El sur también existe.... San Telmo!

After about a week of trekking around the city on our own and avoiding the touristy areas at all costs, we decided to give in on Sunday and spend the day in San Telmo. As we headed south towards this barrio, we passed the Plaza del Mayo, a spot famous for its political history. Pictured above is La Casa Rosada, the presidential palace known for Eva Perón speaking to the throngs of Argentines who gathered below its balcony.

We decided to visit on a Sunday when the neighborhood is known to be the most alive. Street musicians, artists, coffee carts, puppeteers, performers, drum lines, and souvenir vendors bustled about the cobblestone.

Here is more of what we saw...

... political art... (caption: "El Faraon")

a man tangoing.... with lifesized doll...

We listened to a full jazz quartet after watching tango dancers and perusing blankets full of antiques and homemade art. Touristy it was, (someone bumped into us and said "Excuse me" in English!!!!!) but well worth the kitsch.

After all of the craziness and slight claustrophobia from the crowd, we stopped (of course) at a cafetería for cafés and Pizza Napolitana, one of the few vegetarian delicacies Buenos Aires has to offer. mmmmm!!