Argentina Thursday and Friday

Thursday, May 5th
This morning we went to the cemetery on a walking tour which was an amazing place....wait till you see the pictures.   We saw Eva Perons final resting place which is not that impressive..    We the went to the Eva Peron Museum and also had lunch nearby.  We went to see the Mothers of May march, as they have done every Thursday since 1976 when 30,000 children disappeared and also another 500 were taken from pregnant mothers after they delivered.   Our afternoon plans were interrupted by a protest...so what are the girls to do?  We went shopping and walked a LOT finally making our way to the Alvear Hotel for drinks and appetizers and then we walked back to our hotel.   Now to rest up for shopping in Palermo etc.

Friday, May 6th

This morning we went on an architectural walking tour of Palermo District (the Northern section of Buenos Aires).   It is very eclectic...many different styles.  We went to the Palermo Woods and ended in the rose garden.  I then had a crisis..my iPad would not work so our guide took me to the Apple store and it was readily fixed.  Then to lunch at a great little place and then to shopping.  They had a hippy market and then some small designer shops.  Marita got a beautiful raw amethyst ring.  We will soon (9 pm) be going to dinner and a tango show, and will return about midnight to pack and charge our equipment.  Tomorrow is the  local Hippy Market and more shopping.  Leave for the airport about 5pm..arrive Sunday.

Wednesday may 4th

Wednesday, May 4th
This morning we took a historical tour of Buenos Aires to the various neighborhoods.  We toured the newly renovated Teatro Colon, the Opera House, which was exquisite.   We then went to Puerto Madera at the waterfront which was quite the contrast to the la Boca neighborhood.   We had lunch at iFresh a contemporary restaurant that was delicious.  After that amazing lunch we had a tour of the private collection of one of the most powerful woman in Argentina, Amalita Fortabat.  We have two hours to get ready for a special dinner and wine pairing at Casablanca Coupage. Just what we need .....more food and wine!

Monday and Tuesday

Monday, May 2nd, we went on a private tour of the collection of Marion and Jorge Helft.  There was a lot of modern art and some very unusual pieces.  Can't wait to show you pictures.  Marita holding the naked guys hiney...we then went to Villa de Oca,mpo for a tour of Victoria Ocampos Villa.  She was ahead of her time and somewhat an eccentric who reminded me of Marita.  We were then served a lunch of something other than beef...salmon that was very good.  After lunch we returned to the city for a private tour of Malba (Buenos Aires Museum of Latin American Art.  Our guide Matilda,who was an enthusiastic young lady who was very knowledgeable, gave an Excellent tour.  We then went to dinner with a few of the people from the group.  

Tuesday, May 3rd
We had an early wake up call to board a ferry to go to Uruguay for the day.  The ride is about an hour.  We are going to Colonia del Sacramento.  It is a UNESCO World heritage site.   We took a tour with a local guide..  Lunch o f fish and pasta with a local red wine.  We then had some free time for shopping before passing through immigration and boarding the ferry to return to Buenos Aires.

Monday and

Sunday in Buenos Aires

We went By bus this morning and stopped at a famous Silversmith store and workshop. He has made belt buckles for several US presidents as well as Pavoratti. From there we drove to Areco to a Gaucho ranch called Ombu There we had another HUGE meal....grilled sausage,blood sausage,chicken, ribs and beef etc. We were serenaded by one of the gauchos. Then did a performance where they amazingly had one off the gauchos ride his horse and retrieve a ring from a point. He then would take the ring to one of the ladies and guess who got the ring.... Yes Marita. I might add that our bus could not go back there to the ranch as it was VERY muddy. I have pictures but stll don't know how to upload to the blog. We just returned to the hotel but are still too full to eat.

Our first day....

We had a really full day. Lunch at Fevor that was amazing. Went on a walking tour to the Hippy Market and then to the National Museum of Art. Now rest till dinner at 9.

At the airport

Waiting for plane to DFW. Playing with iPad.