Tuesday 24 January
Like Rio, BA has a plethora of roads, squares etc whose names consist of dates. For example, here we have the Square of May which commemorates the location where Argentinians first gathered to argue the case for independence from Spain, and the Avenue 9 July, commemorating Independence Day 2 years later. There are many others and the maps of BA and Rio both look more like calendars.
Today over breakfast we joined the Geriatric Grumbling Group, which resolved that the children should listen more to us adults and refrain from drinking so much and making so much noise late at night (really all night long).
We took off by bus towards the district of Palermo, characterised by the homes of the wealthy. In fact we went right through the trendy shopping streets not knowing where to get off the bus and ended up at a train/metro station in the ‘not so glamorous’ part of town. Too far to walk back to Palermo so we took the red metro line which had quite old style carriages, changed to yellow line which had similarly aged carriages,
Sorry, I know it is very blurred. No graffiti on this train.
then onto the original blue metro line. We had been told on the walking tour that the stations and carriages are original circa 1913 and worth a look. The stations are colour coded as back in those days not everyone could read, so the colour of the station was the clue to where you were. The trains have wooden slat seats and the tiniest compartment for the driver to sit.
Very atmospheric trains
The drivers box is left hand rear of photo
The engine drivers cupboard and controls.
From the last stop we walked the now familiar route back to the hostel for lunch and regrouping ready for setting off on Bob again tomorrow.
San Martin - the hero of Argentina. Statue located in front of Casa Rosada
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