Cyhoeddwyd: 17.02.2017
After 23 hours of bus ride and approximately 1600 kilometers covered, we finally arrived in the capital of Argentina, and to put it straight: this city has captivated us! The colorful architecture, numerous charming cafes, appealing parks, and the people themselves create a great atmosphere and pure joy of life. B.A. has a special charm - it may be the 'most European' city in all of South America, but still uniquely influenced by Latin American temperament.
We stayed in Recoleta with an amazing view of the impressive historical cemetery Cementario de Recoleta, where the super-rich and powerful of the city have built themselves a monument for eternity. Among other things, Evita Peron's final resting place is located there in the Duarte family mausoleum. It is not hard to find, as that is where all the tourists flock to.
Since we explored the city on foot, we covered quite a few kilometers per day. We could have targeted only the tourist attractions, but by doing so, we would have missed seeing many things that are not in any travel guide.
For us, it is not so important to see 'everything,' but rather to get an impression and a feeling for a place - that is much more valuable to us.
One very positive thing about this million-city is that there is a lot of greenery here. And as you can see from the photos, there are trees here that are so enormous that next to their roots, you feel dwarfed.
After hours of strolling through the city, we took a little break in the botanical garden - Jardin Botanico. A perfect place to find a shady spot or simply observe butterflies. Currently, there is also an art exhibition by a local artist who supports a conservation project and raises awareness about endangered flora and fauna.
San Telmo with Plaza Dorrego, which is car-free on Sundays and filled with flea markets, street performers, and tango dancers, has a unique charm. There we found a nice little restaurant where the menu was very flexible and adapted to a vegetarian version for us.
In Palermo, the houses are more imposing and there are many bars and cafes to discover. Each neighborhood, however, has its own style and unique charm. Of course, we could only get a small glimpse and explore a few barrios. But we liked what we saw very much.
During a stroll on the relatively new waterfront promenade of Puerto Madero, we discovered plenty of nice restaurants and bars, although they are quite expensive.
For those who know Peter, you know that he doesn't appreciate this kind of overpriced, trendy establishment. And of course, despite all the freedom, we have to keep an eye on our (not unlimited) travel budget. That's not necessarily my strength;), so we complement each other perfectly once again, as I am in charge of the enjoyment department;). So far, we have succeeded very well in harmonizing and coordinating our sometimes different expectations and needs with each other.
Actually, we stumbled upon a wonderful bookstore, which is housed in a former theater - 'El Ateneo.' Today, you can retreat to the loges with a good book and immerse yourself undisturbed. The former stage now houses a small cafe so you can refresh yourself in between.
'Amore,' how beautiful!!!
It is also evident here that there is a love for dogs. They are taken for walks in large groups by experienced dog sitters;) and they behave surprisingly well and obediently (of course, the dogs;)).
What I also noticed is that people here value a well-groomed appearance. This applies to women and men of all ages equally. Even older Porteños (the term for Buenos Aires residents) exude a certain level of elegance and pride. People are very attentive and respectful towards each other.
Even police officers greet you with friendliness. Peter may not be able to confirm this as a man, but I have definitely been greeted several times by female police officers;).
We have spent a wonderful week here, but now we are already looking forward to Colonia del Sacramento in Uruguay, which we will reach in about 1.5 hours by a fast ferry!