The “Defensa” was closed to vehicles, and salesmen displayed their wares on the pavement.

On Sunday, July 29, we visited the feria artesanale along the Defensa and at the Plaza Dorrego in San Telmo, and then walked to the tourist district known as La Boca.  There were musicians, tango-dancers, and even men selling noise-makers that made the sound of a chicken, cluck-cluck-cluck.  Bridget and I purchased a bread-bowl made of leather, which seemed characteristically Argentinian.

The Mercado San Telmo sold everything from fresh vegetables to Rhodochrosite jewelry.

Under the roof of the Mercado San Telmo a salesman introduced us to the Argentinian gem, rhodochrosite, which he sold in necklaces, earrings, and rings.  We walked past Nuestra Señora de Belén, past a homeless man sleeping with his dogs, and past the monumental statue, “Ode to Work,” before finding a space in the crowded restaurant known as “Desnivel,” where we had a good lunch.  We had a walk ahead of us.

“La Boca” is the “mouth” of the River Riachuelo, and today a famous tourist district.

Passing the Parque Lezama and the stadium “La Bombonera,” we arrived at La Boca, with its souvenir shops.  We split up, and I couldn’t find Bridget when we were supposed to meet.  It turned out that she was bargaining for a rhodochrosite ring!  When we finally met, we had a drink at the Fundación Proa.  That’s why I was so relaxed during the madcap taxi back to our apartment.  We turned in early, because we had tickets for the ferry to Uruguay at 8:00 AM.