Centro Buenas Aires
This is the Plaza del Congreso, in the heart of Centro. The Palacio del Congreso is at the far right.
The Greco-Roman structure of the Palacio del Congreso shares the west end of the Plaza del Congreso with the awesome and decadent Art Nouveau office building on the right. More about this building in the Architectural Treasures section.
This is the Monumento a los Dos Congresos. Topped by a statue of the Republic waving a laurel branch.
Further east is this statue. Rodin's Thinker. The teenagers could care less...
The east end of the Plaza heads towards the Avenida de Mayo, which connects with the Plaza de Mayo about six blocks further east.
The start of the Avenida de Mayo. Lined with some beautiful historic buildings. Its a great walk to the Plaza de Mayo.
The Plaza de Mayo is bracketed by these two buildings on the west end. The white building on the left is the Cabildo de Buenas Aires, the city hall from 1748 until 1821, and where the intellectual debates took place that led to the Argentinian Independence. The building to the right is the current City Hall, or Palacio del Gobierno.
The Plaza de Mayo looking east. This is the very heart of Buenas Aires. At the far end is the Casa Rosada, the presidential palace.
A popular gathering spot for intellectual conversation and debate.
School girls enjoy the noon recess on the lawn of the Casa Rosada.
Casa Rosada.
Casa Rosada on the sunny side.
This is the Palacio Pizzurino on the left and the Plaza R. Pena on the right.
Inside the Plaza R. Pena.
This is the Plaza Lavalle. It is three blocks wide, and bordered by various government buildings and courthouses. It is also a popular spot for the start of protest marches into the city. It is notorious for a protest which took place here in 1890, when government forces killed 150 of the 400 protestors.
At the southwest corner of the Plaza Lavalle is this diagonal pedestrian mall which connects to the Plaza de la Republica with its tall Obelisco.
This is the Plaza del Republica, located in the middle of the Avenida 9 de Julio. In the center is this 223-foot oblisk which can be seen from many kilometers away. The Avenida 9 de Julio is the widest road in the world. It spans 460 feet in width with six lanes of roadway in each direction.
Avenida 9 de Juilo looking northwest from about a kilometer away from the Obelisco. About six blocks to the left of here is the Plaza San Martin.
The Plaza San Martin is on the left. To the right is the Circulo Militar. This former palace was purchased by the society of retired military officers and is used as a retirement center for aged military persons. Not too shabby.
Wonder if they would accept a retired U.S. Navy guy??
Walking past the Circulo Militar building. Plaza San Martin on the left.
Here we come to the Palacio Haedo. This neo-Gothic palace is now the headquarters of the National Parks Administration.
Walking a block past the Palacio Haedo we come to this wide sidewalk junction which will connect to the Calle Florida on the right, or to the Plaza San Martin on the left.
On the right is the beginning of Calle Florida. It is the most famous shopping street in the city. It runs about 2 kilometers west until intersecting with the Avenida de Mayo.
Calle Florida is always a crowded and interesting shopping spectacle. More on this special venue in the Shopping section.
The opposite end of Calle Florida at Avenida de Mayo provides a large area for entertainment. This was a cool rock group.
Back at the beginning of Calle Florida we can look directly into Plaza San Martin.
Walking into Plaza San Martin immediately immerses you in the delightful shadows of large trees.
Turn right at the middle of the plaza and you will be heading south towards a barrier railing a block or so ahead.
This is the view over the railing. Still part of the Plaza San Martin, this grass slope ends below at a special memorial holding the Argentinian flag.
This is the Monumento a los Caidos en Malvinas - to the 649 military who lost their lives in the unsuccessful 1980 war for the Malvinas Islands (Falklands, against the United Kingdom).
Back in the center of the city is this Plaza de Medicina which is home to a large teaching hospital. On the right is a typical entry to the subway system, the Subte. This subway is a very large and efficient system connecting to all parts of greater Buenas Aires. It is heavily utilized and very inexpensive.
The subway ticketing booth.
And a station with train ready to depart. Stations are clean and well maintained.
The trains are rubber-tired just like the Paris Metro. Very quiet and smooth.