After a late night out in the city, we had to wake up early for a three-hour walking tour through the Recoleta area. During the tour, we got to see a lot of historical buildings, statues, and famous landmarks around the city. The last stop on the tour was the famous Recoleta Cemetery, which was one of the coolest places we have visited so far. The cemetery was built for some of Argentina’s wealthiest and most important families, and the mausoleums were honestly amazing to see in person. Many of them were covered in marble statues, stained glass, and detailed artwork that made each one unique. One of the most famous people buried there is Eva Peron, also known as Evita. She was an important political figure who fought for women’s rights and supported the working class throughout Argentina.
After the walking tour, we took a bus to the Museo Evita, where we had lunch and learned more about Evita’s life. For lunch, we had empanadas, ojo de bife, and dulce de leche crepes, which were all really good. Inside the museum, we saw different outfits Eva wore, videos of her speeches, and copies of her autobiography. We also learned more about how Juan Domingo Perón helped shape Argentina’s healthcare system. During his presidency, he believed healthcare should be available to everyone, not just people with money. His government invested in hospitals, clinics, and programs to help improve public health across the country. He also worked closely with labor unions to create healthcare plans called obras sociales, which helped workers and their families receive medical care through their jobs. These programs are still a major part of Argentina’s healthcare system today. Overall, being able to learn more about Argentina’s history while exploring different parts of Buenos Aires has been a really interesting experience and continues to show me how diverse and important this city is.
