On tour in Buenos Aires

(Editor’s Note: Yoni Peres, a huge soccer fan, recently stood-in for his father, former Israeli President Shimon Peres, at an awards ceremony sponsored by the Taeda Foundation in Buenos Aires, Argentina.  In this article he describes a private tour of Buenos Aires.)

Story and Photos by Yoni Peres

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — I was picked up at the Eziza International Airport early morning. The first thing that hits you approaching the city of Buenos Aires, is the 150-meter wide 9th of July Avenue, congested with traffic coming into the city. You could close your eyes and imagine the Junta tanks and troops marching on this broad boulevard some 40 years ago.

At the beautiful old classical Alvear hotel, I met my host, Mario Montoto, a charming successful businessman and the founder of the TAEDA organization.

After lunch with Prof. Benny Schneid, executive director of OSA, I was taken for a city tour. This was a preliminary introduction to the city highlights and neighborhoods: The city center with the Avenida 9 de Julio, with the famous obelisk and the Colon Theater and Opera House, The “Casa Rosada” which is the presidential office building, with the famous Plaza de Mayo in front of it. The Plaza commemorates the May 25, 1810 beginning of the revolution in Argentina against Spanish rule. Since the plaza is located next to the Casa Rosada, it has been used for protests and demonstrations. The country has suffered a lot from corrupted leaders. In the last elections, December 2015, a new president, Mauricio Macri, has been elected, with the hope for a significant change and elimination of corruption.

The tour continued through the shopping and entertainment areas-Lavalle and  Florida pedestrian street and the driving through San Telmo, famous for the tango clubs and schools.

La Boca is a neglected neighborhood, lots of wall graffiti, and not so safe to walk, especially at night. When you approach the area of the “Bomboniera”, the proud Boca Juniors stadium, most of the shops around offer the famous 2015 champion team’ s memorabilia and accessories.

You can then walk the “Caminito” – a pedestrian alley with the colorful corrugated tin walled houses and Tango “museums,” Tango street dancers and singers, artists presenting paintings. At the end of the alley, near the polluted water of the Boca, you can pay to have a picture with a young man who looks like the legendary football player, Diego Armando Maradona, dressed with the No 10 Argentina national team shirt.

Puerto Madero is a relatively new neighborhood, located on the east side, along the bank of La Plata river, with beautiful apartment and office buildings and an endless row of fancy restaurants, offering any type of cuisine you have in mind. North of it is a series of green parks. The “Floralis Generica” –the generic flower, is a kinetic metal sculpture, located in the United Nations Park.

Recoleta, where the Alvear Hotel is located, is a high end neighborhood. At its north end, you can visit the 200 year old La Recoleta Cemetery, with thousands of tombs and mausoleums of famous figures, such as Argentinian presidents, poets, Nobel Prize winners and the famous Eva Peron, sharing a tomb with other family members. Across from the cemetery, you can sit down and enjoy a cup of Café con Leche at the old and famous “La Biela” café, with its old style wooden decoration and professional waiters wearing uniforms.

The north side of the city has the beautiful high end Palermo neighborhoods, the race track, the polo club, the zoo, the botanical, Japanese and rose gardens and the River Plata Stadium – Boca Juniors eternal rival team.

My first day ended with an amazing traditional Argentinian restaurant, “La Mirasol,” including Empanadas, fried Provolone cheese, Asado ribs with Chimichuri salsa and thick sirloin steak. We ended the meal with traditional deserts.

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Peres is a retired veterinarian and a freelance writer.  He may be contacted via yoni.peres@sdjewishworld.com  Comments intended for publication in the space below must be accompanied by the letter writer’s first and last name and by his/ her city and state of residence. (city and country for those outside the U.S.)