Day 29: Cementerio de la Recoleta

Today I dared to go out for a big tour...

I took my subway card, no not the restaurant, the transportation system, and went to the next subway station. Well, actually the one after because I didn't want to change trains. At the access to the trains there are gates and you have to place your card on a reader and Pesos 7.50 are deducted. This allows you to go as far as you like as long as you don't leave the designated area. You can even change trains.
So I purposfully went to the train... going in the wrong direction. What a crap... Even though they drive on the right side of the road, the trains come in from the wong side! I don't get it. Anyhow, I noticed right away, got out and took the next train in the other direction. Pesos 7.50, that's 30Cent!!! Great. Unfortunately there are only 6 lines yet but their are being expanded.

So I rode all the way to the end at "Las Heras" and from there it's only a 5min walk to the cemetery. The entrance is free, there are guided tours, although none at night as the website is eager to announce :-D

In the cemetary there are only cryptas in different sizes and states of decay. Almost all are locked but you can see the inside of most of them and the coffins inside, one, two, many... And if you are lucky then there's a movable stairway standing around allowing you to make a picture from above :-)
It's very noticable that the biggest and best kept cryptas are those of the military.

But only those of the generals, the foot soldiers had to share a basement together. You heard right. In some graves the coffins are above ground. In others there is a small shrine next to stairs leading down to the coffins.
The only person I knew of was Eva Perón or Maria Eva Duarte de Perón, the first wife of president Juan Perón. She lies in the Duarte family crypta.

Her grave is one of the very few with fresh flowers and thankyou notes. The crypta of the first big Argentinian president looks grand but unloved in comparison. Alright, compared to the graves of his successors it's still a stunner.

So if you ever get here, this is definitely worth a visit. Right next to it is the cultural center and on Sundays also an art fair. Maybe even all weekend but I have to verify that...