different from even each other. Where Grandma and Grandpa are buried, there are some very old monuments and they are very different from each other but this is amazing.
So glad that you are getting to live under normal conditions and get to see and enjoy Buenos Aires. I don’t know how you put so much into a day. We are traveling the world through your pictures and words of wisdom.
With all our love, Mom and Dad
It’s a curious and fascinating place for sure….like no cemetery I’ve ever seen…
“Don’t cry for me Argentina”. Love the picture of Eva Peron’s tomb!….Saw that play on Broadway when I was in the 5th grade. Way Cool that you were there.
Jenn
Ha…yeah, that song was ringing in my head too the whole time I was walking around…lol
Lenny, Martinez is supposed to have great shopping………can you buy Jimmy Choo bags and shoes there? I know that Fran’s cousin buys all her leather pocketbooks in Bueneso Aires when she visits cousins.
Glad you are enjoying the area and so nice of Helena and Gustavo to open their home to you.
Be safe and well….thinking of you. .Love ya, Mom.
There’s no Jimmy Choo boutique in Buenos Aires(Argentina and the British don’t really have good relations because of that pesky Falklands War!), but I’m sure some other high end boutique carries them…
HOW ARE YOU ENJOYING CITY LIVING??????? THE PICTURES ARE FABULOUS. ENJOY AND WE ARE ALL THINKING OF YOU AND LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING BUENOS AIRES THROUGH YOUR EYES. LOVE, MOM
Wow! How beautiful…you are so blessed. I think that was what New Orleans was trying to attain with their cemeteries but without the correct weather, water table and wealth it just never happened. So beautiful…but I still want to be cremated!
Come on, it has been days, we are dying out here!!! post SOMETHING already!
Ha! OK, OK….more posts are coming soon! 🙂