Though there are some other contenders, I’m convinced that 9 de Julio Avenue in Buenos Aires is widest. They tore out an existing row of buildings to make it.
The avenue has up to seven lanes in each direction. It’s not easy to make the pedestrian crossing in one go.
Here’s how it looked in 1930.
Number one on TripAdvisor’s list of B.A. tours.
Like the morning tour, I found it a bit long and wordy.
The route is noisy and crowded. Our group of 40 or so should have been split in two.
Auguste Rodin‘s The Thinker, Congressional Plaza.
The Palacio Barolo was designed in accordance with the cosmology of Dante’s Divine Comedy, motivated by the architect’s admiration for Alighieri.
The greatest hero of Argentina is José de San Martín.
After him … some still revere Juan and Eva Perón.
Happily I’d never seen the musical nor Hollywood film. Both bungled history badly.
The real Evita did not sing. She was a voice actress on the radio.
Here’s Pope Francis’ Cathedral. San Martín is buried there.
We saw the Pope’s barber shop and local coffee shop nearby.
Puerto Madero was developed from industrial wasteland to ultra-modern.
You’d never guess you were in B.A. looking at the skyline.
The bars and restaurants are all upscale and expensive here.
Still, it’s very walkable with a number of pedestrianized streets.
I quite enjoyed touring the district.
official English language website
BEST of all is escaping to the nearby ecological reserve.
Free and popular. The National Museum of Fine Arts is well worth a visit.
Generally I use art museums as a chance to get in some speed walk training. But this one slowed me down a number of times.
I like impressionists. Especially this guy.
I like sculpture and there is some impressive work on display. Rodin, for sure.
I thought I liked Miró after a past visit to Barcelona. Turns out I was wrong. His work is random.
One classroom seems to offer children the chance to emulate Miró. Most of their first efforts are superior.
Modern art?
Worse than Miro.
I did like this portrait of Jack Kerouac by Cambre.
Don’t get me started on Canada’s most valuable painting – Voice of Fire.
Every morning there’s a free tour – the guide paid by tips.
People love this model for city tours. For me this one was a little long, and too wordy.
One of the most popular tourist sites in B.A. … but I liked the massive cemetery in Santiago better.
Somehow I missed Evita’s tomb.
Rather than fly I opted for the scenic 8 hour bus ride . Booking through BusBud.com I was able to reserve one of the top front seats.
Bus service in Chile and Argentina is fantastic.
Unfortunately I fell asleep during some sections of the journey.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
From Mendoza I did the second half two more times as my local bus to Aconcagua took the same highway. Well worth doing if you get the chance.
By luck I had cloudless skies and the French Base Camp (4200m) to myself.
Aconcagua has a notoriously unfriendly micro climate.
On my return to Mendoza I met a guy from South Africa who was forced off the other side of the mountain at 6600m by weather. The climbers had been slogging through a metre of snow and it finally got too dangerous to continue.
To celebrate I had a big chunk of Argentinian barbecue beef. And fresh baguette.
2.5 million people were laid to rest in the Santiago Cemetery.
It’s an evocative place.
I was there on an excellent group tour. Our guide made the place come to life.
Catholic families visit their dead relatives often: birthdays, death days, holidays, Christmas. They leave gifts behind.
Rich families, companies and social groups have huge memorials.
Some are tacky.
This is my favourite photo from the visit.
If you get a chance to spend eternity here, ride in style.
Life is short. Enjoy it while you still have it.
I consistently enjoy the “free” tours offered around the world.
This time I took the TOURS 4 TIPS itinerary in Santiago, Chile billed as “SANTIAGO OFFBEAT“.
We met in front of the Museum of Fine Arts.
Guides successful at working for tips are superb. Camillo has a degree in Sociology and excellent insight into the politics of his nation.
I called this tour EAT YOURSELF TO DEATH as you first tour some of the biggest and best food markets in South America … then finish at the largest cemetery in South America. (2.5 million souls)
We walked 3 different markets: fish & sea food, meat and then fruits & vegetables.
Some of the best inexpensive restaurants in Santiago are to be found here.
Our guide had 21 english speaking tourists in his group. I gave him US $15. Do the math.
Free tours are very profitable for a quality guide.
Rick McCharles 