Page 66 - WDT INTERACTIVE

Opened in 1908, the theater has featured some of The movers and shakers liked their new digs and
the most important conductors, singers, and dancers soon transformed the modest isolated residential
of the 20th century, including Igor Stravinsky, Daniel barrio into a showplace for grand stately homes that
Barenboim, Maria Callas, Luciano Pavarotti, Plácido we saw on our tour. Along with the palatial mansions
Domingo, and Rudolf Nureyev. Pavarotti’s only com- and magnificent churches that line the streets,
plaint was that the acoustics were too good, making it we found on opulent Avenida Alvear high-end
possible for audiences to hear even minor flaws in his shopping, chic cafes, and trendy restaurants, many
performance. with outdoor seating. But we didn’t have to spend
Even if you’re not an Opera fan, a tour in the opera a fortune to grab a quick bite, The area has many
house is worthwhile. Backstage tours are offered daily little fast food joints that sold everything from the
with fascinating tidbits on the building’s design, what empanadas to pizza. Our tour group had a pit stop at
life is like backstage and why one Argentine president a busy empanada emporium where we sample the
once booked every seat in the house. Unfortunately, savory meat-filled pastries.
there were no tours the entire time we were in town Every couple of blocks we would stop and
because it was used as a venue for the G20 summit. gather for a mini-seminar under the shade trees
On the steps of the opera house, our guide gave of Recoleta’s many parks and green spaces. One
us an overview of the neighborhood of Recoleta. It of them, Plaza Francia is a popular destination for
became the place to be for the rich during the latter the Saturday and Sunday artisan market, Feria de
part of the 19th century when an outbreak of yellow Artesanos de Plaza Francia or the Hippy Fair, as it’s
fever in 1871 in the city’s southern section forced commonly known. In one smallish park, we found
residents to find a safer place to live. Wealthy residents the Falkland Islands War Memorial with a list of the
headed to higher terrain where the virus was far less over 600 soldiers and sailors killed in that political
prevalent because there were far fewer insects. and needless invasion meant to prop up Argentina’s
military government.

66 WDT MAGAZINE WINTER 2018