Our Antarctica cruise ended in the port of Buenos Aires and we looked forward to a few days on land, exploring the city before returning to Florida. We had booked a tour guide to take us to drop our bags at the hotel, and from there he was going to take us on a city tour for the rest of the day.
We started off by visiting the Plaza Naciones Unidas, in the centre of which is ‘Floralis Génerica’, a gargantuan 23m high metal flower revolving sculpture created in 2002 by Argentinian sculptor Eduardo Catalano. This flower blooms daily as its petals slowly open throughout the day and then close up again at sunset.
From there, we did a general tour through the city, ending up at the Recoleta Cemetery which is perhaps Buenos Aires top attraction, if you can think of a cemetery as an attraction. It is actually an astounding place filled with row upon row of impressive statues and marble mausoleums,
each one vying to be the biggest and the most ornate.
Strolling down the ‘streets’, one can occasionally take a peek through a begrimed glass door or window into the crypts and check out the dust-covered, cobweb-festooned coffins.
Here is the last resting place of past Argentinian Presidents, military heroes, Nobel Prize winners, influential politicians and other rich and famous people, the most notable and frequently visited of which is the tomb of Eva Perón, Argentine’s First Lady from 1946-1952.
My favourite and the most touching was a memorial to a young woman who died when an avalanche struck her hotel in Austria. The tomb was designed by her mother, and the life-size bronze statue of Liliana Crociati in her wedding gown stands outside, above a plaque containing a poem written by her father. When her dog Sabú died, a statue of him standing next to her was added.
So far so good, and we were thoroughly enjoying our tour. We wandered with our guide through the antique district and stopped for lunch at a very old and authentic eating house with an interesting bar.
Then it was back into the car to visit La Boca, a touristy and very colourful neighbourhood.
Our guide stopped the car at the busy taxi drop-off to let hubby and I get out so that he could drive down the road to the car park. As we alighted and hubby was closing the car door, a motorbike screeched to a halt and a young man jumped off the back and attacked hubby from behind, grabbing him by the neck. Hubby managed to pull free and turned around to grab him back; I started screaming ‘blue murder’; our driver jumped out of the car and he and a couple of taxi drivers went for the guy, who lashed out at me, bruising my arm, before escaping empty-handed on the motorbike. It was a very traumatic experience indeed and for the rest of the day, as you can imagine, I was continually looking over my shoulder, not trusting any strangers to be near me. We’re not sure why he grabbed hubby round the neck, but maybe he was feeling for a gold chain. Some people carry their money purse on a cord hidden under their shirt so it could have been that. Anyway, after the mugging incident in Chile at Puerto Monte, and now this one in Buenos Aires, we have decided that South America is a ‘no go’ for us in future. We lived in South Africa for over forty years and have traveled the world, but have never had anything like this happen to us before. It’s very sad that there are such criminals who can ruin their country’s reputation as a great tourist destination. There wasn’t a policeman in sight, and when our guide drove down the road to the carpark, he spotted a police car parked in the shade, away from all the action. He walked over to report to them what had just happened to two of his clients and found them playing on their iPhones. He reprimanded them and told them that their main concern should be to watch out for the safety of visitors to their city.
We still had two more days in Buenos Aires, and thankfully there were no more unpleasant incidents, but as you can imagine, I felt uneasy walking the streets and we were extra vigilant. I do have some more photos which I’ll share with you very soon.
Hope your week is going well. We had a really stunning sunset here last night.
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Thank you.
Life certainly brings surprises, doesn’t it? I love your traveling eye – the things that attract you are things that I too would photograph. Sorry to hear about two South American muggings in I guess as many months, and I hope that’s the end of that!
Thanks so much, Lynn. I also hope that’s the end of the mugging adventures. 🙂
Hi, im argentinean and live in buenos aires. I love reading posts about my city. I know that there is a lot of mugging, but it’s like that in every city. Don’t miss out on the beautiful things our country can offer. Unluckily you had a bad experience, and I’m sorry for that. I hope that you could still find us really warming and nice and enjoyed your other two days. For the next time I encourage you to visit the countryside: Cordoba, Neuquen, Tucuman are really nice cities.
