## Arriving in Buenos Aires ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-001_web.jpeg]] We arrive into port in Buenos Aires before sunrise, and by the time we look outside there is already a bustle of activity and the first passengers disembarking. ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-002_web.jpeg]] After checking into our hotel and setting up a taxi tour later in the afternoon, we walked around for an hour or two -- seeing some of the parks and plazas, and finding a spot for a nice drink. ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-003_web.jpeg]] This gigantic Gomero tree was planted in the early 1800s here in Plaza San Martin. ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-004_web.jpeg]] The (Google Translated) sign for the gigantic Gomero Tree in San Martin Plaza. ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-005_web.jpeg]] Flights to the nearby Newbery Airport are occasionally seen flying in and out. We flew into Buenos Aires via Newbery but flew out via Ezeiza, about an hour outside the city. ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-006_web.jpeg]] ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-007_web.jpeg]] Monumento a los Caídos en Malvinas, the Falkland Islands War Memorial. ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-008_web.jpeg]] Bronze monument honoring Leandro N. Alem. ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-009_web.jpeg]] Puente del la Mujer - the "Women's Bridge" in Buenos Aires in the Puerto Madero neighborhood. ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-010_web.jpeg]] ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-012_web.jpeg]] Made our way to **The Library Bar** inside the very chic **Faena** hotel. We think that a celebrity may have been staying there, as there was a little fenced in group of young people just waiting around outside the hotel. But who was it? ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-011_web.jpeg]] We fell a little in love with these swan chairs. ## La Boca & El Caminito ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-013_web.jpeg]] ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-014_web.jpeg]] ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-015_web.jpeg]] The Caminito neighborhood basketball/sports court — very much Boca Juniors territory. ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-016_web.jpeg]] ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-017_web.jpeg]] ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-018_web.jpeg]] Monumento al General Don José de San Martín in the La Boca plaza. ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-019_web.jpeg]] El Caminito — the iconic pedestrian street that inspired one of Argentina's most famous tangos. ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-020_web.jpeg]] República de La Boca — CABJ (Boca Juniors) colors are on display everywhere in the neighborhood. ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-021_web.jpeg]] ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-022_web.jpeg]] ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-023_web.jpeg]] Messi kissing the World Cup — this mural shows up on a lot of walls in Buenos Aires. ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-024_web.jpeg]] The famous painted floor tiles of Caminito. ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-025_web.jpeg]] ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-026_web.jpeg]] ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-027_web.jpeg]] The "Caminito" sign — the name comes from the tango composed by Juan de Dios Filiberto, inspired by this street in 1923. ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-028_web.jpeg]] ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-029_web.jpeg]] ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-030_web.jpeg]] Tango figurines on a Caminito balcony. ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-031_web.jpeg]] A tango accordionist figurine outside the Centro de Exposiciones Caminito. ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-032_web.jpeg]] ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-033_web.jpeg]] ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-034_web.jpeg]] Art vendors lining the street. ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-035_web.jpeg]] A stone bust set into the colorful walls — Benito Quinquela Martín, the La Boca painter who helped define the neighborhood's look. ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-036_web.jpeg]] ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-037_web.jpeg]] The delicious smells of grilled meat were starting to make us really hungry. ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-038_web.jpeg]] A Messi impersonator with a World Cup trophy — a La Boca plaza fixture. I thought he was a statue, I'm sure one of his favorite tricks with tourists. ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-039_web.jpeg]] ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-040_web.jpeg]] Statue of Benito Quinquela Martín at the port waterfront, and our driver and guide Sergei in the gray tee shirt. ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-041_web.jpeg]] ## Puerto Madero ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-042_web.jpeg]] The old brick warehouses of Puerto Madero — now restaurants and galleries along the waterfront. I didn't get any photos of lunch but we popped back into the neighborhood for a nice lunch at Cabaña Las Lilas. ## Plaza de Mayo & the Historical Center ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-043_web.jpeg]] After lunch, Doug went to the hotel to nap -- Mom, Dad, and I kept exploring with our guide. We stopped next in Plaza de Mayo, which has some significant buildings and history of the city. This was the Banco de la Nación Argentina building. ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-044_web.jpeg]] The Catedral Metropolitana de Buenos Aires — Argentina's national cathedral, and the former parish church of Jorge Bergoglio before he became Pope Francis. ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-045_web.jpeg]] An inscription on the front of the building: the remains of General José de San Martín rest here alongside the Unknown Soldier of Independence. ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-046_web.jpeg]] Looking down Avenida de Mayo toward the Obelisco. ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-048_web.jpeg]] An altar inside the Cathedral. ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-049_web.jpeg]] Honor guards at the Mausoleo del General San Martín. ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-051_web.jpeg]] The Cabildo — Buenos Aires's colonial-era town hall, where the May Revolution of 1810 began. ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-052_web.jpeg]] A clock tower with bronze figures on top — one of many ornate buildings ringing the plaza. ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-053_web.jpeg]] Plaza de Mayo, with the Cabildo and Catedral flanking the square. ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-054_web.jpeg]] The Pirámide de Mayo — the oldest national monument in Buenos Aires, at the center of Plaza de Mayo. ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-055_web.jpeg]] ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-056_web.jpeg]] ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-057_web.jpeg]] The Casa Rosada — Argentina's presidential palace. The ceremonial balcony above this main entrance is where Evita spoke to the people. ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-058_web.jpeg]] ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-059_web.jpeg]] Equestrian statue of General Manuel Belgrano, creator of the Argentine flag, in front of the Casa Rosada. ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-060_web.jpeg]] The base of the Belgrano statue is covered with stones left by visitors — many with names and dates written on them. ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-061_web.jpeg]] ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-062_web.jpeg]] ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-063_web.jpeg]] Plaque on the Belgrano statue: *"Al creador de la Bandera Nacional."* ## Recoleta & Palermo ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-065_web.jpeg]] Plaza de las Naciones Unidas, Recoleta. This is Floralis Genérica — a giant aluminum flower sculpture by architect Eduardo Catalano, gifted to the city and inaugurated in 2002. ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-066_web.jpeg]] With Mom and Dad at Floralis Genérica. ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-067_web.jpeg]] Before it was damaged in a storm, this sculpture would open at sunrise and fold closed at sunset. ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-068_web.jpeg]] ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-071_web.jpeg]] ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-072_web.jpeg]] ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-073_web.jpeg]] The Faculty of Law at UBA (Universidad de Buenos Aires) — a massive neoclassical building overlooking the Río de la Plata. ## Evening in the City ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-074_web.jpeg]] A Buenos Aires side street lit up at night — the city doesn't really get going until late. ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-075_web.jpeg]] After picking up a really tasty coffee from Babalú, we enjoyed some pastries at the hotel. ## Ecoparque ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-076_web.jpeg]] Too sunny and hot for the Capybara to be out in the water, which was a bummer. We stopped by twice to make sure we didn't miss them, but they must have been in the shelter shown here. ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-077_web.jpeg]] A peacock (peahen?) roaming free through the Ecoparque grounds. ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-078_web.jpeg]] Bonus -- she was here with her chicks! ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-079_web.jpeg]] An owl at the Ecoparque. ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-080_web.jpeg]] The Argentine flag visible through the trees. ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-081_web.jpeg]] Patagonian maras — large rodents native to Argentina that look like a deer crossed with a rabbit. ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-082_web.jpeg]] ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-083_web.jpeg]] One of the Ecoparque's original ornate animal houses — this one in Egyptian Revival style. ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-084_web.jpeg]] The central pond with a Japanese-style pagoda tower. ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-085_web.jpeg]] Koi in the pond. ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-086_web.jpeg]] Ostriches and a giraffe sharing an enclosure. ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-087_web.jpeg]] ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-088_web.jpeg]] A mara on the loose. I attempted to ask an information kiosk agent whether they were official residents of the Ecoparque, or just find their way there for the free snacks. (They are official residents... just not really well confined to enclosures.) ## Evita Museum ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-089_web.jpeg]] The Monumento a los Españoles in Palermo on the walk to the Evita museum nearby the Ecoparque. ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-090_web.jpeg]] A vintage car drove by near the park. ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-091_web.jpeg]] A newlywed couple! ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-092_web.jpeg]] *"Inmortal"* — Evita banners hanging outside the Museo Evita in Palermo. ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-093_web.jpeg]] Bust of Eva Perón inside the museum. ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-094_web.jpeg]] The red-carpeted staircase with portraits of Juan and Eva Perón. ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-095_web.jpeg]] *"Vivió 33 años. Transformó la historia. Sigue inspirando."* ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-096_web.jpeg]] ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-097_web.jpeg]] A recreation of a period kitchen inside the museum. ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-098_web.jpeg]] The four of us outside the Museo Evita. ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-099_web.jpeg]] ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-100_web.jpeg]] The Subte — Buenos Aires's subway system. The D line from Plaza Italia. ## Don Julio Parrilla ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-101_web.jpeg]] Don Julio Parrilla — one of the world's 50 best restaurants, in the heart of Palermo. ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-102_web.jpeg]] A fried empanada to start. ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-103_web.jpeg]] ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-104_web.jpeg]] Grilled mushrooms and fries. ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-105_web.jpeg]] The meat arrives — two cuts presented tableside. ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-106_web.jpeg]] Prize bull portraits and pumpkins — Don Julio's dining room decor. ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-107_web.jpeg]] ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-108_web.jpeg]] Doug ordered chocolate drizzled vanilla ice cream for dessert. ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-109_web.jpeg]] I ordered Dulce de leche ice cream... a great finish to the meal! ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-110_web.jpeg]] The awards room — Don Julio's World's 50 Best plaques going back years. ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-111_web.jpeg]] The open parrilla kitchen — by the time we finished they were taking a break between lunch and dinner services. ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-112_web.jpeg]] ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-113_web.jpeg]] ## Flying Home ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-114_web.jpeg]] The departure hall at Ezeiza International Airport. ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-115_web.jpeg]] Buenos Aires glittering below as we took off into the night. ![[2026-02-SA-BuenosAires-City-116_web.jpeg]] Finally parted ways with my parents in Dallas, TX. Then we were both somewhere over Texas, heading home.