Our third day in Buenos Aires and we begin to get a good
feel for the city. Local restaurants, cafes, and shops become familiar as we
wander the streets with savoir faire. Today we join another walking tour,
exploring the other ‘down town’ areas of BA. Fernando is our tour guide, a
lawyer, who provides a more light-hearted, jovial tour than the previous night
(which was very historical and rather morose). Both were excellent tours
providing insights on to different facets of this beautiful city. Fernando,
much like Martin, points out architectural oddities, the juxtaposition of
western and eastern influences, famous statues, and unique districts along the
way. Interestingly, Buenos Aires has the 4th largest community of
Jewish peoples in the world, the second religion of the city behind
Christianity.
We wander through lush parks, learning of this historical
person or that – often with a theme surrounding the shaping of Argentina.
Famous throughout Argentina (Chile, Bolivia, and Peru as well) is the figure of
San Martin – a military leader who helped defeat the Spanish and grant autonomy
to Argentina. Often depicted on horseback, pointing to the West – toward the
Andes – mimicking his valiant crossing of the Andes with 5,000 men - in only 16
days, defeating the Spanish overlords from these 4 respective countries. In
anyone one of these countries (and each city within) you will undoubtedly find
a road San martin, a plaza San Martin, a San Martin shopping centre etc…
Our tour ends in the famous Recoleta Cemetery, which is
renowned for it’s large, opulent mausoleums of the aristocracy from Argentina –
all built in jagged streets, imitating a small unique city of the dead. Saying
goodbye to Fernando, we headed to the National Art Museum – which housed
numerous painting from many of the greats – Van Gogh, Monet, Manet, Pollock… A
true pleasure to visit.
After a quick dinner with a bottle of local vino – we head
to our evening Tango show. Located in the famous Café Tortoni – we’re seated in
a dusky subterranean, brick theatre – imitating the streets of yester-Buenos
Aires. Sipping on champagne – we’re enthralled by the rhythmic gyrating bodies
entwined on stage, dancing to slow-then fast-then slow tango songs. A lone
performer took the stage – swinging long ropes with wooden balls on the ends.
The dancer spun and smacked the instruments on the ground – choreographing a
song and tap dance to his fast paced twirling. The show ended with a lone
singer on stage – belting out some powerful melody that was completely lost on
us verbally – but was none the less a beautiful performance. We highly enjoyed
our show – and walked back to our hotel thoroughly satisfied in today’s
adventures.
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