Love, Ana
Thanks for reading, Ana. Yes, we did enjoy the rest of our stay. I will do a post about it. 😘
I had planned to go to Buenos Aires but, unfortunately, the trip fell through. I still intend to get there and yes, strange or not, I’ll visit the cemetery. I’m fascinated by them. You’re sunset photo, Sylvia, is one of your best. Gorgeous!
Well, if you do go there, please watch out for potential muggers. The cemetery seemed quite safe though, although I guess there could be pickpockets around there.
I can’t believe that you were involved in not one but two muggings. Thankfully, both times you were just bruised as it could have been so much worse. I’m sorry that celebrating such a milestone in your lives was marred by these events. We had a friend that was mugged in Brazil as well…they were after his Rolex watch. South America has never been on our list of travel spots because it is so unsafe. It is getting harder and harder to travel without constantly being aware of your surroundings. Loved you photos, especially that beautiful sunset in your own backyard. 😀
Thanks so much, Karen. It’s really sad that so many travel destinations seem to be fraught with danger. Unfortunately S. America came with the Antarctica cruise. Hubby didn’t wear his Rolex when we went off the ship. It stayed in the safe. I guess they were just after anything they could get, but fortunately they achieved nothing, except our decision never to visit their country again.
pity about the mugging… ironically nothing so far has ever happened to me when i’ve been to south america, despite the warnings… but i know like sa it’s a bit of self awareness and a lot of luck
Yes, we’ve been to South America before, but quite a few years ago. We were warned about not going into the back streets of Rio at night, but that’s just common sense anywhere. These incidents happened in broad daylight with other people around. The world is changing for the worse, and I think the muggers are just getting more brazen. 😦
Oh, I am so sorry to hear about the mugging incident. Thank God that both of you are safe and well now. Safe travels.
Thanks so much, Imelda. It’s great to be home again. 🙂
These are horrible mugging incidents, and a shame the Police did not seem to care. On the bright side, your photos are lovely. I liked the cemetery and the statue of the woman and her dog. Beautiful ending photo.
What a shame to read about the muggings at the end of enjoying your wonderful photos of the day. I’m glad you’re both o.k.!
Thanks so much, Susan. I’m happy you enjoyed the photos. 🙂
They do things on a grand scale! 🙂
Well, thanks goodness the mugging wasn’t on a grand scale.
Indeed! 😦
Oh Sylvia, I’m so sorry to hear you were mugged. Once is traumatic, but twice is outrageous. I’m glad you both made it home safely. yikes.
Thanks, Jet. Yes, it was quite awful, but thank goodness we are both fine. 🙂
arrivo giusto per la fine della tua crociera! vuol dire che percorrerò al ritroso le sue tappe
ora osservo questa pagina così densa di emozioni che spaziano dalla tristezza, alla confusione dei mercatini colorati per finire in crescendo con quella immagine mozzafiato di un tramonto meraviglioso
ti ringrazio tanto di queste immagini e dellla loro spiegazione 🙂
Thanks, dear Annalisa. So happy you enjoyed the photos. It’s lovely to see you again. Happy Sunday hugs. xx 🙂
Dear Sylvia,
What a sad thing to happen to you both. My hubby dislikes travel because of things like this. His obsession with cruising originated because we had a similar incident in the Bahamas. We were much younger at the time but my hubby felt obligated to protect me and didn’t relax for the rest of the sightseeing. Our plan is to take a few stay-ca-tions instead of traveling. It looks like the world is changing faster than our minds can wrap itself around them. BUT …. thank you for the tour. Since I won’t be going there anytime soon, it was lovely to enjoy it through your eyes.
The cemetery looks like it’s filled with grandness. I enjoyed those photos and your sunset is glorious.
Be well … have a wonderful weekend.
