Farewell Buenos Aires!!!

Today is our last day in Buenos Aires. After 2 months, it's incredible how quickly you can become familiar with a place and make it your second (or third) home. We spent the last week playing tourist once more, visiting those places we haven't had a chance to see yet, and stopping by some of our favorite local haunts one more time to say goodbye.

Here are a few more pictures as a final homage to Buenos Aires:

Casa Rosada, the seat of the president. It's never been confirmed 100% why it was painted pink. The more plausible story says that a former president wanted to act as intermediary between the two main opposing parties, whose respective colors were white and red. So in order to keep the peace he ordered the Palace to be painted pink. Now the more incredible story is that back in the day builders used to mix cow's blood with white paint, the former helping to protect the buildings against the constant humidity. Hmmm... a bit skeptical about that one. But who knows?

The guards are a bit friendlier than those at Buckingham Palace.

Reminds me a bit of the White House, except tourists are still allowed into most parts of the palace, including...

The Balcony overlooking the Plaza de Mayo, from which many politicians/dignitaries have made announcements to the Argentine people.

The White Room. Glorious decorations in White and Gold.

 The President's office. The conference table is used by the president for meetings with her advisers. In the back is a large desk guarded by two soldiers.

 The President's desk. Like being in the Oval Office.

As you can see, Max was seriously impressed by the tour!










Continuing our touristy activities, we decided to go back to the beginning. That is, our beginning in Buenos Aires, specifically the barrio of San Telmo where we lived the first few days in a hostel.

All of Buenos Aires seems to turn out on Sundays in San Telmo for the weekly feria (flea market). It takes a lot of dedication to make your way through these crowds!









They have every imaginable kind of housewares, decorations, trinkets and kitsch available...

 Max checking out the goods.

And of course no feria in San Telmo would be complete without the famous Tango dancers in Plaza Dorrego... Young and old, from all kinds of backgrounds, they congregate to entertain tourists and teach them about the city's most important dance.

Here is also a video of the fantastic dancers. Enjoy!

Moving on closer to our part of the city...

 Max in front of the Law Building of the University of Buenos Aires.

Colorful pedestrian bridge connecting the Museo de Bellas Artes (fine arts museum) to the park at the Plaza de las Naciones Unidas.











Traffic was pretty calm - but note the typical Argentinian driving style. Lanes are really just a suggestion here, best to drive in the middle of two lanes...

Past the law building is the Floralis Generica. This stainless steel flower is located in a park located north between Palermo and Recoleta. We've driven past it many times, but finally managed to walk there to snap some pictures.

The cool thing about it is that the petals can move, closing in the evening and opening in the morning the next day, as if it was a real flower.
The artist Eduardo Catalano once said that the flower "is a synthesis of all the flowers and is a hope that is reborn every day to open." More power to him!

We will miss you Buenos Aires! Hasta luego!