Atlanta, GA to Boston, MA to Home (Sunday, March 25)

It was a bumpy ride much of the way from Buenos Aires to Atlanta, Georgia.  Flying over the Amazon at night I watched from above what were clearly massive thunderstorms with spectacular flashes of lightning.

We landed in Atlanta about 5:30 am, less than well rested.  Thanks to Global Entry status, we cleared Immigration and Customs quickly, reconsigning our suitcases to Delta for the flight to Boston. 

The remainder of the trip home was comfortably uneventful.

It would have been good to see this sign as we entered town, but it wasn't there until six months later, making its appearance in this post a variation on back to the future.

For more about this sign, including attribution, click here.

Buenos Aires, Argentina (Saturday, March 24)

After a leisurely breakfast and with several hours to kill after checking out of our room, we went for a walk beginning in the same park we visited the day we arrived in Buenos Aires. 

From there we worked our way over to Avenido 9 de Julio where a Tupac Amaru Neighborhood Association rally of some sort was taking place.

We walked back to the Alvear Art Hotel, waiting in the lobby until our ride to the airport arrived.

Buenos Aires, Argentina (Friday, March 23)

We had a late breakfast before heading out for a day of walking.

Chocolate Easter egg mobile in hotel dining room 

Leaving the hotel, we headed for Teatro Colón the city's famous opera house on Avenido 9 de Julio.

City park sun worshipers

After purchasing our tickets, we had nearly an hour to kill before our tour started so we went behind the theatre to Plaza Lavalle (City Park).

We enjoyed our tour of  the impressive Teatro Colón (Columbus Theatre).

Surrounding the main chandelier is a loft where musicians and singers can rain down 'heavenly' music.

Leaving the theater, we headed back to the Puerto Madero section of the city, having not had a chance to walk along the waterfront when we were there for dinner two nights earlier.

lunch

Fragata Presidente Sarmiento

The ship's mascot was so beloved, when it died they had it stuffed and put it on display. 

Under increasingly cloudy skies, we wandered our way back to the hotel.

In a taxi on our way to dinner at La Pecora Nera, it was clear that a storm was imminent.  In the time it took for me to pay the taxi, Pam made it to the restaurant door dodging a few raindrops and I ran through a downpour.

We had a great dinner.  By the time we were done, the storm had passed.

Buenos Aires, Argentina (Thursday, March 22)

Today we went on a guided tour of some city highlights, beginning at the Plaza de Mayo, the most prominent square in the city.

Buenos Aires Cabildo

Obelisco de Buenos Aires

Crossing the street, we circumnavigated riot barriers and a heavy police presence to enter the cathedral.  In a country so predominantly Catholic that bishops and some other clergy are even paid a salary by the federal government, this seemed strange.  Perhaps three in-country Druids were in revolt. 

Catedral Metropolitana de Buenos Aires

Back outside the cathedral, people with signs and banners were beginning to assemble.  Our guide having hustled us into the cathedral without explanation, perhaps concerned that the police were going to close access to it, now took time to tell us what was going on.  The police were preparing for a protest against bishops receiving a salary paid by taxpayers, especially in light of recent revelations about priests molesting minors.  

At the far end of the plaza was the presidential palace.  One could imagine Evita on a balcony singing "Don't Cry for Me Argentina".  

Casa Rosada

We got back on the bus and headed for the Boca district of the city.

Buenos Aires dog walkers, an urban tradition

Russian Orthodox Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity

Forever bicycles sculpture in La Boca, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
It was made by Chinese artist Ai Weiwei with 1254 bicycles.

Next stop was the Recoleta Cemetery

At what point does really good graffiti became a mural?

Statue of Juan Manuel Fangio, famous Argentine Formula-One race car driver

Torso Masculino Desnudo by Columbian artist Fernando Bótero in Parque Thays 

Floralis Generica by by the Argentine architect Eduardo Catalano

Cementerio de la Recoleta

The story of how Evita Peron's body got here is quite an interesting story involving several moves.  At one point she was buried under a fake name in Milan, Italy.

The crypt of Familia Duarte is where Evita is buried, "Duarte" being her maiden name.

After the tour ended, Pam & I walked over to the huge Avenido 9 de Julio.

Evita Mural Ministro de Salud Buenos Aires 

For dinner, we went to a great steakhouse - L'Embruix.  The meat portions were so large that the waiter recommended we have an appetizer and split an entree.  It was a wise recommendation.

Buenos Aires, Argentina (Wednesday, March 21)

We disembarked SIRENA about 8:30 AM, traveling with other passengers to the Alvear Art Hotel.  There we had a prolonged check-in process, the number of front desk staff inversely proportional to the number of guests checking in (and out).  It did not matter much as our room would not be ready until sometime in the afternoon.  

Consigning our suitcases to the bag room, Pam & I headed out on a walk initially heading for Plaza General San Martin.

In the park was the memorial to the 649 Argentine soldiers and sailors who died during the Falkland War.

Towards one end of the park was the Torre Monumental (commonly referred to as the "English Tower") given to the Argentina by the British Empire commemorating the centennial of the May Revolution of 1810.

Across from the moment was the Central (Train) Station. Although hardly a tourist attraction, it was interesting to go inside it.  

We saw buses, lots and lots of buses, that follow routes throughout the city and the surrounding area.  There is a subway system, but it is modest compared to the bus system.

We crossed Avenida del Libertador, one of the incredibly wide streets in the city. 

We visited Basilica Santisimo Sacramento.

We returned to the hotel and were able to check into our room, from which we watched rooftop life on several apartment buildings.

We went up to the top floor health club for a higher view.

For dinner, we went to a restaurant named Puerto Cristal in Puerto Madero section of the city where we had a good meal.  The cab rides back and forth were interesting; dilapidated vehicle with scruffy drivers who drove them just shy of participants in a demolition derby.