In an effort to get our minds off of this whole robbery thing, we decide to spend the day at... a cemetery? Perhaps it's to remind ourselves that, "Hey, we only got robbed... at least we didn't get killed and hacked to a million pieces." Hmm, I guess that's rather morbid. Actually, we're making our way down to the weekend arts and crafts fair at Plaza Francia when we kinda stumble into the Cementerio de la Recoleta. Yeah, kinda like in the Thriller video, except without the zombies. Anyhoo, the fair is crowded and filled with a bunch of Argentine hippies selling Argentine hippie arts and crafts. Ehh, I've seen enough hippies in Berkeley, so... off to the graveyard! 
This exclusive cemetery is the final resting place of many famous Argentines, including Eva Peron. To stroll through the cemetery's narrow pathways is to enter a labyrinth of a different world. Think: New Orleans cemeteries on steroids. The place is filled with crypts and vaults lined side-by-side like houses on a city street. 
In fact, some look just like houses with their elaborate front doors; some look like store fronts with clear windows so you can see the caskets; some look like mini churches; some like Greek temples; and one looks just like a Gucci store... at least that's what it looks like to me. All, though, are undeniably beautiful works of art. 
While we're there, the wifey does make a keen observation... that there sure are a whole lot of people named "PAX." "It's on a ton of tombstones!" she says.
"I think that means 'peace'" I reply. "That's like going to a cemetery back home and saying, dang, there's a lot of people named RIP."
She's not amused. I slightly am, though.
She also makes another observation... there sure are a whole lot of Asian tourists here. We haven't seen another fellow yellow in like a week, and now we see a whole gaggle of them. Is this where we hangout on the weekends? Apparently so.
Random Stuff:
There are living residents all over the cemetery -- cats! - We stop by the Floralis Generica, a giant metal work of art shaped like a flower that "blossoms" throughout the day. Purty.
- In front of the zoo, there are dudes dressed up in Barney outfits selling balloons. Here, they're mobbed by kids. Back home, they might get their asses kicked.
The Argentine answer to Italian gelato is called helados. It's not as smooth as gelato, but the dulce de leche is like ice cream heaven.- We're kinda freaked out by the whole robbery thing, so we're sleeping with protection [that sounds dirty]. I've got a cleaver and she's got a poker. If we get attacked, I can scream, "Jom say nay!" and she can shout, "Dook say nay!"
Floralis Generica
What's Wrong With This Picture?
0 comments:
Post a Comment