After three days of seeing no sun it finally arrived today! It was a bright blue sky and even though it was very chilly, especially for a Miami, Florida boy, I went out to explore the microcentro barrio, which is part of the downtown area. I discovered a street fair on Avenida Florida (how appropriate) which, along with the cross street, Avenida Lavalle, is a pedestrian mall like Lincoln Road in Miami Beach (though not anywhere near as attractive!) I explored the fair, looking at the artistic wares and crafts after I had lunch at a little hole-in-the-wall parrilla place. I finally found my $5 steak, in a sandwich with a fried egg! It was cooked by the happiest Argentinian I have discovered so far. This young man laughed and smiled and joked with customers and co-workers alike. He truly seemed to enjoy his job! And the steak was excellent.
After lunch I made my way down to Plaza de Mayo which is located in front of the "Pink House" which is the Presidential Palace. The President of Argentina does not live there, but does work there. Plaza de Mayo was made internationally famous by the protests of the Mothers of the Disappeared during that bleak period in Argentine history in the 1970s and 1980s when massive numbers of people were being kidnapped and "disappeared" by the government. The mothers of those missing began gathering regularly in the Plaza de Mayo to beseech the President for the safe return of their children and loved ones. One of the north balconies of the Presidential Palace is infamous because the current President at the time allowed the filmmakers to film Madonna making a speech from that balcony in her role as Eva Peron for the film version of Evita. Evidently the portenos (Buenos Aires residents) were horrified that this took place.
If you wish to check out more pictures of the street scenes and of Plaza de Mayo and the Presidential Palace, use these links to go to the Kodak Gallery albums:
1 comment:
Hola..
Great that the sun came out! gloomy, rainy and cold days only Andy & Evie like those type of days! Seems that you are having a great experience there! especially the food sounds delicioso!!! I know it can be a challenge being in a new city, new people, at least you have met wonderful people...almost like us...
Have you got headaches yet? with the language, or do the people you are living with speak Ingles?
We are thinking of you and praying for you so may adjust to the new culture...
By the way...amazing pictures of your trip with Paul!
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