Fiona's version of BA traffic rules: traffic lanes do not exist, neither do turn signals. You honk if: 1. someone comes into your lane without a turn signal, 2. if the traffic is stopped and it should be moving 3. if the light is red and you want it to be green 4. just for the hell of it. I'm definitely glad to have experienced BA driving, I'm just glad I was not the one driving!!
After our whirlwind taxi ride, for the expensive price of $6USD (yay for cheap cabs). We walked around Recoleta before the restaurant that my dear friend Annie recommended opened for lunch. Every few blocks there was a really nice "plaza" - AKA park with gorgeous trees. It was really nice to sit on a park bench and watch the world go by. There were a lot of dads with strollers in the parks which I thought was really neat.
FINALLY the restaurant opened (we were starving by then and our stomachs were ready to consume themselves). We ate at Cumana which had fantastic empanadas - especially the Blue Cheese empanada (YUM).
After we were refueled, we headed over the Recoleta Cemetery. The masoleums or family graves look like little mini mansions (complete with crypt basement) that line the mini streets that are set up like spokes on a wheel. The plots are bought and sold just like real estate. One was for sale, Kyle had a faint interest...haha. The most famous grave in the cemetery was Eva Peron's - very easily seen by the multitude of flowers and people in front of it. It really was a beautiful place. Some of the masoleums have gone into disrepair next to newly built gleaming marble final resting places.
Next door we headed to the Basilica Nuestra Senor del Pilar which was gearing up for Semana Santa (Easter Week in South America). There were also the ever present Pope Francisco posters - Argentina certainly proud of their new resident in Vatican City, as they should be! The church is considered the finest colonial church in the city, consecrated in 1732.
After our death and church fill of the day, we were off to see more pretty things in Recoleta. First stop was the giant metal statue of "Floralis Generica" - each of the metal leaves fold closed during the night and open again in the morning. Really gorgeous flower in the sunlight.
Since we hadn't been to any museums yet, today was the day and off we went to the Museo de Bellas Artes which was conveniently located across the street from the Floralis Generica (I'm such a good planner.. haha.. or map reader). I'm glad Kyle is a roadrunner through museums as well and doesn't like to read every sign. I can sit and appreciate only for so long (or as my mom likes to call me - fidget bum). My favorites were the impressionistic paintings of Joaquin Sorolla of the beach in Spain - they were some of the only paintings I recognized (haha) because I did a Spanish project on him in high school.
We were walking by the cinema and there was a huge crowd assembling which wasn't there earlier in the day. How odd I thought. We decided to take a peek, and found out it was a red carpet premiere for "Oblivion" - hadn't heard of it. All the commotion was because Tom Cruise was appearing later that evening. Glad we didn't stick around!
All of that tourist activity made us ready for an afternoon cafe con leche con medialuna. We stopped at la Biela - a cafe famous in Recoleta with a gorgeous patio (only bummer is anything served on the patio costs 20% more). Oh well, it was a gorgeous day so we decided to splurge.
We hailed another cab home - with crazy gridlock everywhere, and had a nice dinner near Puerto Madero. Another fun and busy day! Buenas noches!
Images below from Recoleta Cemetery and my new kitty friend
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