Ciao from Argentina! Today was a day of culture and history. We started with a walking tour of Recoleta that ended in the neighborhood’s famous cemetery. As we strolled through the alleys and backways, we saw beautiful palaces and mansions surrounded by beautiful scenery. While a cemetery may not be the first thing to come to mind when tourist attractions are brought up, the Recoletta cemetery offered nothing but beauty and history. Adorn with carefully constructed grave sights, the cemetery was filled with stone statues, gold mosaics, and stained glass. In the cemetery, we were able to see the mausoleums of Argentina’s best and brightest including those who helped free the nation and the man who brought free public education to the country. We were also able to visit the grave of Eva Peron, the former wife of Juan Peron, lovingly named Evita. Her grave is the only one in the massive span of crypts with an abundance of fresh flowers all year long. 

following in theme of gone but not forgotten, we took a trip to the Evita museum. Here we spoke of Evita’s life and mission and how she became the beloved icon she is today. being born to a lower-income family, where her parents were not even married, the former Eva Duarte was no stranger to hardship. She started acting as a teen, and as she began to grow, so did her social work. Evita disregarded the common route of helping those in need through charity and instead opted for a form of social direct aid. Because of her work, she was able to formally meet Juan Peron at a San Juan Earthquake campaign. Together they would go on to guide the nation into creating economic prosperity. Eva stayed at the forefront of Peron’s campaign, dedicating their time together to uplifting his accomplishments for the betterment of her nation. Under Peron’s leadership, together with Evita, Argentinian women would gain the right to vote and would be introduced to politics. Dying young, Eva Peron had much work ahead of her, yet her mark is nothing short of substantial. In her life, she helped run a foundation in her name, in connection with the state and federal government. through this foundation, she would aid women children and the elderly alike. She uplifted the health and well-being of her people by enacting mandatory wellness checks before the annual football tournament as a way to get children to a wellness check if they do not have the means. Her foundation also offered child care that would provide proper nutrition that many families could not afford. Together with her husband’s work in creating and strengthening the Unions- those that give health care and social benefits to the people. The Perons where able to greatly affect healthcare today. With such a large impact, and the memory of economic success, it is no wonder why Evita and Juan Peron hold such a dear memory to Argentinians today.