Buenos Aires 13-20 de Octubre

After almost 2 months exploring the depths of Patagonia, it was a great contrast arriving to the cosmopolitan splendour of Buenos Aires. We instantly noticed the change in culture – one more aligned with European traits than we had previously experienced in the slow-paced towns of the South. The exciting capital kept us entertained for a week and lived up to all expectations.

Riding the beef boom of the 1880’s most of the Spanish Colonial buildings were flattened in order to make way for a seemingly more-grandeur image modelled on Paris. And so Clare’s description of the city of 13 million as a cross between Barcelona and Paris; and the city being coined “The Paris of the Americas” seem somewhat fitting. The city now resembles a faded image of days past, and presents many additional facets which required exploration.



The phallic Obelisco, marking the city centre. 

  

Avenida 9 de Julio, the widest street in the world, 14 lanes in the middle
and 8 subsideries! It takes 4 pedestrian crossings to get across.

We had a fantastic week soaking up the atmosphere of the various barrios of the city, a lot of walking, gawking, and eating meat - standard Argentinean affair. Sick of being accosted by Irish folk wanting to discuss the latest pretatoe famine, and with the inherent rise in temperature Buenos Aires marked the time for holiday beard Mk-1 to come off.

Modelled on childhood heroes, the ginger bushman
soon became James Hetfield, and then Freddie Mercury.



Floralis Generica - massive kinetic sculpture with petals that close at night.



Cementerio de la Recoleta, located in the ritzy suberb of Recoleta where the Argentine elite rest within hundreds of elaborate and monumental sarcophagi.

An obligatory visit to Evita's grave. A non-descript black granite monolith.

Caminito, La Boca - the now famous and quintessential Buenos Aires image.

Caminito, La Boca

Tango and and a few copa's de cerveza in Plaza Dorrego, San Telmo.

Clare and I enjoyed a couple of tango lessons, which was excellent fun and brought a realisation that a steamy tango number will most likely not make the wedding come April!

A treat of the week (Clares shout for my bday) was a seat at the Boca Juniors stadium for their weekly Sunday fixture. This was an awesome experience and insight into the religous devotion to futbol Argentinians have. To tell you the truth we didn't soak up much of the game, mostly watching and listening to the #12 Players - the Boca hooligans in full noise! For those who dont know the Boca Juniors are the famous B.A working-class team with massive following. It was an eye-opener pre and post game with huge riot police/vehicle presence encircling the stadium to prevent inter-team antics. Even to the point that at the end of the game the Boca fan sections (opposite end in the photos and the tier we were in) were kept locked in for 30 mins post game to allow the Hurucan fans to get away without fuss!

Boca Juniors playing Huracan

Rowdy Boca hooligans, complete with brass band and
deafening bass drums beating non-stop!

Argentine Congress, modelled on Washington DC's Capitol Building.

A welcomed surprise, Santiago Calatrava's Puente de la Mujer.
Please contact me if you would like the back catalogue of images.

The centre section pivots to let ships pass.



Birthday snack. Clare, beer, meat platter, and bridge! Perfect!



Whilst I was checking out steel splendour, Clare was photographing a
nearby boob sculpture exhibition (breast cancer awareness exhibit).

Birthday dinner, another meat shot!
Beef de Lomo, ensalada and champagne out of picture.



Argentinians love to queue - this was a rush-hour block-long line for a public bus!

After a fantastic week, we pointed our sights north again - now covering alot more ground to northern Argentina.