Further adventures in Buenos Aires

18th Jan 08

BA - a famous monument with the Argentinian Flag

Today, Friday, I decided to have a cultural day - visiting museums and art galleries - a bit of a culture vulture on the quiet!!

However, just to show that I have some balance in my day, I started off at the Botanical Gardens or should I call it the "Cat" Gardens!!  It is full of all colours, makes and sizes of cats - they own the place.  Apparently, the old ladies of the area feed and look after them - they are not your common old feral, mangy, bedraggled cats you would expect to see living rough.  The other aspect of the place is the hundreds of dogs with dog walkers right next door to the cats - before you jump the gun and think there must be a real dust-up between the cats and the dogs - no, there is a high fence separating them!!  But, that does not stop the dogs barking their heads off at the cats, who just totally ignore them!  I got talking to two dog-walkers, who told me that they are paid 200 pesos per month to walk each dog, so I think I'll take up dog walking and stay here!!  Not really, only kidding!  One of them walks 23 days each day so do the figures - not a bad earner.  There were also many small groups doing Tai Chi in the park - among the beautiful statues!  The park is divided into countries with specimen trees and plants from these countries - 5 glass houses contain more exocit shrubs and flowers.

BA - Fishermen's Club

After my botanical experience I went to the Malba Museum (modern art purpose-built centre) to get a good feeling of South American artists.  Worth a visit.  Next the Museum of Decorative Art - also worth a visit.  I had a delicious lunch in a cafe called Croque Madame in the grounds of this museum. I could recommend it.

Next I walked down Avenida Liberator to the Nation Art Gallery - Les Bellas Artes - a huge place - you would need a whole day to do it justice - lots of artwork, artefacts, archaelogical finds and interesting things in this museum - worth the effort.

By the time I was finished I was pretty museumed-out so I  decided to head down to Calle Alvear via Recoleta artisan market.  Calle Alvear has the most beautiful houses which belong to the aristocratic people of Buenos Aires - there is also the French and Brazilian Embassies in this street.  This street eventually takes you to Ave 9 de Julio which is the widest thoroughfare in BA.  I made my way to the Obelisk to take some pictures and also to the Teatro Colon - pictures here were marred by the construction site it now has become.  I do not know when it will re-open for concerts.

BA - the main Cathedral

Eventually, I got to Calle Cordoba where I took a bus back to my abode.  I had been on the go from 9.30 am until 4 pm so I needed to have a shower and a little nap!  When you get to my age the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak!!

La Boca - the stadium

Tigre