Last night, which was our first night here, we took it easy. We did a little grocery shopping (Ryan found some gin, too) and then went to Kentucky Pizza for a take-out pizza. I know, I know. What fools fly all the way to Argentina and get a take-out pizza from a place called Kentucky Pizza? Well, it was recommended to us and Buenos Aires does have a very rich Italian past and many here are of Italian descent, so pizza was a quite authentic local dish to eat on our first night here. Actually, it was quite a delicious dish to eat, too. We ate it in our apartment and enjoyed the view out our 16th floor windows as a pretty big lightning show lit up the skies overhead.

After a great night’s sleep (waking up at 9:30AM!), we managed to get cleaned up a bit and head around the corner to a local bakery that was also recommended. We did our best with our limited Spanish and the bakery workers there were quite accommodating, too. We picked up a selection of roquefort, caprese, and ham & cheese empanadas. We’ve heard that Argentinians are known for their empanadas so we had to get some.

Our four little empanadas

Outside the bakery with a bag of empanadas

We took them back to our apartment, sat out on our patio, and enjoyed them for a late breakfast al fresco. They were tasty … not the best thing we’ve ever had, but tasty nonethless.

Mouthful of empanada

Caprese empanada with tomato, basil, and mozzarella.

Our agenda for the day included only two things (vacations are great for short agendas): 1) get to an ATM to get a bit more cash; 2) visit the Recoleta District. So, we set off in the direction of the Recoleta, one of the older, more fashionable districts in Buenos Aires, about a 40-minute stroll from our apartment in the Palermo neighborhood. As we neared the Recoleta, the architecture became much more European-feeling.

Typical building in the Recoleta neighborhood

More Recoleta

One of the attractions we wanted to see in the Recoleta was the Recoleta Cemetery. The cemetery holds the graves of many of Argentina’s past elite, leaders, and (maybe most famously) Eva Peron (Evita). It is like no other cemetery either of us has ever been to. It dates back to the mid-1700s and has some very ornate crypts and mausoleums.

Narrow passageways between the crypts

Quite a variety of crypts exist within the cemetery.

Cobwebs on doors and windows add to the spooky effect.

Some caskets are fully exposed after deterioration of crypts and mausoleums.

This one isn't pushing up daisies, but the weeds are loving the space.

Looking inside the doors or gates of some of the crypts, you see that some are very well cared for and others are more deteriorated, like this one.

There are some ferrel cats in the cemetery. This sweet one seems to be guarding this crypt.

We finally found the Duarte crypt. The resting place of Eva Peron.

Just a simple plaque on the wall

After that we wandered through some of the stores in the Recoleta, just browsing and taking our time. It was a bit of an overcast day here and a bit on the humid side, but breezes blew and kept it pretty comfortable.

A street-side produce vendor ... a bit blurry (sorry).

And, of course, after all that walking around there was time for an ice cream break.

1 scoop of egg nog gelato, 1 scoop of flan caramel gelato. Yum! (Also a bit blurry ... argh).

Tonight, we’ll try a restaurant in our neighborhood. Dinner here starts late … after 9:30pm or so. Hope our stomachs can handle it! Check in soon to see!