Buenos Aires Day 4 - February 6, 2010

We started the day with a Subte ride to Plaza de Mayo, it's the main public square in downtown Buenos Aires, established in 1580.  The name commemorates the May Revolution of 1810 that started the process of Argentina's independance from Spain. The plaza is surrounded by historic buildings such as the Casa Rosada (home of El Presidente), and the Catedral Metropolitana.

Plaza de Mayo with Casa Rosada behind.

 

The unremarkable facade of the Catedral Metropolitana.

The cathedral was built between 1753 and 1863 on the site of an earlier church.  Several of the altars in the interior date to the early 1600's, and the Tomb of Juan de San Martin is located inside.

From the Plaza de Mayo we headed southwest to the San Telmo barrio, the oldest neighbourhood in the city.  San Telmo is characterized by narrow cobbled streets lined with cafes, antique shops, and tango parlours.

The area is also home to San Pedro Gonzalez Telmo Church, built in 1734.

From San Telmo, we headed back to Plaza de Mayo and then to Plaza San Martin along Calle Florida.  Calle Florida is a 1km long pedestrian mall packed with tourists and residents shopping and enjoying the buskers along the way.

Flamenco Guitarist, Calle Florida.

As the sun had come out for the first time this week, we were able to explore Plaza San Martin a bit more.

The Torre Monumental is a 250 foot high clock tower built by the British residents of Buenos Aires in 1909 to commemorate independance from Spain one hundred years earlier.  The tower was originally called the Torre de los Ingleses, but was renamed due to animosity over the Falklands conflict of 1982.

Nothing on the agenda for tomorrow other than catch up on laundry - especially since we weren't packed for a week in the city!