Buenos Aires Days 3-7

Still in Buenos Aires, continuing our visit of this amazing city without any disaster in 4 days!!! Do not know how we managed that...really...especially with Lee around...yes he is worse than me...really...

We went to Recoleta to visit the Cementary where Evita is buried, nice graves very expensive but why if nobody is coming to put any flower....Talking about flower, there is one metallic and massive in the Plaza de Naciones Unidas (South of Recoleta district) called "Floralis Generica". This is a gift from an argentinian architect to the city of Buenos Aires. The petals are open every day at 8am by an electrical system and are closed in the evening. The flower stays open exceptionally during 4 nights at specific dates. Very impressive...In the same area, there is the law university, a huge building where you can find a swimming pool, a fitness area...We bought sandwiches in the cafeteria to remember the good time when we were students...

Then we had a very good time in the "LA BOCA" district, home of the football team "Boca Juniors" where Maradona started is career as footballer (for those who are following football). The Stadium and the road around are in yellow and blue, amazing!! Imagine St James Park painted in white and black stripes...will look like a giant zebra crossing!!!! We walked in the "Caminito" full of coloured houses, of people trying to sell you the "souvenir", well sure they are buying them to the same supplier as they are all identical! That was the same for the pictures and paintings, Lee was not very impressed as all the paints were quasi identical, nothing unique except when we went to visit the studio of a toothless and long haired old man. There were paints representing himself like "Don Quixote" and in other emblematic figures. The most strange was a paint representing the Unicorn with the cavalier being Mickey Mouse (with the right colours!). Never thought finding that in this place!!!

Sunday, that was the famous flee market in "Plaza Dorrego". What a life! All the roads around the place were full of small stands selling everything!! You could find from a spoon to a candelabra and of course traditional tourist gifts. Even a girl was giving free hugs!! In every road, there were tango dancers, demonstrating the beauty of the dance and also encouraging people to have a go. We did not try as we did not want to bring shame to England...Very nice atmosphere !!! We were only disappointed by the lack of original pictures and paints. Nothing very bright, coloured...well we will try next Sunday...

Then we went to visit the Puerto Madero district. The sky was very gray so the harbour area looks quite dark. Lots of hi-tech buildings adjacent to the "shabby" railway area, contrast often found in South America. We went to see the ferry for Montevideo in Uruguay but the price for a day visit was not very attractive so we decided not to go to Uruguay.
On our way back, we joined a massive strike of various argentinian and bolivian organizations showing their support to the bolivian government in the crisis which affects in this moment Bolivia. Four of some richest federal states of Bolivia (North and North east) wants their independence and fights have started between the police and the rebels supported by the USA. Well we were not here especially for politics but to take good pictures and as you know Lee is quite professional now so he was very happy to use all his big lenses (he changed probably ten times the lenses for the best shots) and that was very exiting to be part to a so massive manifestation. I joined Lee taking pictures with my "modest" camera but after 2 hrs my hands were frozen so needed good cup of tea, the english tradition that we are respecting with lots of fervour!!!

Today it is a quiet day as our legs and feet are feeling sore after all the miles done in a week...Internet, TV, music, book..well just relaxing on the balcony...well for me as Lee has just gone for more pictures of San Telmo and possibly more strikes...