As I try to check in on a LAN Argentina flight at the EZEIZA
International Airport Argentina to Sao Paulo, Brazil from Buenos Aires, the airline
staff just informed me my flight has been shifted to the following day, the
reason she gives is that, by the time I will arrive Sao Paulo, the South Africa
Airways flight to Johannesburg would have been taxing for take-off, so I will
certainly miss it. This mistake probably is from my booking agent.
The experience is sweet after all. LAN Argentina has paid
for my accommodation and full meals and they put me in a VIP Airport Taxi to
the hotel, it is from my hotel room window that I’m seeing this massive area
with ancient Church-like buildings, but most of them appear too small for even
the smallest size of congregation, so I hurry down the Front Office to find out
what these buildings are, “it’s a
cemetery; Cementerio de la Recoleta in Spanish and it was built since 1732, you
can check it online”, says Tamara, a young beautiful lady who I later
learnt is the manager of this hotel
Back to my room for more snapshots of Cementerio de la Recoleta,
and then back to my iPad to check this unusual monument. This cemetery is home
to Scientists, Presidents, First Ladies, Priests, Actors, Architects,
Journalists and many other VIPs who fought for Argentina’s independence including Eva Perón
who was an Argentine political leader and the second wife of President Juan
Perón (1895–1974).
One of the things that astonish me about Cementerio de la Recoleta
is the fact that it was only remodelled in 1881 but still looks more beautiful
and more solid than even Nigeria’s 21st century architecture.
Today, this cemetery has become an unusual monument and a
tourist attraction in Recoleta, Buenos Aires.
Details about Cementerio
de la Recoleta can be found online when you do a Google search on the
‘recoleta cemetery’ or ‘Cementerio de la Recoleta’ if you understand Spanish.
Puerto Madero
Puerto Madero is a cool and colourful waterfront or harbour
with restaurants, shops, clubs and banks lined up on both sides.
The restaurants here offer mainly Argentine dish, but you
must be sure of what you want to eat before placing an order or else, you might
end up throwing up!
Food here is not as spicy as what we have in Nigeria. Don’t
ask for grilled beef thinking it tastes like suya. I just had a taste of great
beef at La Cabana Restaurant, Puerto Madero.
Argentine Culture of Protests
Once you spend up to a week in Buenos Aires, you would have
witnessed some form of protest or strike as they call it. I ask Nigeria’s
Ambassador to Argentina, Chive Kaave to compare Nigeria to an organized society
like Argentina, where you look at taxi cabs for instance, they don't just have
satellite navigation system but of course they have time calculators that you
don't ask a driver 'how much?' as done in Nigeria, you just look the display
and pay, but here are people who take to the streets talking about inflation
and high level of crimes and even unemployment, but again still looking at
their currency which is about 4.79 to 5 Pesos to a Dollar compared to 160 Naira
to a Dollar in Nigeria, I ask if he thinks Argentines are asking their
President Cristina Kirchner for too much?
"Well, you know as a Diplomat, I would simply
say that is a matter that is exclusively within their internal affairs, and I
don't want to comment on it, whether it is too much or whether it is too
frequent or whatever it is, that is the Argentine society for you", going
on strike he says is part of their culture, "and there are no Police Men
who even monitor the strikes, they just go about strikes like it happened
yesterday, almost like the entire streets were free of traffic and
movement".
He says for the past 15 years, and since he came,
almost every week there is some strike in Buenos Aires.
Road Network
The City of Buenos Aires has one of the world’s
best road networks and everything is working perfectly well. Pedestrians don’t
only rely on the traffic lights working for 24 hours without blinking but also
on the law abiding drivers, cyclists and other road users. Once the traffic
shows RED, the cars almost automatically stop and the pedestrians almost also
automatically step on the Zebra crossing. There is order in Buenos Aires, no
traffic warden manning traffic lights; there is no need for them.
Obelisk
This is Buenos Aires Monument of unity, a very beautiful and
unique looking cone shaped structure standing firm on 9 de Julio Avenue. Most
of the protests in the city take place here.
Ancient Architecture
The Argentine architecture I’m told has its roots
from the French and British Architects and up to this moment, buildings still
take this form.
Currency
The Pesos is the legal tender here and it is
exchanged at 4.76 Pesos to 1 US Dollar.
Argentine’s perception of Nigeria
Ask most Argentines about Nigeria and you hear;
‘Naheria? Good football’, and some would go on to mention the Kanu Nwankwo
squad that defeated them in 1996 during the Olympic Games in Atlanta, USA.
Communication Challenges
Most people here speak only Spanish; the official
language, but you will most likely find those who speak English especially in
public business places like hotels. Technology helps me a great deal in Buenos
Aires, I use an application which translates my English to Spanish with sound
so I repeat it and hopefully I’m understood when I need to communicate to
Spanish only Argentines.
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