BA By Day... Finally!

Trip Start Jan 08, 2007
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Trip End Oct 01, 2007


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Flag of Argentina  , Capital Federal District,
Monday, July 2, 2007

Enough was quite definitely enough and seeing as my bus out of BA was booked and waiting I had just one final opportunity to see BA in The daylight and take in some culture. Falling out of bed and forcing myself down the steps and out the door of the Millhouse was no mean feat but once outside and my eyes had adjusted to the light I was off on a whistle-stop tour.
First up was a trip to the necropolis known as the Recoletta where all of BA's rich and famous are buried in a city of the dead. My main objective was to hunt down the grave of Argentina's most famous and loved second lady Evita. Studying the map was of little help when walking down the small rabbit warren like passages and streets that run through cemetery and so finally I gave up and followed a tour group. The guide of course had a little better directional skills in this Labyrinth and finally I arrived at my desired tomb adorned with rotting flowers left by the many well wishers that visit Evita daily. This grave is meant solely for her and at this time she can still be found here after the initial turbulent years where grave robbers transported her body far and wide as an act of indignation towards her husband the president of the time.
The architecture and thought that has gone into some of the other graves including those of past members of state, generals and the richer inhabitants of Buenos Aires, boggles the mind and a lot are representative of miniature churches and cathedrals. In some you can even see the coffins on display while a hoard of Cats patrol the site as protectors of the dead.
Next I took a large wander through the streets to find the Great Obelisk... I have no info as to why this sits in the middle of a major road bang in the city center but it is one of the most well known landmarks that I used to navigate myself to and from Burgerking on a regular basis.
Stop 3 was to the other side of town and the area of Boca home to the famous Boca Juniors and, where Tango dancers can be found swinging in the streets between brightly painted houses once used as refuges for the poor. The area is still very poor in comparison to a lot of BA and becomes extremely dangerous after 530pm.
After collecting a couple of lasses I met in the Millhouse we decided to go and check out the expensive part of town located down by Puerto Madero (The Port). We walked along the docks passing by high class restaurants and some spectacular if not strange architecture on the way including the extremely well known club Opera Bay and a bridge which, was apparently designed based on the female form... I cant help wondering if the designer was in fact taking the piss with the end result!
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