THURSDAY, JULY 8 - A DAY ON OUR OWN - MOSTLY

We didn't have anything special set up for today.  We decided to try the evening of Argentinian tastes - food and wine.  Obviously beef is on the menu, as is Malbec.  What I'm most excited about is that they are supposed to show us how to make empanadas.  Since that had been our lunch fare for two straight days, it'd be fun to know how to make them.

We had a leisurely morning.  About 10 we decided to wander over to Tortoni's Cafe.  We googled it and found a more or less direct route from the hotel.  Our first main attraction was the Argentinian state house.  It's on one end of Avenida de Mayo (the Casa Rosada is on the other end).

Here am I in front of the capital.

As we walked down Avenida de Mayo, we hit the intersection with 9 de Julio (the huge street).  To our amazement we were closer to the Evita art than we had been in days.  We decided to get to the other side of the art work.  Here we are on the side we keep seeing -

Supposedly, Evita has a microphone and a frown.  She's facing the wealthy side of the city.  Hence why we keep spotting this end of the art work.

At long last, the other side of the building!!  I thought we'd never get here on foot.  She's got a smile for the poor - as the story goes.

We trekked back to Avenida de Mayo and on to Tortoni's just in time for lunch.  Charlie had a mini-Argentinian pizza and I had a great turkey sandwich.  The mustard's good here too!

Charlie at lunch.

I snuck a picture in of our waiter - black jacket, apron, and all.

We walked back to the hotel - and here we are.  We really feel like we know a few blocks south of the Recoleta neighborhood.  Tonight our food tasting/dinner is in the Palermo Hollywood section of town. Sounds like Italian cinema.

Tomorrow on to Iguazu Falls.