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“Pic of the Week”, September 14, 2018: Floralis Genérica, Buenos Aires
Floralis Genérica is one of the best known and most impressive monuments in Buenos Aires. It’s a sculpture of a massive flower (18 tons, 23 meters high) made of stainless steel, aluminum and concrete. Floralis Genérica is located in a beautiful 4 acre park at the Plaza of the United Nations in Recoleta. The park has walking paths that allow you to view the sculpture from different angles.
This impressive artwork was donated to the city in 2002 by architect Eduardo Catalano. It has a mechanism (which may or may not be working) that opens and closes the flower’s six gigantic petals, depending on the time of day. When all is in working order the flower closes …
Sep 13, 2018
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.All Trips / Argentina / South America
The Parana Delta and El Tigre, Argentina
El Tigre is situated an hour’s train ride from Buenos Aires, a trip that will cost you less than US$1 (departs from the Retiro station — linea Mitro). You can also get there by taking a cab (more expensive but faster). We enjoyed the slower train journey and were treated to an interesting assortment of vendors, panhandlers, and train performers all plying their business. Trains sure are a great place to people watch.
We visited El Tigre as a day trip but I wished we’d stayed overnight so we could have explored the islands around it. The region is green and lush and built astride a river which was flooded when we visited (the Parana River is prone to flooding). El …
Tagged Buenos Aires, delta, El Tigre, Parana River, rowing
.All Trips / Argentina / South America
The Church of our Lady of Pilar, Recoleta, Argentina
The historic and beautiful cathedral, Iglesia Nuestra Senora del Pilar (The Church of Our Lady of Pilar), is situated in the Buenos Aires neighborhood of Recoleta. The church adjoins the famous Recoleta cemetery, which we’ve previously visited on this website.
Iglesia Nuestra Senora del Pilar is considered one of the most beautiful examples of Buenos Aires’ Colonial architecture. It’s the city’s second oldest church and has retained its original altarpiece and icons. The church is named in honor of the patron saint of the city of Zaragoza in Spain, and was completed in 1732. Its original architect was a Jesuit, Andres Bianchi, and was built in conjunction with a convent of Franciscans.
Altarpiece, The Church of Our Lady of Pilar, Recoleta
The monks of Recoletos were expelled from …
.All Trips / Argentina / South America
Recoleta Cemetery, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Who would have guessed the most expensive real estate in Buenos Aires is found in a cemetery? Not only is it expensive, there’s a line waiting to get in (seriously)! You actually lease a plot here, as I understand it, and don’t permanently own it. In the future your heirs can cancel the deal or let the lease expire, though it’s so prestigious to have a plot here few do. Regardless, this piece of pricy land has become an interesting and popular tourist attraction.
Recoleta Cemetery is the final resting place of some of the richest and most important people in Argentina’s history, including politicians, Nobel prize winners, scientists and businessmen. Obviously only wealthy people can afford the real estate (about …
Tagged Buenos Aires, cemetery, Evita, Recoleta
“Pic of the Week”, June 5, 2015: El Ateneo, Buenos Aires
I love book and collect them (thousands of them — where to put them all?). I make a point of visiting libraries and bookstores during my travels although sometimes these visits happen by accident. So it was when I discovered El Ateneo Grand Splendid bookstore one evening in the Recoleta neighborhood of Buenos Aires, as my wife and I were walking back to our hotel after dinner in a parrillo (Argentine steakhouse).
Buenos Aires is known as the “Paris of South America”. Many elegant buildings were constructed a century ago when the country was one of the wealthiest in the world, before a string of progressively worse governments destroyed Argentina’s economy. The result is a city that has a European …
Jun 4, 2015
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“Pic of the Week”, February 6, 2015: Well dressed trees
We’ve previously visited the colorful barrio of La Boca in Buenos Aires, Argentina. La Boca, a tough blue collar neighborhood, is known for its flamboyantly colorful homes. As I was going through my photos of this visit recently, I was reminded that not only are the homes brilliantly decorated, but so is the vegetation! These colorful knit coverings were on the trees — even the fire hydrants! It only adds to the many shades of La Boca.
Note sure I’ve ever been anyplace else that decorated trees with anything other than Christmas lights and related holiday decorations. Have you?
(Click on thumbnails to enlarge, right arrow to advance)
Feb 5, 2015
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“Pic of the Week”, December 5, 2014: Recoleta Cemetery, Buenos Aires
Who would have thought the most desirable, the most expensive and exclusive real estate in Buenos Aires would be in this cemetery? Recoleta cemetery is the resting place of many local celebrities and dignitaries, from politicians to business people to Nobel Prize winners, but by far it’s most famous grave here is that of Evita (Eva Peron).
Situated in the exclusive Recoleta neighborhood of Buenos Aires, Recoleta cemetery is adjacent to Our Lady of Pilar church (Iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Pilar), built in 1732, whose tower you can see in the background of these photos. The cemetery covers 14 acres and has just under 4700 permanent residents — not counting all the feral cats. It’s mausoleums, statuary …
Dec 4, 2014
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.All Trips / Argentina / Food / Food Tour / South America
A Tale of Two Food Tours: Buenos Aires, Argentina
It’s been my experience that food tours are growing in popularity across the globe. If an army marches on its stomach, then so does the world’s growing flocks of tourists. Experiencing local food for most travelers is an integral part of the travel experience — that’s certainly the case with me.
Food tours have an inherent appeal. They can save you a lot of research time and are likely to give you a better dining experience than you’d find on your own. You’re taken to a restaurant a local has selected as an excellent or high quality establishment indicative of that tour’s theme — local food, artisan food, etc. Many of these restaurants are small “hole-in-the-wall” places that you’d be unlikely …
