Photo Tour of Buenos Aires--Government Buildings, Puerto Madero and Palermo

I finally made it to the marvelous city of Buenos Aires! The morning started off in the bus station of La Plata, where some of the ever-present nomadic dog population was taking a siesta. The city is made up of many different neighborhoods, so we decided to begin in the area with the central government buildings, such as the Casa Rosada: (Pink House, home of the presidential offices) on the Plaza de Mayo (the original main plaza, dating back to the 1580’s).

(We were unable to determine exactly what the marching men in costume were doing, although they were covering the square with great speed and precision--we were nearly trampled as they turned a corner and came at us!) then we headed up Avenida de Mayo, which is lined with Parisian-style buildings:


to the Palacio del Congreso (House of Congress), where protests are currently occurring regarding export taxes on agricultural products.
We then wandered over to Puerto Madero for the afternoon, which was full of red brick buildings, upscale shopping/cafes (plus Hooters and T.G.I. Fridays), and this beautiful bridge, Puente de la Mujer (Bridge of the Woman).

We ended the evening in Palermo, known for its restaurants, parks, and nightlife. Before dinner, we wandered the shopping district, where nearly all the clothing stores serve beer to customers relaxing on their sidewalk tables. However, the highlight was the tazzbar, which combined shopping with booze, utilizing about 15 pool tables to display jewelry and accessories, while holding a full bar and additional tables/chairs throughout the store in case one needed to set their drink down while trying on an outfit. (Predictably, the bar area was full of men drinking beer, while the women shopped.)