Issy 😎
Thanks so much, Issy. I’m happy you enjoyed the photos. Yes, I agree with you that it’s very sad when such nasty people feel the need to attack innocent people. We’ve also been to the Bahamas, and one of the places we stopped at, felt a little uneasy as we walked around. I spoke to some Americans on our cruise, who said that would never get off the ship at such places unless it was for an organized tour where they would be in a group. Happy weekend to you too. xx
I agree with group touring. My hubby and I took a Christmas cruise in December. We went on shore only at St. Kitts because we’d never been to that island. Within an hour, we were back on board. Nothing seems safe anymore. The economy is so poor that the tourist fall victims to their desire to have quick cash. Also, the shop seems to hound people while looking.
We find it much more relaxing to stay on board. We usually schedule spa treatments or relax in the Canyon spa area which is much more private. On deck, we can enjoy the lounge chairs or even a movie at the theater. The ship is emptier and feels like our own. I hope you’ll continue to cruise but be cautious about being isolated.
I’m glad you’re back.
Issy 😎
I love a good cemetery – this one looks fascinating. Sorry to hear about the attempted mugging. The only place I have experienced that was the US – New Orleans in the early 90s. I had fallen slightly behind our group when a man knocked me over. He ran off empty-handed when John and our two friends turned back at my shouts. I did feel hot and cold afterwards when I thought about what could have happened (maybe he had a knife) when I was on the ground and vulnerable and he obviously thought I was alone. I never dawdled again!
I agree that cemeteries can be really fascinating to wander around., and this was an especially good one. What an awful experience for you too, Anabel. Yes, I guess we can both be grateful that we weren’t harmed. Nevertheless, any such attack is very traumatic, and I had flashbacks for quite a few days after.
Sylvia, what an amazing tale from beginning to end. The pictures you share are stunning, particularly the cemetery. I’m glad you did not end up there. That trip sounds so frightening. Two major scares. I’m sorry you had to go through that!!! Glad you are back home. I’m sure you have convinced a great many people that South America is no longer on their bucket list. 😦 too bad for them! and mostly too bad for our friends who they mistreated. 😦
Thanks, dear Marsha. Thankfully we survived to tell the cautionary tale. 🙂 xx
No kidding! It’s off my bucket list and then some. Do you mind if I reblog this post at some point in the near future?
Go ahead. I’m over S America now. 😅
I don’t blame you. I think your cautionary tale should be told, though. Again, I’m so sorry it happened to you both! 😦 BTW, I went to comment on one of your posts, and I was too late. 😦 Comments were closed. You are too popular! I’m still getting caught up from my trip. I did not have any harrowing tales to tell from my trip, just good food and fabulous friends. 🙂
I’m so glad everything was positive for you. I went to reply to comments on a couple of my posts and couldn’t. 😅
You’re just so popular! 🙂
😊
All I can do is echo the sentiment expressed by everyone else. It’s such a shame that this unfortunate incident will forever flavour your impression of the city and the country. It certainly provides a warning for the rest of us that staying vigil is always a good idea.
Thanks, Joanne. Yes, I’ll never be able to think of my trip without these awful memories coming to mind, but I guess over time, they will fade into the background.
Horrific mugging incidents. I hope you are both recovered emotionally
Thanks, Derrick. We’re both fine, although, I do sometimes get flashbacks.
I’m sure
The cemetery was extraordinaire! What a horrible experience with the guy on the motorbike! And then the cops without a concern playing on their phones. Sighs and shakes my piggy head. You’re right though – it makes for bad tourism. XOXO – Bacon
Thanks, dear Bacon. I can imagine you shaking your piggy head in disbelief. The whole incident was a disgrace. 😦 xx
Certainly some great sights in this city. Of course I had to have this playing in the background. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQ_ic3KmmLY
The muggy incident! Wow … and the second one in South America!!!! Thanks for verifying the reason we have no desire to visit.
Yes, this song inspired my title. Glad you’re not planning on getting mugged any time soon. Have a great weekend. 🙂
A dreadful scary incident Sylvia . So sorry to hear of this second mugging .Thank goodness you and your husband managed to deal with it and re your earlier comment I can understand your suitcases being in the loft for a little while yet. What super pictures and history though you’ve brought to us here in your post and then your doorstep glorious sunset . Wow colours !
