Thursday, 6 December 2018
Sailing from Montevideo to Stanley

I warned that the blog might be slow this trip, as indeed it is—and I have much ground to go back over.  After a heavy dinner on Saturday and a short taxi ride back to the hotel, we enjoy a restful night.  

Sunday, 2 December 2018
Buenos Aires

There are no planned activities this morning, so we enjoy a later breakfast, included at the hotel, which is located in a very busy part of Barrio Recoleta, not far from Microcentro, BA’s downtown. Most of the shops are closed and the streets are pretty empty, as it is Sunday morning, but we explore the immediate vicinity, recognizing the very low prices in shop windows and cafes.  The weather is lovely, with late spring temperatures and bright blue skies.

At 11am Will heads back to the hotel, but I decide to walk to some of the major sights in the area, starting with two famous theaters, only a few blocks away, one for tango dancing shows and the other, Teatro Colon, BA’s famous 19th century opera house.

The Opera House offers daily tours, but today the auditorium is dark for lighting tests, so there isn't much point to joining the tour.  The theatres face Avenue 9th of July (to commemorate Argentina's independence from Spain), supposedly the widest boulevard in South America.  The guidebook gives one piece of advice about how to cross:  "run.:"  In the center mall of the avenue stands the Memorial Obelisk, with the Argentine flag in front, and the leafy symbol, "BA," further in front.

Not too much farther to the northeast, down a major diagonal street, is the historic center of Buenos Aires, the Plaza de Mayo.  Surrounding this large square are major monumental buildings, including the Cabildo (city government), the Cathedral (religious headquarters), and the Casa Rosada (national government)--site of Evita's famous speeches to her followers and many diva's presentation of "Don't Cry for me, Argentina."

The Cathedral's Neoclassic Facade . . .

and Baroque Interior

The Cabildo

Casa Rosada

Decorative Soldiers Marching on Plaza de Mayo

I decide to return to the hotel by Metro to save myself some walking.  There are five Metro lines that run from the city center (all start at Plaza de Mayo) to various working-class suburbs.  It is fast, efficient, and safe, and costs just US$1.60 per ride (with discounts for multiple rides).  The station is just a few blocks from the hotel at Plaza Libertad, another lovely green space surrounded by elegant buildings and an historic temple.  The Plaza is, at the moment, the scene of a performance by a local youth orchestra.  A perfect way to end the walk.