Micro Centro

Trip Start Dec 29, 2007
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Trip End Ongoing


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Flag of Argentina  ,
Saturday, January 19, 2008

Following the arduous classes, a ramble around the downtown barrios of RETIRO, SAN NICOLAS & MONTSERRAT, which form the more commonly known MICRO CENTRO (see map), beckoned to take in the sights & sounds. By far the best way to see the city is via bike. Borrowing Vanesas brothers bike, grabbing bottles of water, my pocket map & some sun screen, we set sail for the must see attractions. It had been a while since I'd been on 2 wheels. After overcoming the initial ring rustiness, I felt more at ease, that was barring the saddle which was about as comfy as a 6 year old on Gary Glitters lap. This feeling was only furthered by booting it into a crevasse in the street when forced to avoid a bus, almost doubling Señor Glitters target area. Cyclists or motorcyclists do not obey traffic lights by the way which makes it easier to weave your way through traffic. On the flipside however you are ripping along avenues of up to 7 lanes & motorists are horsing it past you only a mere metre away so it's not for the faint hearted Class
Class
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The country name comes from the latin argentum meaning silver. To roughly recap, a chap called Soliz wanted to see what the craic was with S. America back in the 16th century so he gathered a few buddies & went for a mosy but got attacked by locals & eaten for his troubles, bit harsh. Before he did get his proverbial rearend handed to someone as dessert with tiramisu & as he had pawned a few silver objects from the river before he met his Waterloo, he did name the Rio de la Plata (Silver River/River Plate). This is the estuary formed by the unification of the Uruguay & Paraná Rivers. Survivors pegged it home spinning tales of wealth & silver in Argentina. May 25th stands as the date Argentina was liberated from the Colonialists during the 1810 revolution.

Departing from Caballito passing our own park, Plaza Irlanda - the paddy had to leave his ticket somewhere I suppose - we hit the avenues. Starting in the heart of Palermo, passing by the Zoo, our first stop was Monumento de los Españoles. It's a pretty savage sculpture located at the intersection of Avenidas Sarmiento & del Libertador. The bronze figures at the base symbolise Los Andes, El Plata, La Pampa & El Chaco. The allegorical figures including the angel at the summit are carved from Carrara marble & shine an intense bright white which has often been blamed for car crashes - try telling Hibernian that Micro Central
Micro Central
 !

Next on the list was Parque Tres de Febrero also known as Bosques de Palermo (Palermo Forest) constructed in celebration of my birth or alternatively when former President Sarmiento's rival General Juan Manuel de Rosas was defeated. The latters statue lies opposite the Monumento de los Españoles. It's a beautiful park quite similar to Central Park in NYC, full of trees ironically, sunbathers, kids rollerblading & wildlife (see onboard video).

The city boasts 2 world records. Avenida Rivadavia is the longest street in the world & Avenida 9 de Julio (9th of july after their Independance day) claims to be the widest avenue in the world. The latter is a colossus strip of 7 lanes, jam packed with AUTOS (cars), which meander around Plaza de la República. This lays base to the Argentine flag & EL OBELISCO, or in lay mans terms, the stiffy by the Rio. For world aids day in 2005 it was covered in a 67m giant condom (the pics don't lie). Built back in 1936 it's a monument commemorating the 400th anniversary of the founding of the city. Nearby lies one of the most famous opera houses in the world, Teatro Colón. It was built in 1908 & is currently undergoing refurbishment but is due to reopen for its 100th anniversary on May 25th. The surrounding area is a tourist haven so expect to be paying higher prices .

Next stop a short distance away, PLAZA 25 DE MAYO (May Place). This is the historical centre of BA. It holds EL CABILDO, the CASA ROSADA, the PIRÁMIDE DE MAYO, the Metropolitan cathedral of BA, the city hall & the headquarters of the national bank. EL CABILDO nowadays is a museum but back in the colonial days was the first government building Times sq of B. Aires
Times sq of B. Aires
 . The catherdral holds the remains of San Martin, the liberator of Argentina. The CASA ROSADA is the official seat of the executive branch of the government of Argentina when the president is actually working. The building has gained fame for its balcony where Eva Peron rallied supporters of Juan Peron. It may be more familiar to those who have seen the movie Evita where Madonna sang "Don't cry for me Argentina". The pyramid was built to celebrate the first anniversary of the May revolution (See video).

With the searing heat beating down on our backs & more importantly my stomach starting to rumble, it was homeward bound we slowly ambled. En route we did pass the Congreso Nacional da Argentina which is again another amazing architectural building & stands as the Aras of BA. To briefly fill my tummy, we stopped at a PANADERÍA (bakery) for FACTURAS (mini sweet pastries normally filled with custard, jam or DULCE DE LECHE). Argentines love them. The most famous of them all are MEDIAS LUNAS (half moons) which resemble croissants but taste like heaven. The aroma of fresh bread being baked wafts through the air each time you walk anywhere within a block & they are located on almost every second street within BA. To quote Homer, Mmmmmm sacrilicious....
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Comments

woadwunner
woadwunner on Jan 22, 2008 at 07:37PM

Pufter
In the words of our good friend Kealan, Hey Homo!

What's with all the photos of the pink house? You seem to be a little obsessed with it. Are you trying to tell us something?

Why do the Irish feel the need to bring their Irish jerseys all the way around the world. Is it so we don't get some egitt running up to us and calling us English? (Yes, Donal. This is a rhetorical Question)

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