the boomer live

Do you have trouble parallel parking or reversing into your drive way?

Try reversing a 30,000 ton ship half a mile between a breakwater and a dock. Then make 90 deg turn to starboard (still in reverse) and pass between the HAL Rotterdam & a container ship, then parallel park behind the container ship. (see photos to appreciate) All done in a stiff breeze with no tugs! (one on stand bye). I half expected the Captain to come on the PA and say “That was fun”.  That’s how we arrived in Buenos Aries. We had hired a guide for a 6 hr walking tour. Pedro was waiting for us outside the terminal, first stop the famous Cementerio de la Recoleta where Eva Peron and many other famous people of Argentina are interred. Vicki is in the cemetery business so this was especially interesting to her. Pedro was very good at mentioning bits of history that related to the various tombs, a lot of them off the main areas where tourist normally go. One interesting thing we noted, we saw a couple of quite large Irish tombs…….painted green! We spent an hour here, but could easily have spent another hour. Very, very interesting. We then walked through the wealthy Recoleta neighborhood, amazing mansions, the Alvear Palace Hotel, French Embassy, taking in the architecture, mostly a slight variation of late 18^th century French. Then on to Casa Rosada, the presidential palace, with the famous balcony featured in the movie Evita. We had lunch just off the square at Café Grande Victoria, Vicki snag an embroidered napkin, with permission. On to more avenues, and the War Memorial dedicated to Argentines Military Personnel lost in the Falklands War. On to Café Tortoni, a historic meeting place, and the National Congress. We finished the day with a ride on the subway and were lucky to get on the oldest subway train in service, built of wood in 1913. The whole time Pedro had been feeding us with information on the architecture, Argentina’s history, politics, and culture. Pedro is meeting us at the hotel tomorrow at noon to take us around San Telmo (Tango neighborhood) and La Boca) An exhausting but enjoyable day. Packing tonight. The ship is offering a special deal to take the next cruise, a trip through the straits of Magellan round to Valparaiso. Hmmmm…… no can do, oh to be retired.