A view
of Port Stanley in the Falkland Islands (known fondly to the
Argentines as Isla Malvinas). This town of 1500 and the surrounding
area was the object of the war in 1982.
This
memorial stands to commemorate the liberation
and to those who lost their lives in the 1982 war.
One of the ships passengers, Chris, volunteered to tune an antique
zither in the Falkland Islands Museum.
Our
next port of call was Puerto Madryn, Argentina which is
about 700 miles south of Buenos Aires. Although there were
several tours available , we stayed in town and relaxed over a
nice lunch.
We
knew we were into Argentina as one of the draws for tourists
in Tango demonstrations in the streets.
Our
final port was Buenos Aires. The 12th largest city in the world
with about 13 million is often called the Paris of South America.
Tall skyscrapers (no earthquakes here) with numerous statues
and monuments. We visited most of the popular neighborhoods
by subway and taxi.
This
is place where the political leaders have spoken to the masses.
A huge
cemetery in the Recoleta area with hundreds of mausoleums
including the resting place of Eva "Evita" Peron.
Here
we see an eternal flame in the upper left and 25 tablets of
names of the dead from the 1982 War of Isla Malvinas (Falklands)
and the South Atlantic Ocean. The Argentine perspective.
La
Boca with bright colors and artsy craftsy tourist traps. We enjoyed
a nice lunch near here.
The base of the Obelisk on the very wide
Avenue of the 9th of July. It is a smaller version
of the Washington Monument (without Jersey walls)
Carlos Gardel: full dinner at 10:30 PM, 90 minute awesome show, and transportation
at a price we just can't advertise!! We had to make reservations 30 minutes in advance to get good seats (just our style). A delightful evening.
The weather on Christmas Eve in Buenos Aires was in the
80s. What a surprise
to fly home (5200 miles in 11 hours) and find 3 inches of snow
for a White Christmas.