After a much needed good night’s sleep, we woke up at 8:00am to get ready for the day and eat breakfast. The assortment of pastries, fruits, and coffees were very much appreciated! Next, we hopped on the bus and visited the beautiful Teatro Colón. The intricate paintings and stain glass were breathtaking and there were some interesting stories behind the architecture and styles. One in specific was near the stage there were gated, blacked-out rooms in which widows were allowed to watch the performances whilst being hidden from the rest of the crowd.
Next we visited one of my favorite locations, Plaza de Mayo. I enjoy visiting this and walking by because it feels very urban and American, which provides some comfort. Today was the 25th of May, which was a special holiday for the Argentinians. Thus the streets were quiet and much less crowded compared to yesterday. Near the plaza we saw a primary school and a large, old tree with the national flower growing on it. Next we visited a small war memorial in the plaza with names engraved into the metal. After exploring the plaza we rode the bus to a large statue of a flower. It is solar powered, so during the day it is open and during the night it closes. Next we visited a beautiful church. The details on the walls, ceilings, and columns were amazing. There were stain glass ceilings which has been a common trend among the historic buildings we’ve visited.
My absolute favorite part of the day was the cemetery. It was beautiful, but also very creepy. Instead of using gravestones and coffins under the ground, there were box-like structures to hold the coffins. Every single one was different, which was so interesting and beautiful. After visiting many interesting locations, it was time for lunch! We visited a large mall for about two hours. My friends and I went to war at Muu, a diner. It was sort of difficult to understand the menu, so when we got our food it was not what we expected. Our last visit of the afternoon was the rose garden. The views were beautiful and geese surrounded the man-made lakes.
We then had some peaceful rest time in the hotel and we got all dressed up for Tango night! We ate a delicious three-course meal and we all had our first tastes of empanadas! After a traditional Argentinian dessert, the tango show started. Their performance was beautiful. The dancing was well choreographed and the singers and orchestra were great as well. We got done around 11:40 pm, then immediately went to the hotel to pack up for Pilar! I had an amazing day and I’m excited for the rest of the trip!
–Laurel
