Sunday, November 8, 2009

A Sunday in Buenos Aires

12:00 - Sitting outside the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, enjoying the sunshine, jacarandas in bloom, a drum corp playing in the park nearby; trying to ignore the rush of traffic.

The appreciation of art crosses all boundaries, and I find in any city or country, you are never a 'stranger' or 'foreigner' in a museum. The MNBA is a classic, with the traditional masters (Monet, Renoir, Picasso, etc.) as well as a one full floor of Argentinian and Rioplatense art - stretching from the pre-Columbian era to modern, whimsical art. The work is eclectic: the atmosphere serene - and safe: there are guards everywhere.

amazing architecture and art at Recoleta

3:00 - At a cafe across from Cementerio de la Recoleta: the relief of a cold beer (Quilmes) which is included in my $30Peso ($7US) chicken burger special (along with salad, fries and coffee). I'm at one of the many identical bistros lining the park, with matching umbrellas, Rubbermaid chairs and tables, snappy waiters in white dress shirts and black slacks; and flocks of pigeons. An accordion plays "La Cucaracha". Cars honk.

The cemetery is magnificent. A full city block of masoleums, statuary, marble, brick ... here famous (and not so famous) Argentinians rest eternal in a style most people fail to enjoy during their mortal lives. Some memorials are impeccably kept: silver polished, flowers fresh; others are stuffed with caskets willy-nilly, and strewn with cobwebs. Eva Peron (Evita) Duarte's modest tomb is perenially clustered with tourists; and shaggy stray cats slink in and out of the shadows.
crowds cluster right before closing time, at the tomb of Evita

@ Betsy Crowfoot

1 comment:

JLFROG said...

Looks like a beautiful Sunday and a beautiful city. Love the architecture. Thanks for sharing.

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