After our visit to Plaza de Mayo, it was time for a refreshment. We drove a very short distance to Cafe Tortoni.

Cafe Tortoni was opened in 1858 and was named Tortoni after the Parisian café of the same name where the elite of the Parissiense culture gathered in the 19th century. This cafe in Buenos Aires has served as a meeting location for many famous Argentinian and international artists, authors, Tango dancers, etc. including one of my favorite authors, Luigi Pirandello (theater of the absurd) (“Six Characters In Search Of An Author”).

We were served croissants, tea sandwiches, and a demitasse of coffee. A nice break from the touring. The cafe was filled with busts and artwork of the important people of the time. I was especially intrigued by one painting of a famed Tango dancer of the period.

The cafe also gives daily Tango lessons and Tango shows during the week.

Next up on our tour was a visit to an area call “La Boca”.

La Boca is a popular destination for tourists visiting Buenos Aires, with its colourful houses and pedestrian street, the Caminito, where tango artists perform and tango-related memorabilia is sold.

The real show here is the loudly painted buildings and what looks to be papier-mâché figures watching from the balconies. There is a lot of art on the walls too. With all its Tango bars and restaurants it would be a great hangout at night! Paul used La Boca as the subject of his next watercolor project.

After a morning of touring, it was time to go back to the ship for a rest before tonight’s dinner and entertainment excursion.