Bus tour through Buenos Aires

     On Sunday, after checking into the hotel, we went on a bus tour through Buenos Aires. It started on July 9 Ave, which is names after Argentine independence day. Argentinians claim that it is the largest avenue in the world, however the Guiness Book of World Records says that the largest is actually in Brazil. This leg of our tour covered the financial district, which is also known as the downtown area of Buenos Aires. The streets in this section are narrow and filled with restaurants and bars. There is also a lot of shopping, which we will be taking full advantage of.

    In Buenos Aires, a lot of the architecture is inspired by the French. This is because the city was origionally developed as a port, and when the yellow fever struck in 1871, the upper class, which consisted of many French people, moved North and Built the buildings with french architecture as an inspiration. This is very prevelant in Recoleta, an aristocratic section of the city.

     On the way to our next location, we had a brief discussion about gas prices. In Buenos Aires, it costs $3.50 per gallon, which does not seem unreasonable to anyone from the Unites States. However, when put in perspective with the low incomes and high inflation rates in this city, it is expensive. As a matter of fact, most things are expensive to the average consumer here.

     Next, we arrived in Recoleta square where we got off the bus. We saw a 2000 year old rubber tree which was so big that it needed support beams under the branches. We kept walking until we were infron of this beautiful church where many wealthy people have been married over the years. Next to the church was the cemetary. Now, this was no ordinary cemetary, it was more like a city. There were rows and rows of georgous mausoleums the look like little houses. I cannot properly put into words how amazing this cemetary was, so I have added some pictures.