We spent most of Sunday in the city center, called Microcentro by the locals. Started off with coffee and pastries at the Cafe Tortoni, which has been around since 1858. Good food and lovely old decor.
Thus fortified, we strolled over to the Plaza de Mayo, bordered by the Cathedral (1827), the Cabildo (1750's) and the Presidential Palace or Casa Rosada ("Pink House"), which either got its color as a symbol of the uniting of two political factions (one was "red" and the other "white") or because it was painted with bovine blood, a common practice in the mid 19th Century. The Plaza has a long history of hosting political activities and protests.
And Juan's
Sunday Mass at the Cathedral. Pope Francis Served Here Before
Becoming Pope
We continued our Sunday stroll to the Gallerias Pacifico shopping center, located in an 1889 building with a domed ceiling covered with murals added during the Peron years. The building contains three levels of shops and restaurants.
We wanted to spend some time watching the Tango while in Buenos Aires, but most milongas, or tango dance halls, don't get going until 11 PM or so (when do they sleep? No idea!) We're still changing over from South African time, so staying out that late was really out of the question. So we were pleased to discover a late Sunday afternoon tea dance where regular folks come to dance. We'd strolled enough, so took a taxi to the Confiteria Ideal for a couple of interesting hours watching this intricate dance. Some of the dancers were very, very good and the enthusiasm and obvious enjoyment made it a really fun event. All of the women wore high-heeled strapped "tango shoes" - I think I'd find it difficult to walk across the room in them, let alone dance for hours!
No comments:
Post a Comment