This cemetery is one of the most expensive real estate in Buenos Aires. Some of these memorials are much more expensive than a home or flat in the city! Just when you think you have seen the largest and most fancy you turn the corner and are WOWed by another. Keith got a little too upclose and personal when he discovered you could see the caskets inside. The sculptures, marble from Italy, stained glass, tile & wood work was incredible; you really can take it with you
with unlimited funds as many of these notable dead folks have demonstrated! The biggest crowd gathered around the crypt of Eva Peron and famiy.
After touring around the cemetery for a couple of hours we walked down one of the most elegant streets in this city overfilled with beautiful buildings.
Note the fancy necklace we picked out in the Cartier's window; Keith is 'gifting' me a picture of it for Christmas, isn't he sweet?!
We passed the Embassies of various countries including France & Brazil before hopping on a bus for La Boca, the entry way for many immigrants from the early 1900's. It was a colorful tourist zone with music and tango dancers willing to have their picture taken with you for a couple of pesos. Being the peso conscious travelers that we are we skipped the posed picture and the many invitation to eat at the ample supply of street cafes and bought delicious empanadas and a coke at the bakery.
Our trip back to Mariel's apartment was much larger than we had anticipated, actually we were lost and practically off the map before we jumped off, crossed the street and headed back where we got off the bus at the right spot! A city tour through a shopping mecca, everyone was out shopping for the upcoming holiday. The streets were packed! We were happy to ride through and then back through the mobs comfortably seated in the bus!
Saturday, outside of the commercial shopping areas, was much quieter than we would have imagined, the traffic was much lighter than weekdays. Of course when things really get hopping around this city, we are putting our heads on our pillows for the night. Mariel went out to a party at her daughter's house for a family birthday at 9 pm and didn't get back until 3:30 this morning! If my family has a later dinner it starts at 5:30 or 6 pm! Different, huh?
Today we walked a long ways to San Telmo's Sunday antique market and street fair. We had a great time wandering around the indoor and outdoor markets filled with real valuable antiques and touristy trinkets. There were several street performers including a talented orchestra playing passionate tango music with four squeeze box players, a good vocalist, stringed instruments and even an upright piano playing right on the cobblestoned street across from a lovely church where we enjoyed a moment of peaceful relaxation.
Another of my favorite street artists was a puppeteer dressed in an an identical outfit as his string puppet. The puppet was a drunk singing ballads as he took big swigs from his bottle and staggered about, very creative & funny!
We saw a real drunk being hauled away by the police and the crowd was insisting it was police abuse, who knows the full story, not I!
Sitting in Mariel's living room with the french doors opened to the street the bakery on the corner is sending wonderful smells my way. This trip is taking it's toll on my figure even being careful. I'm not sure I could live in a big city where everything is so readily available including ice cream, baked delights and pizza! I'm now going to concentrate on thinking and eating more veggies!
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