I have wanted to go to Argentina for a long, long time. That happened in October 2022. First destination: Buenos Aires. After a long delayed flight, I landed in a rainy Buenos Aires. Not knowing what weather to expect, I did pack for some colder and gray weather. If it was not for the signs in Spanish, it could’ve been Netherlands for all that matter.

Buenos Aires showed it sunny side the next day with beautiful weather. First order of business: visiting Cementerio de la Recoleta, a short walk from the Air-BnB I was staying at. I have read that Buenos Aires looks a lot like Paris. For me, it was as if I was walking in an unknown part of Madrid. Same feel, same atmosphere, even the same smells.

The cemetery is almost like a city within a city, complete with city blocks.

Of course, we had to visit the Panteon de Eva Perón. I have heard a lot about the controversy on the Madonna movie-musical Evita. I perceived that Peronistas are greeted with a fair amount of disdain in this country.

Some more photos of this beautiful place.

After visiting the cemetery I walked to Plaza de Mayo, site of the Casa Rosada, where I had lunch. Not at the Casa Rosada itself, of course.

Thanks to a tip of my friend Marcel I went inside the Catedral Metropolitana. My guide book was not very helpful in pointing out what to visit.

José de San Martín was the liberator of Argentina and the primary leader of major parts of South America in their struggle for independence from the Spanish Empire. He even lived in Brussels, Paris and Boulogne-sur-Mer (FR), where he passed away. His remains were repatriated in 1880 and placed in a mausoleum in this cathedral.

I have been reading the newspaper since I was about 11 years old or so. Looking back, I wish a site like Wikipedia already existed. With my limited knowledge on world geo-politics at that time, a couple of years later I was shocked to learn that Argentina was in a war with the United Kingdom. I remember thinking ‘A war? A war that involves a neighboring country?’ The sentiments regarding Las Malvinas (Falkland Islands) are still running strong these days.

I went up to the 2nd floor in the Cabildo building, which provided good views on Plaza Del Mayo and the Casa Rosada.

At night, it was time for a bike tour. Windy, but pleasant!

We also biked to Puerto Madero, an all-new neighborhood in Buenos Aires. Also rode by the Puente de la Mujer (Women’s bridge) that supposed to resemble a couple doing the tango… uhm, right.

The next morning it was time to venture through San Telmo, an older neighborhood south of Plaza de Mayo. Some of the first homes were built in the early years of the colony. The tango music was born in this neighborhood.

Today, October 17, is the annual demonstration day of the Perónism movement on Plaza de Maya.

Another bike tour that went through La Boca. I have been told that this is not the most safest neighborhood, but what a street photographers` dream. I could walk here for hours just doing street photography.

The colors originate from the Swedish flag, the Boca Juniors soccer club were looking for new colors after an opposing soccer team had the same colors. The colors of the first ship that sailed into the port of La Boca. It happened to be a Swedish ship.

The bike tour ended up at Plaza de Mayo where we were treated with beautiful skies.

At last, a tango performance. Can’t visit Buenos Aires without it!