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June/July 2007
 
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Recoleta in Buenos AiresBuenos Aires is an enormous city, with about 12million people during the night and about 16million people during the day. The town stretches over a large area, and is like other cities divided in to smaller areas. More or less new established areas. One of these is Recoleta, which is not among the oldest, but has both charm and style.
 As many other large cities it is difficult to point to a centre of Buenos Aires. The city has several centres. But if we can say that the areas Retiro and San Nicolas, in the area around the 9.Juli avenue are the centre, then Recoleta is a few minutes drive east. The same ride west takes you to the older and more famous San Telmo. If you are taking a taxi to Recoleta it is smart to state Alvear Palace Hotel as the end station, the taxi driver probably doesn’t speak English, and the hotel is the best and most traditional in the city. Easy to find and easy to say. Then you find yourself in the centre of Recoleta and in one of the most famous streets in Buenos Aires, Av. Alevar, named after the major Torcuato de Alever. A deserted area They say that Recoleta is characterized by life and death – the life in the streets and at the cafés and death at the old and spectacular cemetery. Recoleta was ones located right outside Bunos Aires, with rich nature, open fields and lushes trees. Recoleta was a destination for religious travellers in the 18 hundreds. New life in Recoleta This area was primarily known for its quiet streets. And people who visited often didn’t feel as they belonged. In the early 50’s a group of car enthusiasts started gathering at a café on an anonymous corner in Recoleta. The café is now called La Biela. In short time the place was the place to be seen in Buenos Aires. people rediscovered the overlooked area, and got a new appreciation for the church and all its art and history. All of this happened only a few years ago, and the quiet area was not so quiet anymore. La Biela soon got company, and to day there are lots of restaurants and cafés with a view of the church and the park outside.  Go in to the side streets Av. Callao is reckoned to be one of the three main streets, Alevear, Quintana and Callao, and is probably the one with the most shops; Dior, Yve St. Laurent, Gucci, Bang & Olufsen, etc. but not before going of the main streets you get the feeling of the glory of the 50s and 60s. The old houses lies side by side with more modern, but just as exclusive ones. Even if everything is very exclusive, Recoleta is a lot cheaper than Norway. The economy in Argentina collapsed about six years ago, and even if the country is starting to get control again, it is still amazingly inexpencive to go shopping in Buenos Aires. Good to know Great chose to fly with Lufthanse via Frankfurt to Buenos Aires. Price from 8.270Nok, and daily departures from Gardermoen at 18.40. Buenos Aires is 5 hours behind Norwegian time in the summer and 4 hours in the winter. Faena Hotel + Universe is a stunning designer hotel in the Puerto Madero district, designed by Philippe Starck. One of the most exclusive hotels in Buenos Aires with Price from about 2000Nok per night. Hotel Claridge (5stars) is a cheaper, but good option. It is central just around the corner from the shopping street Florida, with walking distance from the old city part San Telmo. The price for a double room is about 800Nok. reservations@claridge.com.ar you only need a valid passport, and all major credit cards are accepted. The currency is pesos. |
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