Visiting Recoleta - Saturday, October 16, 2010

What a beautiful day we had for day four of sightseeing with Melissa and Marianne. The sun was out and we were excited that the gloomy days were gone. However, a dark cloudy day may have enhanced our visit to the cemetery.

We left by train at 11:30 for the Capital to visit La Recoleta Cemetery located in an exclusive neighborhood of Buenos Aires. The cemetery was built in the early 1800's around the convent and church of an order of monks.

When the order was disbanded in 1822, the garden of the convent was converted into the first public cemetery in Buenos Aires.

It contains many elaborate marble mausoleums, decorated with statues, in a wide variety of architectural styles.

The property contains room for about 4800 vaults, all above ground. Many of the mausoleums are in fine shape and well maintained, while others have fallen into disrepair.

This is our third visit to the cemetery and we see something new each time. It is impossible to walk down every path and street because it is so massive. We enjoy wandering around and becoming more acquainted with this famous cemetery.

Recoleta is the final resting place of many of Argentina's wealthiest and most famous families. The mausoleums are fairly small and it is common for many members, and generations, of the same family to occupy one mausoleum.

Outside on the grounds of the cemetery is an Artisan Fair that is set up every Saturday and Sunday. It is a great place to shop for souvenirs unique to Argentina.

It was important for us to visit the cemetery on a Saturday so the girls could walk through the "flea market" and find a treasure to take home. They were successful.

We stopped for lunch at a place across the street from Recoleta called Montana Ranch. It specialized in beef, of course, which Rich and Melissa ordered. However, I chose salmon, and Marianne ordered a chicken and rice dish. We all enjoyed our choice of food.

On our way back home from the train stop in San Fernando, we stopped at another fabric store to see what they had to offer. I didn't know there were so many around. Melissa can sniff them out!

The patchwork, quilted gifts that she made and brought with her for me to give to some of my friends were tied up with her written thank you note visible.

I wanted to give Gabriela Bolentini one of the creations. She is Silvio's wife who works with Elder Paz and the apartments, plus she also cooks for the missionaries each week. She often sends something good for Elder Kroff and I to enjoy also. She has recently been made Relief Society President in the San Fernando ward and is doing a great job. She is a sweetheart!!

Elders Davis, Peterson, and Paz are all smiles over the baptism of Ana Sanchez tonight. We planned our day to return in time to support our office elders in this important event. We were glad there was a baptism to attend while our daughters were here so they could experience the real reason why we are in Argentina. This is what it is all about.

Ana is Lidia's sister and she is thrilled that her sister will be a member of the church with her. The younger girl in the picture is their niece.

Our young friends, the "chicas," were also there to support Lidia at her sister's baptism. We were excited that the girls could meet a lot of our friends tonight.

We all had an ice cream attack so we called up Daniels to deliver a kilo. Pretty cool, huh! It was a hit with the kids, and Oh, so good! We also ordered a pizza to be delivered. Party time!!