(Buenos Aires) No Sites to See

Unlike many of the other cities that we have visited, Buenos Aires doesn't really have the "one site that you need to see." For this trip, that is a relief and means that we were able to take in a few parts of the city today.

After breakfast outdoors on the patio at La Biela, we first visited the Recoleta Cemetary, which is a Cemetary unlike any other that we have seen. Resting place of the rich and famous of Buenos Aires, including Presidents, Eva Peron and seemingly ever doctor to have practiced in the city, this place is like a city unto itself. Rather than having tombstones, families build structures along "roads," which can be entered and often have rooms, above and below ground. While some are in complete disrepair, others are magnificent.

Afterwards, we took the metro to Plaza del Mayo to see the Casa Rosada (Pink House), which is the working place of the President. As is common, their metro is newer, cleaner and cheaper (65 cents) than ours. After walking around that area, which is composed of european/French style buildings, many of which were not in great shape, we went to the old docks in Puerto Madero Waterfront, which was once a working dock but is now a dining, housing and office complex for the wealthy. As much as we didn't love the area, we did enjoy the snack and cafe that we had there. Continuing on towards the water, we spent the remainder of the day at the Reserve Ecological Constantera Sur, which is a bird sanctuary that buffets the eastern edge of Buenos Aires from the huge Rio de la Plata.

After some wine and cheese in our apartment, we had a late Italian dinner at La Locanda, a small place owned by a very extroverted Italian ex-pat. The meal was great, but the real magic was the chocolate mousse handwhipped by the owner, with equal parts pepper and salt, and a good amount of olive oil. Amazing!