A visit to La Casa Rosada, the presidential palace in Buenos Aires, leaves you wondering what might have been with this intoxicating country. The day we visited we passed a mini-shanty town in the square outside the palace. It’s occupied by veterans of the Malvinas/Falklands war, campaigning for fair treatment from the government. We cross the square and wander through La Casa Rosada with throngs of tourists. The rooms are stunning, with high ceilings, ornate detailing and gold trim. It’s a sad contrast with the men shivering outside. And it shows how Argentina has promised so much but delivered much less to its people.
One of the main stops on a tour through the palace takes visitors right into the room where presidents have run the country. In this way La Casa Rosada is unusually open (only at weekends of course) because you can walk right into the room and see the desk and chair where Cristina Kirchner (the current president) sits to do her work. And like other rooms in the building, the president’s room is beautifully decorated, complete with chandeliers and wood panelling. You might wonder why the people have sat in this room haven’t been of such a standard.
Most people who visit Buenos Aires will be told how this city is the capital of a country that was seen as one of the great hopes of the so-called New World. A hundred years ago investors were looking to Argentina as a place for their money, as much as Australia or Canada. Look what happened. A hundred years of shabby government have left Argentina floundering. Yes the country has been flattened by economic crises and scarred by a military coup. But it could have been so much more. You only have to take a walk around La Casa Rosada to see the promise of Argentina. Or more correctly, the failed promise of Argentina.
What do you think has made Argentina how it is today?
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You’ve made a really good point. I also don’t understand what has happened to B.A., and Argentina in general. At one point in history, it was one of the richest countries, but in the recent past it’s succumbed to corruption and hasn’t taken care of itself and its people. It’s especially noticeable in B.A. When I was there, I heard a lot of Argentines talk about how great their city is, but what I saw was a city that had once been great. There were a lot of garbage, broken sidewalks, damaged buildings in need of repair, and homeless. The worst part was seeing the poor people going through trash to find recyclable items, which they could then sell to make a living. It’s amazing how over in Chile the prospects are so much better.