Don't Cry For Me, Argentina

The truth is, I'd never been here. 

Fortunately, that problem has now been solved. Jessica* and I have spent the past few days exploring Buenos Aires, the Paris of South America. The nod to Paris comes from the urban revitalization that happened in the early 1900's when the city center was given wide avenues to mimic Paris. 

We spent the first day walking around the city center and the neighborhood of San Telmo. Even the streets want you to tango. 

We visited the government buildings in Plaza de Mayo, including Casa Rosada, the seat of the government famed for Juan and Eva Perón's speeches from the balcony. Our speech was given just below the original balcony but was still quite powerful. 

We then took a tour of Teatro Colón where the opera, ballet, and symphony perform. The building was designed in grand style to mimic the great opera houses in France and Italy. Our tour guide insists it has the best acoustics in  the world. 

It was a brutal day for our feet because we walked a ton more and ended the day with a tango lesson! The tango night came in two varieties: Wild and Mild. Our choice is an accurate reflection of my life. "Wild" sounded fun, but "Mild" included dinner.

Following the lesson was, of course, dinner and a show by the professionals. The tango on stage looked much more sophisticated than the two of us clomping around and the band was fantastic. If anyone hadn't wanted to play accordion** before hearing some tango, they definitely do now. 

The next day we devoted to Evita.*** We started at the Museo Evita and learned all about her life. Fortunately, we began in the children's section with a timeline that was at exactly my Spanish level. 

From there, pictures weren't allowed so I definitely didn't get this picture of fabulous Evita fashion. 

I also didn't get a picture of this quote that, though part of Evita's fight for women to vote in 1949, feels like it could have been written today. 

Following the museum we went to Recoleta Cemetery where Evita, 21 past presidents*****, and various important Argentinians are buried in above-ground mausoleums.

 

Also, there was a cat. 

We are ending the day as everyone should- with Argentinian beef. It is sure to be delicious!

-KT

*Although not a single Argentinian has yet to do it, we remind you that "j" has a "y" sound in Spanish. 

**Why would anyone NOT want to play accordion?? It looks like the best. 

***Maria Eva Duarte de Perón (1919-1952)****

****Ohmygodiknowsoyoungright????

*****Fun fact from when Jessica got to BA ahead of me and took the guided Spanish tour. She also knows a ghost story- bug her about it later!!