Buenos Aires Day 3 & 4: Plaza de Mayo

Day 3 and 4 in Buenos Aires were sightseeing heavy. I loved all the statues and sculptures around town, and this large white one was my favorite. It was enormous and beautiful and a cool landmark to see everyday.

We visited the Ecoparque. which is a free zoo in the middle of town. It was incredibly crowded the day we went, because all of Buenos Aires was on their winter break at the same time. We kind of breezed through the zoo, because it wasn't super well kept, and the main reason we were there was to do a simulated "Flight of the Condor," which was kind of like a ride at Universal Studios, where you sit in a chair that moves around in front of a wrap around screen that makes you feel like you're flying. The whole concept was to provide awareness and help with conservation efforts of the condor, which I didn't mind spending money on. The Ecoparque did have an adorable Giant Otter play structure, but it was so crowded we didn't spend alot of time there. 

The following day was major sightseeing. We first stopped at the Centro Cultural Plaza, which was where the Kirchner building was on the bus map. The building itself was originally the Secretaria de Comunicaciones, and it is stunning. This was one of my favorite parts of Buenos Aires, walking around and looking at these super old, ornate government buildings. Santiago has a few buildings like this, but many were destroyed in the numerous earthquakes throughout its history, while Buenos Aires has never had to deal with that. So as long as the buildings are properly maintained, anything built will remain standing. So it definitely beats Santiago in the beautiful old buildings department.

The one thing the city was missing was public restrooms. I didn't see any in any public park we went to. So we often found ourselves taking pit stops in local cafes, grabbing a quick coffee and bathroom break before carrying on. This particular cafe looked like it was a million years old; notice the old school bar stools. It was filled only with grumpy old men and had the vibe to match. 

Next stop was Plaza de Mayo, which is the main government square. Most cities in South America have what they call the Plaza de Armas (weapons), which was the central plaza the town was centered around. In this case, it's called the Plaza de Mayo (May, like the month), to commemorate the May Revolution of 1810, which was the beginning of Argentina's breakaway from Spain. The first building on the Plaza is the Casa Rosada, the original presidential palace, the rosada coming from the pink color of the stone used in its construction. It would be the equivalent of our White House. The balcony to the left there is also where Evita gave many of her crowd stirring speeches. Who is Evita you might ask? Another infamous person from South American history and politics that many of us North Americans haven't bothered to care about. A musical theatre lover such as myself maybe has heard of her from the musical that bears her name and the famous song "Don't Cry for Me Argentina."  There was also a movie about her played by Madonna from 1996. Spoiler alert, Evita died at age 33 from cancer. Imagine what kind of career she could have had if she had lived? Tempted enough to do some research now? 

At the northwest corner of the Plaza, a major street runs diagonally away from the Plaza towards the Plaza de la Republica, which is where the Obelisco stands, the large which pillar you can see at the focal point of the photo below. It was cool to see how the urban planning resulted in such an impressive cityscape. The Obelisco was built in 1936, celebrating the 400 year anniversary of the city's founding in 1536 by Pedro de Mendoza. To put this into context, we all know Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492, but the Mayflower didn't land in Massachusetts until 1620, at which point the city of Buenos Aires had already been founded for over 80 years. Putting South American history alongside North American history again reminds me that the two have been inextricably linked throughout time. Indigenous peoples aside (how sad to say), as a kid I always assumed that because the United States had a more stable democracy and developed economy, it thereby had a longer history, essentially more time to get our shit together. but that is simply not the case. South American history runs right alongside ours, we just often times don't care enough about it to notice it. There are numerous factors as to why the US has experienced more stability than the majority of South America, and I threw my 15 sec Gemini answer at the bottom of the blog if you want to read more about the reasons why. This is literally as surface level as you could possibly be, so I realize this discussion goes much, much deeper, and I also realize I am not at all qualified to lead it. But I like asking questions and living down here has certainly opened my eyes to an entire continent's history that, before this, I didn't care much about. But I guess that's the point.

The building on the right is the Metropolitan Cathedral. It actually looks more like a courthouse than a church from the outside, but the inside blew me away. 

Inside the Cathedral is the Mausoleum of General José de San Martin, who was THE guy in liberating Argentina, Chile, and Peru from Spanish rule in the early 1800s. His tomb is guarded by the Grenadiers, which can trace their history back to San Martin's original regiment.

Next to the Mausoleum was this archaic flag, which looks like one of the original inspirations of the current Argentinian flag, with the sun and blue and white stripes. 

 

After Plaza de Mayo, we made our way over to Cafe Tortoni, which is allegedly the oldest cafe in Buenos Aires. It opened in 1858 and was named after a famous cafe in Paris. There was a small side room with a stage for viewing performances and lots of dark wood and marble. The boys loved their chocolate caliente con churros, as did I. I can just see the intellectuals and artists gathering at this cafe to discuss everything under the sun. My kind of place. I was expecting a kind of Cafe du Monte experience where it's so busy its overwhelming, but we were able to walk right in and get a table. Granted it was a Wednesday, but it was still winter break for the entire school system, and we didn't have a problem. 

