Buenos Aires, Recoleta

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Day 544
58 503 km since the beginning of the journey,
Buenos Aires,

The size of Buenos Aires is impressive, according to Wikipedia the area is 203 km2 and the number of inhabitants together with the suburban parts of the city is almost 13 million. And the list of the main attractions in the city corresponds to the size as well and “Recoleta” is always on the list.

The place is surrounded by sales counters, everything - which could be of any interest to tourists - is available. Souvenirs, balloons and pies, as usual, belong to one of the city`s most significant sight. Walking in between the stalls I feel that there is something different here and after some time I realize the difference – there is no super-aggressive sale here. But maybe I do not see myself so much like a tourist, because tourists can be usually recognized having a tourist map in the hand and wearing small backpack with a water bottle pocket. And the camera betrays as well. My rucksack and tourist card are left in the car, the car is be left in a guarded parking lot, and the place itself is not far away. A walk a couple of miles is quite useful. And the small Sony camera fits into the pocket freely.



The church - Iglesia de Nuestra Senora del Pilar (ie the Virgin of Pilar) - built in 1732 is seen from the distance.




View from the inside, the Baroque altar.


Hundred yards away is the next attraction. Cementario de la Recoleta, the ground cemetery, with an area of 5.5 hectares, and there are more than 4600 tombs and mausoleums. The cemetery was opened in 1822, and at that time this was the first public cemetery in Buenos Aires. Among the others this is a resting place of former presidents, war heroes, politicians.


Streets, all the tombs are different




Newer and older, with tall buildings in the background.




Narrower streets and on both sides continuous walls of tombs.








Some are like miniature churches.


And next - one of the most well-known tombs:


Familia Duarte, or Eva Peron, Evita is resting here.































The cemetery is too large to view everything, and too small to get lost.


Back on the street. There are street musicians just opposite the entrance.

Recoletos Cultural Complex or Centro Cultural Recoleto is situated on the other side of the street.








In one smaller hall I notice familiar landscapes


Joy of recognition, four large photos of Namibia, above on left is Dead Vlei.


Out again


The lawn in front of Cultural Centro is full of people. Sunday afternoon. Shadows are longer already.



My recommendation to everyone is: while planning to visit Recoleto Cultural Complex and the Cemetery – take a whole day or even more should be planned. The cemetery is like a small town and there are different exhibitions in the Cultural Complex. A photo exhibition about the Leningrad blockade could be viewed even in two halls.

The day was over faster than expected. A half an hour walk to the parking lot and over a half an hour driving to the overnight place in Tigre.

No more pictures now as during the last two days internet connection has been rather poor. In the meantime it seems that there is GPRS, which has no connection and in the meantime there is nothing. The result in both cases is 0.