March 2022

Argentina is our choice for this adventure.... We made plans to fly one way since our return is not definite yet.  We flew on American Airlines for a total of eleven dollars and 60,000 AA points.  On the layover in Dallas we had the benefit of our Capital One Venture X credit card to use the lounge access. We were able to rest in a luxury lodge, have a meal, snacks and drinks.  There were exercise rooms, relaxation rooms, showers and other benefits that we did not use, since our layover was only two hours.  It was a great first time for us.  Maybe on the way home we will get a workout and shower.

  In  -El Caminito -  we saw all the different colored buildings and ate the BEST choripan - a large savory spiced sausage with a bun …. our first one.  It was spicy and juicy with lots of mustard.  We took a taxi out there and walked around without any fear.  Everything was safe.  We were told by many folks that it was not safe and to guard our phones, so Carmen did not get to take many pictures.  That evening we went to a big Parilla restaurant and ordered the large plate of meats..... did not go well.  We were not able to finish the meats.  Robert ate the blood sausage and Carmen tried to eat the beef and nibbled on the chicken.  She stared at the intestines and said....they are not fully cooked.   Tripas need to be crunchy with a tortilla!   Robert tried to eat the intestine then said …. not for me.   Carmen ordered a salad and ate that instead.   
Walking the main streets of Buenos Aires there seemed to be some sort of march or peaceful demonstration by thousands of people with banners, perhaps supporting a politician or party.

Evita Peron
We went to the Evita museum .... Robert tried to get a local fare on the ticket, but this guy right away told him that he could tell he was a tourist and needed to pay tourist fare.   He commented on his Spanish again and said.... you do speak good Spanish.   LOL
The museum had a collection of Evitas beautiful dresses.  The museum displayed many stages of Evita's life...how she grew from a small town to become an actress then to the wife of the president of Argentina.  Carmen was most impressed with her accomplishments while being the president's wife.  She took her role as a leader and caretaker of the population/la gente very serious and made many great gains for women and the poor.  She set up many educational programs, nursing program and was recognized by the nation.  Her death was morned by the entire country, millions of Argentinians.  Her young death was due to having cervical cancer.  The saddest part of the history is a little known fact.... that during her treatment her husband had the doctors administer a labotomy.....where they drilled into her brain to relieve her moods and keep her calm.  Her body is buried in her parents family plot at Recoleta Cemetery.  We were lucky to visit her gravesite without many other turists on site.  We walked the major areas of the cemetery calmly and found her simple gravesite.   Carmen was confused as to why she was not with her husband..... we expected to see his grand tombstone next to her.  Her one living sister has denied access to moving Evita's body from the family plot.  

Japanese Gardens and MALBA Museum
It was a very long walk from our Hotel to get to the Japanese garden, we have visited many Japanese Gardens in our travels.  These gardens were donated by Japanese Institutions as a symbol of friendship to heal the wounds of war.  We have never had to either stand in line nor pay a fee to enter a Japanese garden before.  This time the line was about a 20 minute wait.... Carmen bought popcorn from a vendor while waiting.  There was a minimal fee to enter.  It was very well kept, clean and with many attractions not seen at other gardens.  There were many families having picnic lunches around the grounds.  It was a very large garden, with a very large pond for Koi fish.  There was a learning center for the children with art work hanging, Kiosk that sold ice-cream and mate.  This was one of the busiest Japanese gardens we have been to.  

 Sunday San Telmo Antique Market
On Sunday we took an uber to the San Telmo Plaza.  It was a beautiful cool morning and we arrived around 11;00 am.  There were many stands already up with folks selling their antiques.  There were home decorations, glassware, watches, coins and religious items.  Robert was able to find a few items from Argentina's World Cup 1978.  He found a keychain and mascot Gauchito and some Diego Maradona collector coins, a couple of items from the 1962 World Cup in neighboring Chile. Carmen just walked around and admired the items she could not buy because they would break in her suitcase.  Apart from the antiques there were hundreds of artisans selling their arts and craft items.