Tuesday 18/9/18 - hopefully the right date now!!

Today we visited some very pretty Japanese Gardens. It consists of a lake surrounded by Japanese flora, like azalea and bonsai trees. The lake is home to some huge carp fish which you can feed. The central lake is crossed by the Divine Bridge, traditionally representing entry into Heaven The park is also has Japanese Peace Bell and a large ishidoro (Japanese stone lanterns central to their Buddhist traditions), as well as numerous other granite sculptures. A Japanese Buddhist Temple is maintained on the grounds and the Institute also hosts regular cultural activities for the general public. There is Japanese restaurant for lunch if you desire - we didn't! It was a tranquil place to stroll around in and the azaleas were the best.

One might ask the reason for a Japanese garden in the middle of Buenos Aires? The Garden was created in 1967, built by the Japanese Embassy upon the visit of the then heirs to the crown Akihito and Michiko. Afterwards, the embassy donated the garden to the City of Buenos Aires to show the gratitude of the Japanese community living in Argentina.

After a lunch at a small street side café we visited the Eva Peron Museum. The museum is housed in one of the first shelters she opened for homeless mothers & children.

Eva Perón, the wife of Argentine president Juan Perón, was the first lady of Argentina from 1946 until her death in 1952. As the first lady, fondly called "Evita" by many, played a major role in her husband's administration. She is widely remembered for her efforts to help the poor and her role in getting women the vote. Her life was cut short when she died of uterine cancer at the age of 33. After her death her husband went into exile in Spain and her body went missing for 20ys, after being found in Italy is was returned to Argentina.

Eva grew up fairly poor and wanted to become an actress since an early age. At 16, she left school moving to Buenos Aires to pursue her dream of stardom. She took a job at a radio station until she met Juan at a charity concert. They were married on October 21, 1945. Eva was an active campaigner in Juan's Presidential campaign in 1946, and when he was elected she continued to play an active government role. By the time of her death, she was one of the most powerful women in the world. She is known for her work in many charitable and feminist causes, and became an icon to many people in Argentina. Evita was President of the Peronist Women's Party, a large powerful political party made up of women who supported the Perons' party. She ran the Ministry of Labor and Ministry of Health. She helped legalize divorce in Argentina, and played a pivotal role in enacting women's suffrage in Argentina. The Maria Eva Duarte de Perón Welfare Foundation gave a lot of funds, goods and medicine to the poor. A truly amazing person.

"One cannot accomplish anything without fanaticism." Evita.