December 30: Jewish Tour of Buenos Aires

Today is our tour of Jewish Buenos Aires. Buenos Aires has a large and thriving Jewish community. The heart of this community is the AMIA cultural center building. The building we visit has very tight security, following it’s rebuilding after a terrorist bombing in 1994. This organization supports the charitable and cultural pursuits of the Jews in Buenos Aires.  The Israeli Embassy had been bombed as well in 1992, and we visited the site where it had been.  We also entered two beautiful synagogues, one Sephardic and one Ashkenazi. Another Jewish twist was that in one of the pews of the Catholic Church of Buenos Aires there is a tribute to the Jews that lost their lives during the Holocaust.

Our afternoon was free, and we had lunch in the Palermo Soho neighborhood, and did a little shopping. However, the 100 degree temperatures wilted us a bit.  Max & Sabrina attempted to visit the incredible Teatro Colon, but it was sold out! L That is definitely someplace we all should have gone!

December 29th: Tour of Buenos Aires

History Day! Plaza de Mayo, the national Cathedral where Pope Francis presided while he was Cardinal of Buenos Aires, the San Telmo Market, & the very colorful Boca District! A stop at the graceful “Bridge of the Woman” by architect Santiago Calatrava, and a delicious lunch at the parrilla “Cabanas de Las Lilas” in the resurrected Puerto Madero waterfront.

After lunch, we learn a bit about Eva Peron, and we end the day at the very famous Recoleta Cemetery.As much as our guide Diego tries, we cannot grasp the confusing up and downs and Argentine History. Seems as if there is a military coup every two years!!

Tonight we go to Rojo Tango! Can’t leave Buenos Aires without some tango!

December 28: Dinner at Aramburu

December 27th: Victoria Island Adventure

A full day of boating, biking, and exploration on Isla Victoria. Turns out our guide Nahuel grew up on Victoria Island, so he knows it intimately.  After a beautiful boat ride on the Nahuel Huapi Lake, we begin our day with Spencer’s favorite activity-BIKING! None of us does very well biking in the sandy, ashy soil, so we quickly begin the hiking portion of the day.  It’s cool and lovely on the island and we hike on a trail to a secluded beach where Nahuel’s mother has set up a gourmet lunch for us on the beach! What a special treat.

After lunch, we continue our hike to another beach where the boat picks us up for the swim portion of the day. At a cove with a sunken boat, Max, Alan, Spencer & Randi, jump off the boat into the crystalline ICY water. Brave Max snorkels around the wreck with Nahuel. The rest of us are TOO COLD! Now Max want to do a cliff dive!! Alan and Spencer climb the lower rocks-Max goes to the top. The top of the rock is a bit daunting-too high and too windy. So all three go in from a lower spot.

Dinner tonight at Cassis-an Austro-Hungarian restaurant, another fabulous tasting menu!

Happy Hour at Llao Llao & Dinner at Cassis