City Center Sites

Shortly after we got up this morning the rain storms rolled over and it rained until shortly after noon.  That didn't stop us from taking off walking and exploring the city although we didn't leave the apartment until after 11 am.  It was a good morning to catch up with blogs and video chat with the grandkids.

We walked 10 blocks in rain to the closest subway stantion only to discover that it was closed for repairs.  A local said to take the bus but we opted for a $6 (60 peso) cab ride to Plaza de Mayo which is near government buildings and commemorates the Argentine liberation from Spanish rule on May 25, 1810.  We visited the La Catedral Metropolitana and entered Casa Rosada where the president holds meetings.  The reception was a gallery of photos of past Liberators of South America and Argentina.  The National Bank and Edificio la Inmobiliaria are also near the plaza.

We wondered around and made our way to the Avenida 9 de Julio, the grandest of Latin American avenues which is 12 lanes wide and takes at least two crosswalk cycles to cross.  This is where we saw El Obelisco which commemorates the 400th anniversary of the city's founding.  

Susanna and I talked the guys into touring Teatro Colon, one of the world's top opera houses.  It was completed in 1908 and refurbished in 2010 at a cost of $60 million.  This is where the locals come to see and to be seen during the opera and ballet season (April - Dec.).  Much of the architectural detail was designed by Italians using mostly Italian marble with accents of gold leaf, massive chandeliers, and stained glass domes.  The accoustics in the La Sala (auditorium) are considered perfect.

As it nears 8 pm we will walk around our neighborhood in search of a good place to eat dinner.