Plaza de Mayo
The seat of government takes on a new hue in Argentina. A beautiful amalgamation of European architecture and Latin American color, Casa Rosada sits in the heart of the country’s largest city and capital, Buenos Aires. While it’s a challenge to observe parks in a truly natural state in this old, massive metropolis, the designed parks give us a glympse of what may thrive in the natural Pampas grasslands of the region and intertwine these touches of nature with a deep sense of culture and history. Plaza de Mayo is one of many such parks that dot the city, engulfed in a sea of architectural masterpieces that give the feeling of being in Paris or Vienna.
The most obvious clue as to the differing continents are the lanky palm trees that line the park, serving as silent, organized bystanders to monuments and statues. It’s unclear to me how prominent Palms are in the natural environment here, as grasslands naturally maintained by wildfire historically dominated the inland areas of the Humid Pampas ecoregion, and the coastal areas of the city are no longer in a natural state. There are otherwise a variety of small shrubs and grasses organized meticulously around lampposts in the grand square.
The most prominent Monument, known as the May Pyramid, hearkens recollections of the Washington Monument in DC, as well as similar pyramid-style monuments in other areas of the city. The monument is dedicated to the historical revolution to gain independence from Spain, hinting at the tumultuous political history of the nation. The overall political nature of this park is extremely apparent in the armed guards surrounding the nearby palace, and the makeshift Covid monument draped around a much older statue directly facing the seat of government. Concerns with how the pandemic was handled stirred controversy here, a place already mired in economic troubles. The historic difficulties are a continuing source of weekly political protests on the other side of town. Nevertheless, this is a safe area for travelers and is popular with tourists.
If you are traveling here internationally, you will need to take a shuttle or taxi from the airport into the city. Some hotels will provide a shuttle service if requested. Once you are in the city, you will be able to utilize public transit via bus or subway. However, as of mid-2022, subway cards are very difficult to find due to a plastic shortage. The most likely place you will find a subway card is inside the local lotteria shops. While there I was unable to find a working kiosk for printed tickets in the subway stations, and without the card you have to pay exact cash in the bus. You can also have your hotel book taxis for you to ensure you are getting a safe option.
Despite some of the transit challenges, as a visitor from the United States this area is absolutely worth a visit. It is rare to encounter such stunning architecture in the States, and Argentina comes with the benefit of little to no time zone transfer and a an exchange rate pertpetually favorable to Americans. The natural environment is perhaps somewhat comparable to Florida winters but slightly chillier in my experience, so remember to bring a jacket!