Since our visit to La Boca was cut a little short last time (in regards to some shopping time) some of us decided to take a morning trip today before our walking tour of the city at 1:30pm. It was crowded with people from street to street and we already had a few stores in mind that we all wanted to revisit. There was this local leather shop, which handcrafted every piece, that sold a variety of items such as keychains, purses, belts and wallets. I ended up getting this beautiful black purse with hummingbird, flower and butterfly designs. With some time still left before our tour, we wandered into a few other nearby shops that had a lot of cute souvenirs.

After returning to the hotel, we headed straight into our walking tour of  Buenos Aires. We explored the historic neighborhoods of Retiro and Recoleta. Our guide shared stories of Argentina’s history through pointing out main structures, tribute and statues relevant to the city. We ended the tour at the Recoleta Cemetery, on 14 acres of land filled with elaborate mausoleums and statues. Walking among the coffins, we learned many things about those who rest there, including Eva Peron, whose grave still draws in visitors daily. Once the tour ended, we decided to stay a bit longer and explore the nearby market tents set up around the area. These featured an amazing selection of hand painted canvases, jewelry, ceramics and so much more.

Based on what we’ve learned the past two days, Juan Peron during his presidency in the mid-20th century was able to implement many social reforms with a strong focus on public health. He and his wife, Eva Peron, worked to expand access to care, especially for the working class and the poor. They built hospitals, funded health initiatives and introduced labor policies that supported workers rights to healthcare. Their legacy helped lay the groundwork for Argentina’s universal healthcare system which still tries to uphold its ideals of accessibility and social justice. 

Fact of the day: A chilling story haunts the Recoleta Cemetery with Rufina Cambaceres. She was found lifeless in 1902 and buried in the family tomb in Buenos Aires. Soon after noises were said to have come from the tomb and once they investigated they discovered that she regained consciousness and tried to escape the coffin before passing. Over the years, visitors have reported sightings and hearing of a woman who people believe to be Rufina.