Thanks, dear Poppy. I couldn’t believe it could happen a second time ! It was like deja vu. Really shocking. 😳
I’m glad to hear that you and your husband are both fine, that would have been so scary.
I do love that last photo.
Thanks, Amy. I guess all’s well that ends well. 😅
Yes, I would make those countries no go areas too. There are so many interesting places in the world to go to, it is better to leave out the places where you are just not safe. Glad your trip was so interesting overall.
Thanks, Gerrie. I so agree with you.
Very different cemetery to ours here. I understand the way you feel about South America, after the incidents. Glad you came out just bruised. Sad that things like that have to happen. I can imagine you feeling scared and now really glad to be back and safe at home!
Thanks, Ute. Yes, it felt wonderful to be back home again. 😘
The cemetery really looks just like a deserted city. How awful about the attack, though. That certainly would ruin your day. Just glad neither of you was badly hurt!!
janet
Thanks, Janet. Yes, the cemetery was like a city, although not as deserted. as my photos might suggest. 🙂
There were lots of dead people!
Hehehe Lots of tourists wandering just off camera. No dead men walking. 😀
But they’re still there!!
💀☠️
The good, the bad, and the ugly – it looks like you experienced all of it on this trip. Glad you and your husband are ok.
Thanks, Annette. Yes we most certainly did have a whole range of emotions on our trip. Thankfully most of them were good ones. I could have well done without the bad and the ugly. 😕
Oh Sylvia I am so sorry to read of this second mugging. We as well have been so fortunate in traveling. I can see why you were very cautious in the days following. Sending hugs and hoping you both are all right.
Thanks, Sue. It was a very nasty incident and I had bruises on my arm for a few days, but otherwise no harm done. 😘
Oh goodness that makes my heart hurt just to think of you being harmed. Xo
😘
Lovely pictures and the last one is stunning. It was too bad and I am sorry to hear about the incident. I completely understand how your felt after that. I can imagine that ruined your trip there. I completely agreed that this sort of things destroy the tourist industry of the country. Tourist industries are based on things that already there. They just need to make sure these country are safe and the rest takes care of it self.
Thanks, YC. It was a most unfortunate incident which did of course spoil my day which had been so enjoyable until it happened.
I am glad that your husband and you were not hurt from the incident. It could be worse.
Love Buenos Aires! Isn’t the flower sculpture magnificent?
Yes, the sculpture is magnificent.
I’m so thankful to hear that you and your husband are okay, Sylvia. How scary that must have been. Thank you for including the beautiful and calming photo after that horrid tale. I needed it to relax my nerves. Glad you’re safe, ❤
Thanks so much for your concern, Jill. Both experiences were awful and very unsettling, but we can’t dwell on such nasty things. I just thought I’d recount our experiences to warn other travelers of what can happen. Happy you loved the sunset photo. 😘
ACK! Two muggings on one trip! That’s two too many! Glad you’re OK, just shaken up a bit. And good for your tour guide and the taxi drivers for jumping into the fray.
Thanks, Nancy. It’s not the sort of thing one envisages on a celebratory trip. We’re over it already, but will always be very wary of strangers who get too close.
what a horrible experience I hope you can put it to the back of your mind and enjoy looking at all your great photos.
Yes, it was horrible; but we soon got over it, although on both occasions both of us spent a rather sleepless night. 😳
So glad nothing terrible came of this incident. How scary. It does put me off going there when there are plenty of other places to visit. Gorgeous sunset.
My friend and I spent two weeks in BA a couple of years back and got to know and love it…however if anything had happened to us like you and your husband experienced I wouldn’t want to return either! So glad that both your awful attacks didn’t result in serious injuries but what a trauma.
Thanks so much. It was very traumatic, especially for me after the previous attack.I felt like I wanted to fly straight back home. Fortunately, the next two days were just fine.
I didn’t believe what I was reading, what hideous luck you had on this trip, I started off thinking I wouldn’t mind going there, but nothing would possess me now. You and hubby are very brave and I’m really sorry you had this happen to you.