We ended the day by making our way to China Town for some of the best noodles we've had in a long time. That was another lovely surprise about Buenos Aires. It's known for amazing Argentinian food, with all the meat and cheese you can eat. But every other type of cuisine we tried was also equally amazing. We had amazing Chinese and amazing Middle Eastern food (we ate our body weight in shawarma, hummus, and falafel the night before). So far in Santiago, we've been underwhelmed at the ethnic food options, but it's possible we just haven't found the best places yet. In Santiago we tend to eat mostly at home. It is also known that Argentina has had way more immigration, while Chile was very homogenous for a long time and only within the last 30 years has had a major jump in immigration. 

Gemini Question: Why is USA more stable politically and economically compared to the countries in South America?

The USA generally exhibits greater political and economic stability compared to many South American countries due to a combination of historical development, institutional strength, economic diversification, and differing policy approaches.

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Political Stability

The United States benefits from a long-established democratic tradition with robust institutions and a strong rule of law.

• Institutional Strength and Checks and Balances: The US Constitution, with its system of checks and balances (executive, legislative, and judicial branches), has historically provided a resilient framework against the concentration of power and arbitrary rule.¹ This system, developed over centuries, fosters a culture of respecting legal processes and electoral outcomes.

• Political Consensus and Moderation: While polarization exists, the US political system has historically been characterized by a broader, albeit sometimes challenged, consensus on democratic norms and the peaceful transfer of power. There's generally a strong public belief in the legitimacy of elections.

• Absence of Military Intervention: Unlike many South American nations, the US has not experienced widespread military coups or frequent forceful changes of government. This allows for more consistent policy development and less disruption to governance.

• Strong Civil Society: A vibrant civil society, including a free press and independent advocacy groups, acts as an additional check on power and promotes accountability.

In contrast, many South American countries have historically faced:

• Fragile Democratic Institutions: A history marked by frequent coups, military dictatorships, and populist leaders who often undermine democratic institutions. Many countries struggled to establish stable democratic systems after gaining independence.

• Weak Rule of Law and Corruption: Corruption and a less consistently applied rule of law can erode public trust in government and institutions, leading to dissatisfaction and unrest.

• Political Fragmentation and Polarization: Political landscapes are often highly fragmented, with numerous parties and strong ideological divides, making it difficult to form stable governing coalitions and implement long-term policies.² This can lead to frequent government collapses and leadership changes.

• Personalist Leadership: The prevalence of personalist leaders who seek to circumvent checks and balances and consolidate power, sometimes at the expense of democratic norms, contributes to instability.³

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Economic Stability

The economic stability of the USA is rooted in its large, diversified economy, strong financial systems, and generally consistent policy frameworks.

• Diversified Economy: The US economy is highly diversified, with strong sectors in technology, manufacturing, services, agriculture, and finance. This diversification makes it less susceptible to the volatility of single commodity prices, which often impacts commodity-dependent South American economies.

• Stable Monetary and Fiscal Policy: The Federal Reserve, as an independent central bank, pursues monetary policies aimed at price stability and full employment. The US also generally maintains more predictable fiscal policies, although debates on debt and spending are ongoing. This provides a more stable environment for investment and economic growth.

• Strong Financial Markets: The US possesses deep, liquid, and well-regulated financial markets, making it a global hub for investment and capital.⁴ This allows for easier access to funding and greater resilience to economic shocks.

• Innovation and Entrepreneurship: The US fosters a strong culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, leading to continuous economic growth and adaptation.

Conversely, South American economies often grapple with:

• Commodity Dependence: Many South American countries are heavily reliant on exporting a few primary commodities (e.g., oil, minerals, agricultural products).⁵ Fluctuations in global commodity prices can lead to significant economic volatility, including boom-bust cycles and currency crises.

• Macroeconomic Instability: Historically, many South American nations have experienced high inflation, recurrent debt crises, and currency devaluations. This is often linked to inconsistent macroeconomic policies, political interference in central banks, and a lack of fiscal discipline.

• Income Inequality: While efforts have been made, many South American countries still face high levels of income inequality, which can lead to social unrest and political instability, further impacting economic performance.

• Lower Productivity and Competitiveness: Challenges in education quality, technology transfer, and overall competitiveness can hinder long-term sustainable growth and make it difficult to escape the "middle-income trap."

• External Shocks: South American economies are often more vulnerable to external economic shocks, such as changes in global interest rates, US economic performance, or Chinese demand, due to their integration into global markets and reliance on foreign investment and trade.

In summary, while both regions face their own challenges, the USA's deeper historical roots in democratic governance, more robust institutional frameworks, and a highly diversified and stable economic structure contribute to its greater overall political and economic stability compared to many countries in South America.