Argentina
November 6-29, 2009
November 28: Buenos Aires: Recoleta, La Boca and Puerto Madero: Puerto Madero
Puerto Madero is the only barrio to the east of the city centre. Constructed in 1882, the port consists of four enormous docks that run along the Rio de la Plata and are lined with brick warehouses that once held the grain from the Pampas before it was shipped around the world. The port was closed in 1898 by which time it was already too small to handle the volume of maritime traffic.
A new port was constructed to the north and for most of the twentieth century, Puerto Madero sat as an industrial relic. However it is getting new life as it has become a voguish mix of restaurants, luxury apartments and offices. It is a nice place to take a stroll although the geocaching can prove to be very frustrating if you don't check out the spoiler pics before leaving home!
On the taxi ride to the ritzy Puerto Madero area we pass by a much poorer area.
Sammy finds a ship propeller.
A large frigate amongst the giant skyscrapers.
Swanky residential and office high rises as well as upscale restaurants line
the former port where brick warehouses used to stand.
Christine, Rubby and Christopher check out the Buque Museo Fragata ARA Presidente Sarmiento at dock 3.
Built in British shipyards, this was the Argentine navy's flagship from 1899 to 1938.
The ship is now a museum.
Rubby shows Sammy and Christopher how far we are from Canada.
Sammy is trying to make friends with the pigeons.
Sammy pouting because she can't catch a pigeon.
Feeding the pigeons.
Another view of the Fragata ARA Presidente Sarmiento.
An overview of Puerto Madero with its four docks.
Puente de la Mujer (the "women's bridge") - a striking white bridge by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava.
Unveiled in 2001, the modernist curves of the bridge are very new-millennium.
A Virgin statue.
A view of the Fragata ARA Presidente Sarmiento from the other side of the river
along with some of the restored red brick warehouses.
More beautiful flowering trees.
Some photographers and a model walking around looking for good shots.
One of the dock cranes.
Samantha posing under the crane.
Samantha wants to take some pictures too.
Samantha waiting under a tree while Auntie Christine checks out some potential places for a New Year's party.
Very swanky area!
A boat tied up at one of the docks.
Puerto Madero has become an exclusive residential, gastronomic and business center in the city.
The Argentine Customs building.
Rubby looking for a geocache.
More flowers and seed pods...
While Rubby was hunting for geocaches, Samantha found a shady climbing tree.
How do I get back down?!
We finally gave up on the cache and decided to cool down with some drinks and ice cream instead.
Ice cream eating is serious business.
Enjoying a beautiful sunny afternoon for our last day of our vacation.
Re-energized, the kids make one last attempt to catch a pigeon.
argentina menu: