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...