Getting a good deal on an international trip is something we can't resist, so when the flyer came to us in August from Overseas Adventure Travel (OAT): "Chile & Argentina: The Andes to Patagonia," we looked at each other and said, "I'm not doing anything in October, let's sign up!" Those two months flew by, and we are now in Buenos Aires, Argentina, our first time here.
Getting to Argentina was fairly easy: Delta Airlines from Sacramento to Atlanta to Miami and overnight on Latam to Buenos Aires, arriving the next morning. I even managed a couple of hours of shuteye on Latam. Wow.
When we left Nevada City on Thurs, Oct 8th, though the calendar said Autumn, the temp would be hoving around 90°, it being "second summer." In Buenos Aires, spring has barely begun and with it comes the "drippy" season -- overcast and occasional rain and cool temps. No matter, we won't dissolve. But it is kind of gray overall.
We met up with Javi, our group leader, plus the other 12 in our group on Friday evening. After a short meet-and-greet meeting, we walked to historic Broccolino for a most yummy dinner. The group will be together for the next two-plus weeks. A few, like us, will continue on to Iguassu Falls for the post-trip extension. Jimmy and I will be home on October 30th!
Looks as though we'll be moving around a bit!
Arriving mid-morning to the Argenta Tower Hotel just a few blocks from downtown Buenos Aires left us plenty of time for a real cuppa coffee and a shower, a neighborhood recon followed by a nap, and finally dinner!
From our room on the 8th Floor, we look down on the Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help (known locally as Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Socorro), so this was our first stop on the recon. It's small/ish but beautifully ornate with painted ceilings, above and below.
Peaceful and stunning.
I know the sky was gray,
but a tinted bus window makes the cityscape even darker.
On Saturday, we were Out and About on da bus. First stop was the Plaza del Mayo, with the Metropolitan Cathedral across the way -- where Pope Francis used to perform Mass as Archbishop before assuming office in the Vatican in 2013. My pics of the cathedral and its interior didn't turn out, so sorry.
The mausoleum of General José de San Martín in the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Cathedral is guarded by the Regimiento de Granaderos a Caballo (Horse Grenadier Regiment). We managed to be in the right place, right time to watch a detachment of seven grenadiers marching to the cathedral, which happens every two hours.
Two of the soldiers from the Grenadier Regiment stand on active duty at the tomb 24 hours a day. I stand beside one young man. The ritual is kind of impressive.
Ah, following this was a "lecture" at London City Cafe about Argentina's "Dirty War."
Not an easy topic, but relevant nevertheless.
And then the bus took us to La Boca neighborhood,
where we had an hour to explore the area.
Colorful, to say the least,
with artwork everywhere..
Lots of these types of open grills on street corners.
Jimmy met up with the locals.
La Boca is a working-class area with a cluster of attractions near the Riachuelo River. Steakhouses and street artists surround Caminito, a narrow alley flanked by brightly painted zinc shacks that evoke the district’s early immigrant days. This is the home ground of Boca Juniors soccer team. The balcony, above, held some sort of significance, and people waited in line to have their picture taken up there.
I dunno.
At the end of the hour, Javi appeared with this tray full of iconic street foot -- "Choripan" -- grilled sausage served inside crusty bread. Not something I normally eat, but it was pretty good. Jimmy "accidentally" dropped a piece of bread, and those ubiquitous pigeons IMMEDIATELY flocked to the ground, along with a pair of Monk parakeets.
Speaking of iconic, this is Buenos Aires' obelisk, the most prominent symbol of the City of Buenos Aires, inaugurated in 1936 to commemorate the founding of the city in 1536! Really and truly, the sky was not that dark -- the pic is through the bus window!
