Yesterday we awoke to the sounds of car horns and sirens. We had fallen asleep talking about the amazing protests the day before and naturally we thought that perhaps they were continuing. When we ventured out of the hostel our little laneway was banked up, police on each corner directing traffic and all of the roads to the left blocked off to all vehicle traffic. We saw these police bikes on one of the side streets, heading towards the main road, that was blocked off. All of the police were inside an "Open 25 hrs" shop (similar to a 7/11 back home!)

 We kept going and saw the entire main drag blocked off, fenced off and, hundreds of police milling around in groups of 10 to 20 on every corner. At the end of the road, in front of the Congress, we saw a big crowd. We chatted to a local who told us that the first of March is the only day of the year that the President enters Congress. The crowds were in support of the president, and the road was blocked for her safety. To make the traffic matters worse the 'Subte' was closed, the train drivers on strike.

 The gap between rich and poor here is so apparent when just walking down the street, it is so confronting to see young families with four or five children living on the street. This is a view of Av Callao, towards the wealthy end. Just before this we had walked past a lady sleeping on the street, her daughter sitting with her, about 7 years old, spoke to us, and grinned like a cheshire cat when we told here we didn't understand Spanish. She smiled and waved, we smiled back but I felt a bit sick in my stomach for hours afterwards, there are so many kids on the street here, I would love to bundle them up and give them the best but it seems impossible...

Though it wasn't impossible for Evita Peron, each street kid she came across, she bundled them up and gave them only the best in her own home for 10 days, before taking them to a group home where they were given food, clothing, education and love.

Evita Peron is a national hero, a little like robin hood, loved by most but hated by some... She is entombed at Recoletta Cemetery, after her body was retrieved from a fake grave in Italy 20 years after her death. It is a place where no expense is spared by the rich to ensure that their status is not forgotten long after their deaths...

 We spent a good few hours wandering around the amazing monuments and crypts at the cemetery, but despite the grandeur and the riches, everyone who resides there does not leave their air tight metal box within their casket. Each crypt has one or two basements, with up to nine bodies laid in each. Many of the crypts have fallen into disrepair and the coffins are clearly visible down the stairs to the basements. When the crypt gets full the family removes the oldest bodies and cremates them, so the next generation can fit in too.

 These plots are quite literally prime real estate, families can sell the plots, crypts and all, but must remove the bodies which are then cremated. The costs vary depending on the size, location, and beauty of  the ornamentation. A basic plot costs around $45 thousand US dollars.









I found this particular monument quite moving... A statue of an Italian migrant stepping off the boat, the name on the boat 'Ayudate' (pronounced "Ay-ju-dar-tey") meaning to help yourself, be alone and stand on your own two feet, have no one to rely on...





Many of the crypts have beautiful stained glass windows, plaques and artworks depicting important moments of the occupants life and religious symbols to help guide the spirit. Here are some more photos of amazing sights around the cemetery...

   

In other news...

After coming close to having a panic attack yesterday while trying to buy some sausages for dinner, we have booked into a 5 day Spanish course next week!