Here a full 4 weeks, pretty much settled in...

Taking it easy on the apartment patio. . .

Since we plan on being here a full 5 months, we are taking it easy on "the getting to know the city" stuff.   Most of the week was housekeeping, photos and journaling for blog, writing, revising chapters, reading and research.

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The main event for the week was going to the Galeria Pacifico

Galeria Pacifico
Av Florida y Av Cordoba

This Beaux Arts building was modelled on the Le Bon Marché in Paris in 1889.

In 1896 part of the building was transformed into the first home for the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes and in 1908 the British-owned Buenos Aires and Pacific railway company acquired part of the building for offices. From that time onwards the building became known as Edificio Pacífico.

Frescos in the main cupola of the Galeria

In 1945 the building was remodelled , a large central cupola was constructed and decorated with 12 frescos by artists Lino Enea Spilimbergo, Antonio Berni, Juan Carlos Castagnino, Manuel Colmeiro and Demetrio Urruchúa. These frescos, executed in 1946, are some of the most important in Buenos Aires.

In 1989 it was declared a national historic monument.

The juxtaposition of the old (offices and apartments)
and the new (high end shops)

New fresco looking down on the elegant shopping arcade

After having been abandoned for years, the building was renovated and re-opened in 1991 as the shopping arcade Galerías Pacífico. Four more frescos were added to the cupola. In addition to the shopping arcade the building also contains the Jorge Luis Borges Cultural Centre and the Julio Bocca Dance Studio.

Chandelier above the Tango stage that is
in the Jorge Luis Borges Cultural Centre

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While reading by the bedroom window on Saturday morning, I noticed a fluttering shadow in the window and I looked up to see a small burrowing owl perch on the railing.  It must have been there turning it's head around and around, looking at his reflection in the window for several minutes - long enough for me to call John, but I was afraid to get up to get my camera.  I guess the sun was too warm and bright, because he flew to the building across the street and sat there for about a half hour sitting the corner of the shaded ledge. 

Looking across the street -
can you see the owl in the corner?

Burrowing Owl

A closer look at the window ledge...

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That's it for this week - next week, maybe our 1st Tango lesson???

Been here almost a month, now...

At the PlazaCongreso with the Palacio Borolo in the background.

We have been here 3 weeks now, and feeling like we are getting into some sort of daily/weekly routine. Groceries, laundry, reading, writing and walks to the plazas to read in the fresh "buenos aires."

Highlight for the week was to take the tour of the Palacio Borolo - the first high-rise built in this city finished in 1923.  The architect based the building on Dante's "Divine Comedy" with the basement and ground floor representing hell, floors 1-14 are the purgatory, and 15-22 represent heaven.

Approaching Palacio Borolo at dusk for our 8 PM tour
(the palacio is only 3 blocks from our apartment)

We "ascend" from hell to purgatory
in elevators

Our guide takes us to purgatory
in the asensor

Looking down at hell from purgatory
(the lobby from the 14th floor)

The views from heaven...

Plaza Congreso

Av Uruguay y Av de Mayo
(Uruguay, the street where we live)

From the top we can see the Casa Rosada
(It is very "rosada" at night, isn't it?)

Edifico de Evita Peron
on av 9 de Julio

...with wine and olives

We end our tour in
Senor Borolo's offices...
(purgatory)

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A look at what I did this week with photos...

Looking down from the bedroom window...

Patio Plants

Street Traffic

Things noticed during the week's adventures...

Birds in the Plaza Congreso trees

Ascending from Hell

Nighttime in Baires

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...and last photo of the week - a full view of the apartment building at 172 Uruguay

We are on the 5th floor, the two windows on the left
(the floor that has no front balconies)

That's it for this week...

The Second Week - we take a tour bus...

Bus Turistico
Ciudad de Buenos Aires

The second week begins with continuing rain and some thunder that has taken out our internet.  It's a shock to me as to how much we rely on our internet connections for communication with collegues, friends and family (email, Skype, research, daily newpapers, weather, time, blogs, etc.) Actually, it was kind of nice to be cut off for a few days to get to know our cable tv and the apartment better. As stated last week, we got the essential interent connections from our occational trips to Starbucks with soy chai lattes. Between rain showers, we walk the streets to get to know the area better looking high and low.

Looking up

Looking up

 

Looking down

When we get the internet going again, a day is spent "catching up" on emails, blogs, newspapers, and making some calls to clear up some things with the bank and other personal business. Now, we think we need to venture out of our immediate neighborhood and see what the rest of Buenos Aires looks like.  The hop-on/hop-off bus tour is very affordable, so on the first day the sun is out, we walk down to Florida and Pres. Pena and buy a 48 hour pass, which means we "hop-on" the bus for the 3 1/2 hour city tour and then the next day get on again to "hop off" at the places we want to explore more.

Ticket booth

We go by the now familiar parts of  "our" BAires...

The Cabildo

Palacio del Congreso

On, then to San Telmo and La Boca



San Telmo - Parque Lezama

Estadio Bombonera, home to the Boca Jrs

Mural on side of Estadio

The port - Vuelta de Rocha

Homes are put together with found scraps

Puerto Madera is next. . .

Puerto Madero - a sharp contrast to La Boca
New and Slick

La Puerte de La Mujer
Bridge - a tribute to the Women of Tango

Along Av de Libertador - Museums, art and recreation

Floralis Generica

Polo Field

Through Belgrano and Palermo

Av Cabildo

Chinatown Gate

Walking home we encounter the Police on Av 9 de Julio and Av de Mayo - a protest - something about the tierra

Gearing up for a fight?

Standing Strong

We want to see more of San Telmo and La Boca so we spend the next day exploring in that area, have lunch then to Puerto Madera for the contrast of old and new.  From there we walk home and crash.  

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The next day...

San Telmo for a flea market in Parque Lezamo and the Museo Historico National

"Flea Market" surrounding
Monumento a Don Perdo Mendoza

Walking from there towards La Boca, we have lunch...

It turns out to be highlight of the day

The Blues Special Club

Not sure what it was called, but it sure was DELICIOUS!

Then towards the port, Vuelta de la Rocha, where we find an art fair

Arts, crafts and music in La Boca

Vuelta de Rocha

Next, we contrast the earthy La Boca with the upscale Puerto Madera.

Sarmiento Frigate and Puente de la Mujer

From there, we walk home through Plaza de Mayo, Av de Mayo and 9 de Julio where there is a celebration all day with a parade of the indigenous culture of the country.  Very colorful and raucous!

This bus tour was a great way to see the city and get the feel for how large and varied this huge metropolis is.

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The adventure continues next week...