Where We Be
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| Tango & the Historic District -- Buenos Aires, Argentina |
Okay, maybe it's touristy and a bit kitschy, but our favorite
experience in the historic district of Buenos Aires was seeing the
street tango on the pedestrian-only Calle Florida just outside the
Galerias Pacifico mall. The performers really seemed to be
enjoying themselves, and we thought they were actually quite
good -- especially the older male dancer and his partner shown at
left. I can see why so many people fall in love with the tango and
want to learn it themselves. It's passionate and full of personality
and chutzpah. If I had something other than two left feet, I
wouldn't mind learning it myself.
We're relieved to say we have a comfortable apartment for the
week, so our Craigslist / Paypal booking actually worked as
planned. It's a cute little place with a double bed, a small living
room, kitchen, and bathroom. Not having to lug luggage, unpack,
and repack for a week feels like a luxury just now. My Spanish got
a workout during our meeting with the owner, a nice lady who
only spoke Spanish and went to great pains to communicate all
the details of the apartment and the surrounding neighborhood
with us.
During our second day in downtown B.A., we went on a walking
tour of the historic center and covered a lot of ground, essentially
making a large loop through the city. At Plaza de Mayo, we were
both excited to finally see the Casa Rosada in person. We
imagined Eva Peron giving her famous speech from the balcony
of this distinctive pink building to her adoring masses. It was also
easy to imagine Madonna standing there singing “Don’t Cry for
Me, Argentina.”
We walked along Av. de Mayo to the Café Tortoni, the oldest and
most famous café in Argentina. Café Tortoni was the intellectual
center of B.A. since the 1800s, so there is a lot of history oozing
from its walls. Portraits of just about every famous person from
Argentina grace its walls, and there’s even a photograph of Hilary
Clinton dining there. Afterwards we saw the Obelisk on Av. 9 de
Julio, the "Widest Street in the World," before returning home to
our apartment, tired but happy.
experience in the historic district of Buenos Aires was seeing the
street tango on the pedestrian-only Calle Florida just outside the
Galerias Pacifico mall. The performers really seemed to be
enjoying themselves, and we thought they were actually quite
good -- especially the older male dancer and his partner shown at
left. I can see why so many people fall in love with the tango and
want to learn it themselves. It's passionate and full of personality
and chutzpah. If I had something other than two left feet, I
wouldn't mind learning it myself.
We're relieved to say we have a comfortable apartment for the
week, so our Craigslist / Paypal booking actually worked as
planned. It's a cute little place with a double bed, a small living
room, kitchen, and bathroom. Not having to lug luggage, unpack,
and repack for a week feels like a luxury just now. My Spanish got
a workout during our meeting with the owner, a nice lady who
only spoke Spanish and went to great pains to communicate all
the details of the apartment and the surrounding neighborhood
with us.
During our second day in downtown B.A., we went on a walking
tour of the historic center and covered a lot of ground, essentially
making a large loop through the city. At Plaza de Mayo, we were
both excited to finally see the Casa Rosada in person. We
imagined Eva Peron giving her famous speech from the balcony
of this distinctive pink building to her adoring masses. It was also
easy to imagine Madonna standing there singing “Don’t Cry for
Me, Argentina.”
We walked along Av. de Mayo to the Café Tortoni, the oldest and
most famous café in Argentina. Café Tortoni was the intellectual
center of B.A. since the 1800s, so there is a lot of history oozing
from its walls. Portraits of just about every famous person from
Argentina grace its walls, and there’s even a photograph of Hilary
Clinton dining there. Afterwards we saw the Obelisk on Av. 9 de
Julio, the "Widest Street in the World," before returning home to
our apartment, tired but happy.
| These two look like they're having so much fun! |
| The balcony at top center is where Evita Peron -- and of course Madonna in the movie -- made her famous appearance |
| Attitude & passion -- crucial ingredients in tango -- and life |
| Evocative image of a classy dance |
| The Casa Rosada on the Plaza de Mayo |
| Shade trees provide a pleasant path through Plaza San Martin near our apartment |
| Calle Florida is chock-full of upscale shops and downscale street vendors |
| The street we called home during our week in B.A. -- not that scenic but central |
| The Obelisk is a central landmark in B.A. |
| Plaza de Mayo just outside Casa Rosada -- site of protests and rallies |
| Argentina's Congreso is modeled on the U.S. Capitol |
| Cafe Tortoni -- the oldest and most historic cafe in Argentina |
| We shared a cup of coffee and "churros con chocolate" |
| Fresh-squeezed-OJ from a street vendor -- yum |
| Av. 9 de Julio -- said to be the "Widest Street in the World" -- a challenge to cross! |
| You gotta love the architecture in B.A. -- it's like stepping back in time |
| Statue in Plaza Lavalle in downtown B.A. |
| Teatro Colon is another beautiful building in B.A. |
| Wrought-iron balconies and intricate molding from Argentina's Golden Age in the late 1800s |
| Tango in the streets -- now we know we're in Buenos Aires! |
