We have spent the last three days looking around Buenos Aires, a city which Mercedes knows well since she used to live here. On the first day, we focused on the older areas of San Telmo and Manzana de las Luces which are distinctive for their narrow streets, plazas and grand buildings - many of them churches and mostly dating from the late 19th century. The architecture is quite extravagant, often courtesy of French and Italian designers, and representing the world's best at the time. Many of the buildings are now museums of some sort. For contrast, we moved on to Puerto Madero, an early port area which quickly became redundant for its original purpose and has now been redeveloped as the prime location for slick waterside restaurants and expensive high rise aparment complexes.
Next day was the tour of the city's main central sites - from the Plaza de Mayo with its pink Presidential Palace and nearby Cabildo and Cathedral all the way down to the Plaza del Congreso. Many of the buildings on this stretch date from the early 20th century and reflected the prosperity and glamor of the times. We also took in the expansive theater district and the opera house which is one of the city's prides - unfortunately under cover for renovation right now.
For a change of pace, we visited the Palermo area yesterday. This is the Soho of Buenos Aires - in fact, part of it is even called Palermo Soho - and is the place to find small trendy boutiques and stylish outdoor restarants and bars. They are interspersed with the commercial and small-scale industrial businesses which have so far survived the gentrification. Nice atmosphere.
For a change of pace, we visited the Palermo area yesterday. This is the Soho of Buenos Aires - in fact, part of it is even called Palermo Soho - and is the place to find small trendy boutiques and stylish outdoor restarants and bars. They are interspersed with the commercial and small-scale industrial businesses which have so far survived the gentrification. Nice atmosphere.
We have been busy in the evenings too. A very pleasant dinner one night with Mercedes's cousin, Teresa, and brother, Alejo. And last night we went to see the Argentine version of the musical "Hairspray" in which Mercedes's friend and former tennis opponent, Oscar, was performing. It was fun to have dinner with Oscar afterwards and see the celebrity status he is accorded at the restaurant.
Simon
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