The ship arrived in Buenos Aires, Argentina today. Although our passports were already stamped December 22nd and returned to us before arriving in Uruguay. I’ve never seen that before. I have seen passports returned before the end of a cruise, but after returning to a Schengen country, and once in a Schengen country no further stamps are required when moving from one Schengen country to another.
I went exploring Buenos Aires with 3 of my new friends that I explored Punta del Este with. We walked out of the port shortly after we were cleared to leave the ship. We ordered an Uber a block away from the ship and went to Casa Rosada. We went inside the Catedral Metropolitana de Buenos Aires. We walked around Casa Rosada to the Puente de Mujer (Woman’s Bridge) near Puerto Madero (which was also near the hotel I was staying at the following evening). From there we ordered another Uber to take us to La Boca. It was recommended to me that I don’t go there without a local guide. There was a scheduled walking tour at 11 AM that we joined. La Boca was very colorful and had an interesting history. I recommend going and taking the walking tour. There is a small fee, but it was less than $15 (USD). We then ate lunch at a local place across from the La Boca football stadium. From there we took another Uber to Teatro Colon. We took the tour of the theater in English at 4 PM. We scheduled a tour of Palacio Barolo for 6 PM and walked from the theater to Palacio Barolo. After the very nice tour of Palacio Barolo we saw a copy of Rodin’s thinker sculpture and took an Uber back to the ship. It was a very productive day.
Above picture is Casa Rosada. I was unable to enter as you need to make reservations in advance.
Above picture is of a monument behind the Casa Rosada.
Above picture is showing the Puente de Mujer (Woman’s Bridge). We almost got to see it swing open, but our Uber driver showed up earlier than expected to take us to La Boca.
A picture of a museum in La Boca. The colorful scheme was explained to be more aesthetically pleasing than the original painting in the area. Apparently it was colorful originally as items were painted with whatever color paint was left over. However the painting would have been more similar to Jackson Pollock than this organized mixture of colors we see now.
Above picture is of the dock area in La Boca. This was the first port area in Buenos Aires.
Above picture shows the transporter bridge in La Boca, which currently does not work. It is one of only a handful of transporter bridges that still exist as many in Europe were destroyed during the wars.
Above picture shows one of the structures that has been used as housing in La Boca.
Above picture is of more colorful housing in La Boca.
Above picture is of a house in La Boca with portraits of the families that lived in the house.
Above picture is of a mural in La Boca showing the history of when La Boca attempted to secede from Argentina. The transporter bridge is one of the icons of La Boca.
Above picture of some colorful touristy shops in La Boca.
Above picture is a mural thanking the volunteer firefighters. In the old days the nearby paid fire department didn’t respond to fires in the poor area, so La Boca started a volunteer fire department which still operates today.
Above picture in La Boca where our tour started from. The statue in the window on the 1st floor (2nd floor for Americans) balcony is of the Pope.
Above picture is of a monument in La Boca near the beginning of the tour.
Above picture is of an interestingly decorated tree in La Boca.
Above picture is part of my lunch in La Boca. We also had a steak sandwich. The food and the bread was very delicious.
Above picture is of another theater near the Colon theater.
Above picture is the outside of Teatro Colon.
Above picture is of the inside of the Teatro Colon. It is a massive theater.
Above picture is of the inside of the Teatro Colon. In this picture you can see the President’s box – but it doesn’t offer a very good view. In the back of the theater there is also an “official box” which is larger and reserved for state sponsored events with the President and other foreign diplomats.
Above picture is of the inside of the Teatro Colon. The chandelier can be lowered for cleaning and there is space for musicians to make special effects, like the voice of God….
Above picture shows Palacio Barolo (white tower) which is very similar to the Salvo building in Montevideo.
Above picture is inside Palacio Barolo. Note the masonic symbol in the word Ascensor…..
Above picture is from inside the Palacio Barolo. The lower part of the building was supposed to represent hell… so there were sculptures of dragons and serpents.
Above picture is from Palacio Barolo. The image on the building is of Eva Peron. (Evita)
Above picture is another view from Palacio Barolo.
Above picture is of Rodin’s thinker sculpture and the Congress building.