Argentina

November 6-29, 2009

November 7: Arriving in Buenos Aires

We arrived mid-morning in Buenos Aires with Christine and her driver Fernando at the airport to greet us. We enjoyed the drive into the city... everything looked so green and lush! It was also interesting to see all the cars parked on grassy patches along the highway, the crazy driving, etc. At Christine's we had a chance to relax a bit and Christine made us a lunch to sample a variety of Argentine foods, including empanadas and ice cream which Samantha took an immediate liking to.

In the afternoon we went for a little walk to see Recoleta, the area that Christine lives in. This of course included the must-see Recoleta cemetary, home to Argentine's most famous politicians, artists, military leaders and just plain rich families. You can also find Eva Perron's resting place, not that the locals like to acknowledge this publicly. But follow the crowds of foreign tourists and you're sure to find her!

We had escaped the start of the Canadian winter and Samantha was excited that it was warm enough to wear dresses and that the trees were all blooming. We walked through the market and to the giant flower.

We took a taxi to the car rental place where we found out that all our troubles getting credit cards that would cover the collision damage waiver insurance were for nothing... in Argentina this is automatically covered with the cost. Very emphatically we were told that we were covered for pretty much anything except for flipping the car (which apparently is not uncommon on some of the roads in Argentina!). We got our brand spanking new Avea with 0 km on it, and instructions on how to start the car while pushing on the clutch which is apparently a 'new thing' in Argentina. ??!! We had brought a car seat for Christopher but were amazed at how car seats are virtually unheard of in Argentina... we saw tons of people driving with little babies on their laps or in their arms. And so Rubby got his first initiation to driving in Buenos Aires were most of the intersections don't even have stop signs and lanes are just a suggestion that most people seem to ignore.

For supper Christine made us spaghetti (the kids' favourite!) and once the kids were in bed we discussed plans for the next day, watched Survivor and caught the tail end of a fireworks display from the balcony.

Auntie 'Stine!

Samantha was very excited by the balloons that Auntie Christine had gotten the kids.

View from Christine's balcony... Samantha was excited to see purple trees and palm trees!

View from Christine's balcony across the city.

Samantha playing with her Leapfrog Tag Ariel book
(the two tag books we had along ended up being the best entertainment for the kids on long car rides).

Samantha digs in to the yummy lunch Christine had prepared... she quickly became a fan of empanadas!

We also quickly became fans of the ice cream in Argentina...
especially frutilla (strawberry) and dulce de leche flavours!

Mmmmm, yummy treats!

Christine's apartment is so large we lost Christopher... and finally found him taking a nap in the maid's quarters! :)

They were doing some constuction at the building entrance so we couldn't find the turtles today.

Off for a walk with Auntie Christine... note the tiled sidewalks.

The lower balconies of highrises are all caged in to prevent burglaries.

Lots of old architecture that makes one think of Paris.

... and then we had to wipe the grime off her hands. yikes!

Trees use army camouflage to hide from humans who might otherwise cut them down. ;-)

Checking out the great pyramids of Argentina.

Where Indiana Jones likes to go to party.

Arriving at the Recoleta cemetary which Christine can't seem to get enough of... ;-)
click here For more pictures of the cemetery.

Ummmm... did the homeless person pack up his shelter in the tree, or is this a makeshift garbage can?

A sign commemorating the planting of a rubber tree.

This rubber tree is so huge it has crutches for its branches!

Samantha had tons of tourists taking pictures of her as she peeked out from the rubber tree.

At the craft market.

Sammy liked the 'truffalo trees'.

The market with the Basilica Nuestra Senora del Pilar in the background.
Built in the early eighteenth century by Jesuits, it's the second oldest church in Buenos Aires.

Decrepit cars... a familiar site in Argentina!

Centro Cultural Recoleta. The building dates from the 1730s, is one of Buenos Aires' oldest,
and originally housed Frnaciscan monks.

Cute little birds.

Samantha admiring the tree blossoms.

The Law Faculty.

Flowers and palm trees... we're not in Canada anymore!

Samantha was excited to see real palm trees up close.

Of course wind-pollinated flowers are not so fun for someone suffering from allergies. Atchoo! Sniffle, sniffle...

Samantha really liked the big flower.

Floralis Generica - an impressive 20 m tall structure at the United Nations Square, donated by its author, Argentinian architect Eduardo Catalano. It is made of stainless steel and aluminum and weighs 18 tons. It is the first moving structure controlled by a hydraulic system and photoelectric cells to open the petals in the morning and close them at night. It is a homage to all flowers.