hollisandbeyond2015: Plaza de Mayo

Yesterday we found our way to the Plaza de Mayo, the centre of Buenos Aires. This is where the most important political and social rallies in Argentina have taken place through the years. To this day, the Madres de la Plaza de Mayo ( the mothers of the "disappeared children") during the Dirty War military dictatorship from 1976 to1983 march every Thursday afternoon. The Plaza is flanked by important buildings. One of the most noticeable is the the Casa Rosado - the presedential palace with its balconies from which Juan and Eva Peron and other politicians spoke to the throngs. Madonna sang "Don't Cry for Me, Argentina" from the Casa Rosada's balconies for the movie, Evita, although many Argentinians were not impressed that this actress, known for her outrageous outfits and overt sexuality, was chosen to play their beloved Evita. At the centre of the plaza is an obelisk built to mark independence from Spain. On the north side of the square is the headquarters of the national bank in a building erected first as an opera house prior to the construction of the Teatro Colon. The cathedral with its triangular facade and columns is another architectural landmark. Pope Francis, the former Bishop of Buenos Aires, would have spent a lot of time here. They say he used to ride the Subte and may well have grown up dancing tango!

Casa Rosada - "Don't Cry for me, Argentina."