A shift in our schedule this morning gave us some free time, which we used to return to La Boca to shop and explore more of Argentine culture. Since it was a bit later in the day, the streets were much livelier, and it was so fun to see the different items and meet some of the artists and shop owners.

In the afternoon, we went on a walking tour around Buenos Aires. We visited the monument of San Martín, which honors the Argentine war hero, and saw a beautiful memorial dedicated to those lost in the war. We also stopped by the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar, the second-oldest church in Buenos Aires, and got to admire its stunning interior. Our tour ended at the Recoleta Cemetery. It was unlike any cemetery I’ve seen in the U.S., as the memorials were above ground and much grander. We visited the gravesites of Dr. Raúl Ricardo Alfonsín, who served as president of Argentina from 1983 to 1989, as well as Eva Perón, who we learned more about during yesterday’s museum tour.

From what we’ve seen over the past two days, it’s clear how much of an impact her husband, Juan Perón, had on Argentina’s healthcare system. He established the obras sociales, the union-based organizations that still provide health insurance to workers today. He also pushed for more social rights, including protections for healthcare employees, and made public universities tuition-free, opening doors for more students to enter university and ultimately pursue careers in healthcare.