(((Big hugs)))
Thanks so much, dear Gilly. It really was bad luck, being in the wrong place at the wrong time, but maybe if it hadn’t been us, it would have been someone else. ::? Thanks for the hugs. xx
Really sorry to hear about that incident…while it could happen anywhere to anyone, it does seem like tourists are targeted, and who wants to be in a place like that? Great pictures by the way, bravo!
Thanks so much, John. Hubby took all the photos that day. I was too shaken. 😳
What a pity this had to happen. Your photos are very tempting. At least no lasting harm was done…
Thanks, Marina. 🙂
Brilliant photo’s.Beautiful and very special cemeteryThik afrer so long on the water you are happy veing home again
Thanks, Marylou. We are so glad to be home again. 😃
That sunset photo is amazing! Again, so sad to hear you were mugged twice. We didn’t go to La Boca at all because we had read that it’s a dangerous area and we kept seeing all sorts of scary reports on the local news channels during our visit. They even have kidnappings in BA, in front of ATM’s, so we were always quite careful. But of course, not even that would help if someone really decided to just go for us. Luckily neither of you were hurt! Hope that you’ll be able to focus on the good memories over time. ❤
Thank you so much. Yes, the good memories really do outweigh the two bad ones, so I’ll focus on the good rather than the ugly ones. 🙂
It’s so beautiful there…! Bit of the old in harmony with the present and no skyscrapers, I love that 🙂
Thanks, Andy. It would have been even more beautiful without the mugger. 😳
The sad part of many places these days 😦
As long as you are okay though, that’s what is important :O
Omg… I was so enjoying your photos and remember which ones to talk about,and then reading what happened , I can’t shake it.. I’m glad your ok, and hubby is fine… it could have tuned out so much worse.
Other than that it looks like you had a great time, I hope you were able to enjoy the rest of your time there.
Interesting post and photos.
Thank you.
Well…dreadful, maybe you should just stay in Florida-um…yes, that works for us as well S!!! xx
Absolutely so, Cheryl. Our suitcases are up in the toof space and i don’t want to see them for quite a while. 🙂
Being realistic Sylvia it can happen anywhere! Our Police are so visible on the Island here-crime is almost non-existent. We pay big bucks in taxes for our public servants and they are worth every penny! Seems the scooter guy never realized how strong physically your hubby is-surprised him- all that work he has done his whole life paid off! Unfortunately it is now a horrible memory for both of you. Be well friend. xx
Thanks, Cheryl. Yes, I guess it’s about being in the wrong place at the wrong moment. It’s just strange that the only times we’ve experienced this has been in S. America. Yes, hubby is a very strong guy and very quick off the mark too. 😅
Its sad for South America’s economy to have many change any plans to visit the various destinations! Rome has had some terrible muggings as well but people still wish to visit the many historical centuries old area. The old adage “Oh that can not happen to me” is an ignorant thought process because it can. Glad you are safe!!! xx
OMG that would have totally freaked me out too, such a sad story, because I was thinking how beautiful the photos were and how I would love to visit. At least you are both safe.
Thanks, Susan. Yes, we lived to tell the tale. 🙂 xx
Sorry to read about the mugging incident. Glad that otherwise you enjoyed your visit.
Thank you. Yes, thankfully the rest of our stay was uneventful.
Oh dear , how awful!
So sorry for what happened to you in Buenos Aires!
No policemen there , ?…….they all were on a beach arresting a group of topless girls….. (This was on yesterday news paper….)
Your pics are beautiful , hope you are well now , and leaving behind these Latin American accidents…!
Haha……thanks for making me laugh, Anna. i can imagine that the police might be far more interested in topless bathers than tourists attacked by guys on motorbikes. 🙂
The cemetery reminds me of the ones in New Orleans … very fascinating in a eerie way. So sorry to hear about the attacks. Scary indeed. I’m sure that sunset back home was just what you needed.
Thanks, Ingrid. Yes, it’s wonderful to be home again. The peaceful and glorious sunset was a real treat. 🙂
So sorry that happened to you! How awful – it would scare the bejesus out of me! 😦
Thanks, Carmen. It really was very scary, but thankfully not too bad. We could easily have done without the muggings, though. 😕