Argentina page 2
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Many of the grave sites are built to different architectural (sp?) styles... sometimes, the style even varies within the same site.
Nearby... there is a very large tree. Planted by Monks in the 1720s. It is not technically a tree... it is a very large shrub. (you think I'm joking don't you?)
Buenos Aires is a South American city with an identity crisis... luckily it has these in case superman is ever needed.
This was a new one on me... this guy was grinding a pair of scissors when I walked by... but apparently he can do anything, repair shoes, cut keys... all in his little "office"
In one very upmarket suburb towards the north of the city, a dog-walking service is put through its paces.
An embassy? The house of an ambassador? A government bulding? No. This is the Four Season's Hotel... well, part of it.
One could easily be forgiven for mistaking Buenos Aires for a European city... this building, clearly in the French style... turns out, it is actually the French Embassy.
This rather impressive building is the Law University. Built on a site which used to house water pumps...
Once a family residence... this is the Museo Nacional de Arte Decorativo. The house was originally built because a wealth businessman, on returning to his birthplace of Buenos Aires, was dissapointed that there were no houses with rooms large enough to hang his tapestries... so... he built one.
A vase... an expensive one, from what I've heard.
The oldest item in the house, a statue from Roman times, excavated from the Appian way.
And finally... the lady of the house. (she's the one in the painting on the wall... you people... minds out of the gutter!)
This statue was a gift from France to celebrate the centenary of Argentinian independence (the French seem to have a thing for that). There are four statues around the base representing industry, agriculture, arts and education.
The statue of some general who was instrumental in Argentinian independence... I forget his name... but I do remember this: he wrote history books. So... the history of thier own country, as taught in high schools all through Argentina, was originally documented by him. Scary.
The very unusual building on the hill is the national library, which took 30 years to build. Not because it was difficult to actually build... but because the various bodies in charge of getting the job done bickered an awful lot and that delayed the process. In the foreground, is a memorial to Evita built on the site where the Peron's house used to be. The dome is supposed to be in the exact place where her bed was (she died in bed from cancer after an agonizing 10 month fight with the disease)
A very large metal flower... it opens and closes at sunrise and sunset. The 6 million dollar sculpture was donated by the artist who designed it as a gift to his birthplace after he found great wealth and success in Europe.
mmm... a buffet
This time... I couldn't find a rooftop restaurant from which to take my photo overlooking the obelisk and the Av 9 de Julio... instead, I found a top-floor swimming pool and spa... so I went in and got myself a massage, just so that I could bring you this photo (oh, the suffering).
people here are very friendly...
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