LIGHTS! CAMERA! ACTION!
LUCES! CAMARA! ACCION! IN SPANISH
HOLA Amigas! Bienvenidos y Buenos Dias! (Welcome & Good Morning!) Today we toured Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina. Let's toast w/ a frozen margarita. CHEERS! APLOUSOS!
FEBRUARY 14,2013- VALENTINES DAY
When I think of South America, my mind flashed back to an old romantic movie "Westside Story." The movie reminded me of a song called "Somewhere". Sang by the heroes (Maria & Tony). I loved the wordings........"There's a place for us.... A time and place for us. Hold my hand and we're half way there...... Hold my hand and I'll take you there......Somehow, Someday, Somewhere!"
For many years South America for us was just a distant someday, somewhere & someplace. Today, my husband and I were holding hands, happily walking the boulevards of Buenos Aires on Valentines Day.
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| BIENVENIDOS A BUENOS AIRES! |
O..la..la..la...la...Buenos Aires! The "Paris of South America." This city was strongly influenced by European culture. As a result, it displayed a touch of Paris, France. Many of the architectures were based on French design. The city never failed to remind travelers of Paris.
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| BUENOS AIRES COLONIAL ARCHITECTURE |
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OBELISCO - BUENOS AIRES FAMOUS ARGENTINA LANDMARK
El Obelisco, a famous icon of Buenos aires and favorite picture postcard of the city. It was built in 1936 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the first founding of the city by Pedro de Mendoza. The obelisk of Buenos Aires, a popular place for political demonstrations or victory celebrations of football team fans.
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Argentines also boasted that their main esplanade, 9 de Julio, the widest avenue of any of the world's great cities. Some 10 traffic lines wide w/ intervening grassy spaces. A block wide and may well lived up to its reputation. Argentines claimed it a reminiscent of Champs Elysees in Paris.
Enjoyed a scenic drive highlighting El Centro, the old Bohemian San Telmo district, the Colon Theater Opera House and Palermo, the largest of Buenos Aires 150 parks. Our tour bus dropped us off at Plaza de Mayo. The Plaza was a historical place. One of the city's main squares.
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| PLAZA DE MAYO, BUENOS AIRES |
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| PLAZA DE MAYO W/ CASA ROSADA (PINK HOUSE) IN THE BACKGROUND |
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| CLOSE UP VIEW OF CASA ROSADA |
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| FAMOUS BALCONY |
A "must-sees" w/ the Casa Rosada known as Pink House (Buenos Aires' equivalent to the U.S. White House). From the balcony Eva (Evita) and Juan Peron addressed the crowds in the 1940s-50s. The May Revolution of 1810 happened here, which started the process towards the country's independence from Spain in 1816. These days, Plaza de Mayo is a famous touristic place.
Next attraction was a visit to La Boca. We strolled along the main street lined w/ brightly-colored houses. LaBoca bloomed into a colorful centre of art, restaurants and colorful metal house which presented a refreshing change from the rest of the city. The colours came from the brightly painted house on the Caminito, a pedestrian walk named for the tango of the same name and the waters of the Riachuelo stained by oil sludge's.
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| COLORFUL LA BOCA |
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| TANGO PAINTINGS |
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| FAMOUS COLORFUL CAMINITO |
The tradition began when the house owners didn’t have enough money to buy paints for their houses. They receive donations, and of course it was hard to find a lot of paint in the same colour. The years went by and it became a tradition to use different colours.
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| THE SIMPLE EVITA GRAVE SITE |
When in Buenos Aires one should definitely visit Recoleta Cemetery. The cemetery was designed by a French architect, Prosper Catelin, and it was dedicated in 1822. We wandered through a virtual city of 6,400 Neoclassical, Neogothic, Art Nuevo and art Deco mausoleums. It's well known for its big, impressive and beautiful tombs. The most important people of Argentina were buried here including presidents, heroes of the military, politicians, local celebrities and unknown rich people from Buenos Aires. The most well-known person was Evita Peron, a former First Lady of Argentina and ex-woman president.
Long time ago, my hubby and I watched a famous Broadway show at the Pantages in Hollywood. We thought that Evita was a powerful show. Evita must be a fascinating woman, who was universally revered or reviled.
Over all the city tour was "Muy Bien!" (Very Good!). Back to the ship. Had a wonderful dinner w/ a Filipino couple we met on board, Norie & Tony. We celebrated Valentines Night w/fine dining at the Michelangelo's. Here's the beautiful & colorful Valentines cake created by the pastry chef on board. What a Valentines Day to remember!
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| VALENTINES NIGHT ABOARD GRAND PRINCESS- 2013 |
BUENOS NOCHES! And ADIOS BUENOS AIRES!
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