June, 2019 Cathedral, Buenos Aires

On a rainy morning a bunch of us walked the three or four blocks to the Plaza de Mayo. Our destination was a museum (more about that later) but because of the rain, we made stops along the way. One of our stops was this cathedral.

As cathedrals go, this one was pretty much what one would expect - ornate, lots of gold, designed to impress the faithful. 

Churches in general, except their historical or architectural significance, aren't really my thing.  A "house of worship?" If you believe, truly believe, why do you need a "house," especially one like this, to worship in? I don't get it.

There were a number of unsettling - to me at least - things in the church. For example, there was a stature of a nun, Sister Mary Somebody who was important to this church. I wasn't the stature that bothered me, it was the shadow on the wall behind her. The shadow felt ominous, menacing.

But what really got to me was outside the cathedral.

This person was huddled on the walk right outside the church. He (she?) wasn't the only one. Directly across the plaza from the church, under a portico covering the sidewalk along a commercial building,  there were a number of (apparently) homeless people, including kids and families.

(By the time I could get this photo, a number of people left. When we first saw them, this entire area was packed.)

I don't know what any of their stories are, why they are here, why they stay. But it seems to me the church should have a place for them. Several people said the church probably does help, and that's probably correct. But maybe they could do more. These people are living on the street.

And it's not just the church. At the other end of the Plaza de Mayo is the Casa Rosada - the Pink House, the Government Palace, the Argentine equivalent of the White House.

I probably shouldn't too judgemental. It's not like there aren't thousands of homeless living within sight of the White House in Washington.

Still, it bothers me.

June, 2019 Caminito, Buenos Aires

One place in Buenos Aires where there is lots of color is the area called Caminito. From the painted cobblestones...

to the colorful buildings (painted with whatever colors and paint the ships in the port had left over)

Caminito is a riot of color and art and music and food and and and.

The tango is everywhere, in art, on the street. Many restaurants have tango dancers out front. Others have special tango shows.

We only had a couple of hours in Caminito. I could have spent a lot more time there. Some of it is kitchy and touristy, but it is fun.

June, 2019 Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires was known as "the Paris of South America." I can see why. Much of the architecture in the city area where we were shows its European heritage. The area has a very European vibe about it.

My initial impression was of an over all grey city...

but  I think the persistent clouds had a lot to do with that. We didn't see much sun until we were on the bus to the airport to come home.

Buenos Aires is really a colorful vibrant city, especially at night. Many places serve dinner until past midnight and clubs may not open until 1:00 AM.

 

The city is not all old Old World architecture. Some areas, like the port of Madero. It was once nearly abandoned in favor of the other two ports in Buenos Aires but is now being both gentrified and rebuilt anew.

And while some of the old port still remains, the port itself has been redeveloped and modernized adn is now a thriving gateway to the city and the whole of Argentina.