Buenos Aires - Our Home for Two Nights

Yes, you can get Free Hugs in Buenos Aires!

Sunday, October 29 - Puerto Madero, Buenos Aires

Our hotel, the Alvear Icon Hotel, is located in the Puerto Madero section of Buenos Aires.  The Puerto Madero is a renovated dock area located near the Rio de la Plata.  It was orginally built up as the port and shipyard for Buenos Aires, according to a plan by a business merchant, Eduardo Madero, in 1882. In recent years, its old docks and warehouses have been gentrified and converted to restaurants, living spaces and upscale businesses.

Wikipedia says that for several decades, this district has held the title of being the "Most Expensive Neighborhood in Latin America", for having the highest prices per square meter.  It also is the location for the Alvear Tower, which is the tallest residential tower in Argentina.

The location of our hotel is in the Puerto Madero district, adjacent to the Rio de la Plata.

We arrived at the Hotel Alvear Icon around 10 AM.  For a small fee, we were able to check into our room early and to enjoy the hotel's copious Sunday breakfast buffet.  We did so, and promptly took our showers and a two hour nap.  Michael also took a swim in their beautiful pool on the 19th floor.

We enjoyed a walk around the neighborhood.  It's a very busy spring Sunday, with lots of families out enjoying the parks and cafes.  The temperature was comfortable at about 72 degrees - cooled by the rain, as yesterday it had been in the high 80's.  As you walk around, you can see the shipyard, warehouse and dock structures which have been incorporated into the local landscape.  

A pretty white bridge, the Puente de la Mujer, designed by Santiago Calatrava, was the focal point for much activity.  Groups of teens were riding bikes and skateboards, expertly performing many tricks and watching carefully to see who was watching them. (Ah, the Eternal Dance!)

There are many green spaces, and we sat on the park benches at the Parque Mujeres Argentinas. We watched the families play and the birds singing and enjoyed the early spring flowers that are blooming now. There is a large ecological nature reserve between this area and the actual Rio de la Plata.  Michael took a walk over there, but was shooed away by the police, as the beach and park were closing at 6 PM.

Typical architectural remnants around the canals in the Puerto Madero

The Puente de la Mujer (Women's Bridge) designed by Santiago Calatrava

A museum ship, built for the Argentine navy in the late 1800's.

One of many art murals

Love, to go along with the Free Hugs - a very genial city!

Tricks on display during this pleasant Spring Sunday afternoon

Spring has arrived

Expensive real estate locations here

Just a quick word about our hotel - it's really a lovely place, with all the services that you don't get in the mid-range US hotels ever since COVID.  Not only to they clean your room every day, but they still have turn-down service at night, robes and slippers and pretty bathrooms with nicely smelling products.  Sigh.  So nice.

We have a great view of the Rio de la Plata from our window on the 8th floor.  During the afternoon, we could see the ferries traveling across the river to Uruguay, and lots of sail boats out enjoying the brisk wind.  We also overlook the green space of the Ecological Park.  It's nice to have this as our home-away-from-home for two nights.

Love this marble bathroom!

View of the Rio de la Plata from our room

The Ecological Preserve