Today (May 25) is a national holiday in Argentina. It celebrates the "May Revolution" of 1810, which was the beginning of Argentina's independence from Spain. Schools, banks, and offices were all closed, and there was a grand fiesta in the Plaza de Mayo (where the central statue is labeled 25 de Mayo). They erected a huge stage for ballet folklorico, contemporary dance, tango, and all kinds of music.
In the morning it was raining but an intrepid band of students accompanied Max down to the Casa Rosada (the Presidential palace) -- only to discover that it had been closed for the day, despite promises just a week earlier that we would have a tour at noon. Apparently when they decided to hold the festival in the Plaza, they closed the Casa Rosada. So they headed to lunch, past a protest by a neighborhood group, and then over to Recoleta. In Recoleta, the wealthiest and grandest neighborhood of Buenos Aires, they met Sergio Kiernan and Brent Federighi. They had coffee at the famous cafe La Biela, surrounded by huge gum trees that have been there since Jesuit priests planted them in the 17th century. They are great for climbing.
Sergio and Brent took the students on a walking tour of Recoleta architecture and historic preservation. They saw many homes of the rich and famous, they toured the Plaza Vicente Lopez and the building that sparked Argentina's first historic preservation law, and they met with the legislator who created that law, Teresa Anchorena, in the photo with students above. They ended the afternoon with a traditional May 25 treat: churros y chocolate (basically doughnuts and hot chocolate). You can see Keith enjoying his.
Meanwhile, my kids and I visited some old friends. Here's Ruthie with Florencia on the left and Azul Violeta on the right.
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