Although my trip to South America was a good one as far as business goes, it wasn’t that outstanding for photography. I had a full day in Sao Paulo to do a bit of sightseeing, but my sightseeing in Buenos Aires was sunk by cancelled and delayed flights. This meant that I had about an hour to see something and if there was one thing I wanted to see, it was Eva Peron’s grave. So 07:30 the morning after breakfast I headed the 5 blocks down the street from the hotel to see her grave… in the pouring rain. This restricted the amount of pics I could take successfully. And what a bummer that was. I could spend a whole day in the Cementerio de la Recoleta. It is awesome! The fact that there are no conventional graves and only mausoleums makes it a extraordinary photographic subject.
Most of the mausoleums are elaborate marble creations decorated with statues and built in different architectural styles. Its like a city of the dead in there with sections like city blocks, main walkways lined with trees and side alleys filled with mausoleums. It is awesome, or have I said that? I could truely spend the whole day in it with my camera.
The Cemetery includes graves of some of the most influential and important people of Argentina, including several presidents, scientists, and wealthy characters. Internationally, Eva Peron is the best known person buried in this cemetery. Just for those who don’t know who she was:María Eva Duarte de Perón (7 May 1919 – 26 July 1952) was the second wife of President Juan Domingo Peron (1895 – 1974) and served as theFirst Lady of Argintina from 1946 until her death in 1952. Born out of wedlock in rural Argentina she is often referred to as simply Eva Peron. In the eyes of many Argentinians of the time she was somebody like the late Princess Diana. Her story was made more famous internationally through the 1996 movie Evita staring Madonna.
The mausoleum in which Eva Peron last resting place is situated with the many fresh flowers that people still come and put on the door.
I love your door photos…there must be something in the air..http://thatgirlsphotos.blogspot.com/2008/09/no-way-out.html
Its very disappointing when you look forward to a photo opportunity that much and then all does not go as planned… You took some great shots though – their final resting places are quite opulent!
WOW! What a place! Thanks for showing!
I am revisiting your post and now am thinking of a trip to Paris to visit Pere La Chaise (sorry, spelled incorrectly). we saw Jim Morrison’s grave as well as Chopin, I think. it was years ago. I may have to dig up some photos of that trip…it was about 15 years ago!
What grand memorials, I agree with Karin its the pits when you set your heart on getting a memory card full of shots and it just doesnt work out, but, these are lovely shots, very elegant, you have done a great job.
What an amazing post. I have always been fascinated with places like that.
what a fascinating place! And also please note that all the metal plaques are still intact and haven’t been stolen to sell to scrap dealers, so they are a rare sight for us South Africans!