Buenos Aires was our embarkation point for a 31-day cruise around the southern tip of South America and along the western coast all the way to Los Angeles. Our flight landed at 8:00 AM. Since the published embarkation time was 1:00 PM, we decided to arrange a tour prior to the cruise to make valuable use of our time and to see the sites.
How to see Buenos Aires
We booked a private tour through Cultura Cercana. Our driver, Fabian, picked us up at the airport, transferred our luggage to his vehicle, and whisked us away. He always parked in secure lots or on streets where there was an obvious police presence. Since everything we brought with us for 31 days was in his vehicle, his precautions were appreciated.
Plaza de Mayo is a park-like setting with walkways, green space, monuments and a few vendors. Along the perimeter of the plaza are impressive buildings including the Metropolitan Cathedral, Casa Rosada, and City Hall.
At one end of the plaza is the statue of General Belgrano, mounted and holding the flag of Argentina which he designed. The actual flag of Argentina is in the background. Even farther in the background is the May Pyramid, a monument to the revolution for independence.
The numbers painted on the walkway refer to lives lost in separate skirmishes/battles for independence.
Catedral Metropolitana (The Metropolitan Cathedral)
Pope Francis spoke here when he served as Archbishop of Argentina.
Casa Rosada – The Presidential Palace
The current president still maintains offices in this building. Fabian told us that the current president lives outside of the city and flies in by helicopter when she has business at the palace.
Possibly the most (in)famous President of Argentina was Juan Peron. Have you seen Evita? The musical is based on the life of Eva Peron. I can just envision her standing on this very balcony singing, “Don’t Cry for Me, Argentina.” I think it enhanced my trip to see the musical and to read up on the history of Argentina prior to making this trip.
This is the courtyard inside Casa Rosada.
I would love to have one of these at my house!
A picture of me taking a picture of the elevator.
This elevator has a couch in the back and mirrors along the walls.
I was stuck in an elevator once. A couch would have been nice, but it would have been a little freaky looking at myself the whole time.
La Boca District
This neighborhood was originally settled by Italian immigrants. Colorful murals decorate the walls. We saw brightly painted, corrugated iron homes, outdoor cafes where tango is performed in the street, craftsmen, vendors, and the Boca Juniors soccer (fútbol) stadium.
Recoleta Cemetery
This cemetery covers four square blocks in the city. Beautiful mausoleums line the pedestrian walkways.
What to Eat….
Fabian took us to a local restaurant where we could experience that Argentine beef everyone always talks about. He did not disappoint. We went to La Brigada.
Our meal consisted of steak, pork, grilled/smoked cheese, and an empanada, served with soup, a selection of bread, and fries. The food was delicious.
Fabian asked us if we wanted to be adventurous. We said, “Why not?” so he ordered sweetbreads for us to try. It is a delicacy. If you might think this is dessert, you would be WRONG… If you don’t know what sweetbreads are, look it up! It tasted like grilled fat.
Sweetbreads: I am not a fan!
Money…
The local currency is the Argentina peso. We never exchanged money in Buenos Aires. Our private tour guide was happy to take dollars. In fact, the currency exchange is very interesting in Argentina. The currency value fluctuates so much that many Argentinians keep American dollars. Some people say that there are more American dollars in Argentina than in America! There is an official exchange rate that banks will give you, but businesses will sometimes negotiate the rate if you pay in dollars. Fabian asked for our bill in dollars at the restaurant, and they were happy to comply. The street vendors we met took dollars.
The Port…
The cruise terminal provided a shuttle to the pier where The Golden Princess docked. Passengers were not allowed to walk in the port area as it is a commercial port. The shuttle was quick and convenient. Taxis were available just outside the cruise terminal.
The following photos show our view of the port from aboard the Golden Princess in February of 2015.
Next time in Buenos Aires –
If I get the opportunity to go back to Buenos Aires, I will go to a dinner and tango show. Fellow Travelers shared mixed reviews weighing quality and expense. I will do my research and find one with excellent reviews.
Next stop: Montevideo, Uruguay