Although most of our tour group arrived at the hotel this morning, we had already left for another day of exploring on our own, mostly in the San Telmo district of Buenos Aires.
What a difference a turn makes! Yesterday, we turned left out of the hotel; today, we went right. We soon noticed the building facades were nicer, and overall people were walking more slowly. We found the tourist part of town!
Around every public square, you see a police presence. This statue of San Martin is what they were guarding in the former picture. He is the South American George Washington.The Obelisk is visible from many angles in this capitol city.
We then wandered onto Florida street, like a long outdoor pedestrian mall, headed to the beginning of our second walking tour of Buenos Aires. A sure sign of the inflation here were the people yelling or suggesting “cambio”, that they wanted to exchange our US dollars into Argentinian pesos. The exchange rate quoted to us by one of these black market entrepreneurs was 1430, slightly higher than we got the previous day, 1400, at a legitimate Cambio.
We spent a long time exploring a bookstore, one of many in this amazing city.
A famously beautiful book store, transformed from a theater, was our first objective.A Taylor Swift display? Even here?Also for sale were vinyl records.
Another part of the bookstore showed some French influence.
Construction of the Eiffel Tower, 1888-1889. An adjacent photograph showed the Arch de Triomphe.3-D relief art above a door across the street from the book store.
Plaza de Mayo houses the national cathedral, where Cardinal Francisco, later Pope Francis, preached. The famous San Martin is also entombed here.
Front of the cathedral— not very impressive, eh?Main altar All the stained glass windows were quite high above the main floorAlter in a side chapelThe façade of the cathedral looks like a government buildingCloser view of the dome
We were startled to see guards around this alcove. This is the mausoleum for José de San Martin, Argentine general and liberator of Argentina, Chile, and Peru from Spanish rule.
Both guards were stern. From a different angle. The tomb itself.Memorial to a well-loved priest, known to all the neighborhood. No one knew he would become the future pope.
One cathedral, three pipe organs. Also many confessionals, but we didn’t take pictures of them.
Small pipe organ at the side Near the alterLarge pipe organ on the next floor up at the rear of the cathedral Common symbol in the mosaic flooringThese white flags were prevalent around the cathedral, both inside and out.
On the other end of the plaza is the Rose Mansion, where the president of Argentina works. The president does not live there.
Statue of the person who designed the Argentina flag. The stones surrounding the base of the monument were placed for victims of the COVID epidemic.View of statue, presidential palace with flag unfurled in the breezeSame statue, in front of the Presidential Palace.Presidential Palace (Casa Rosada), a work place not living space. It is painted this color, historically using ox blood.
Next, we followed the route of the walking tour for San Telmo.
Bar Puerto Rico, a notable cafe recognized by the government. Same bar from across the street. Inside the oldest pharmacy in Buenos Aires. Convent showing cannon balls from one of the British invasions, embedded in the upper story to the left.
Paseo de las historieta, an avenue with murals and other street art, often featuring cartoon characters.
Cow made from metal pieces of cars. Mural of musiciansMural of dancersFunny yellow cartoon character Mafalda, a beloved, politically relevant characterMurals and graffiti Mural of old people still in loveMural of drummersMural of two birds in a wave
We don’t usually go into many shops, but these we couldn’t resist.
Antique store with beautiful chandeliers Store with gnomes and fairies and other creatures Umbrellas above an outdoor street mall resemble the flag of Argentina
We ate lunch outside at Plaza Dorrego, and were entertained by tango dancers.
Our first taste of papa frites (fried potatoes) was excellent, with large pieces not as crispy as in the U.S.
There are many statues on various street corners.Torre Monumental, formerly known as Torre de los Inglesses was renamed after the Falklands War.The top of the tower features a sailing ship.The flagGuards at the memorial to soldiers killed in the Falklands WarNavy building
The previous evening, we met Marta, our petite, energetic tour leader who will be with us this entire adventure. Tonight, we met with all our tour friends, listened to the orientation, then went out to dinner as a group at an Italian restaurant.
Bunch of Geeks go Traveling 
Your diary is very readable on my Droid. Don, Joe, Sharon, Castiel, and I had a great time at the Werks.
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