Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
1979 (on the centenary of the arrival of Argentina's first Japanese immigrants), Jardín Ja-
ponés is one of the capital's best-kept gardens - and makes a wonderfully peaceful rest
stop. Inside there's a Japanese
restaurant
along with lovely ponds filled with koi and
spanned by pretty bridges. Japanese culture can be experienced through occasional ex-
hibitions and workshops on ikebana, haiku, origami,
taiko
(Japanese drumming) and oth-
er events.
Museo Evita
MUSEUM
( 4807-0306;
www.museoevita.org
; Lafinur 2988; admission AR$20; 11am-7pm Tue-Sun)
Everybody who's anybody in Argentina has their own museum, and Eva Perón
(1919-52) is no exception. Museo Evita immortalizes the Argentine heroine with plenty
of videos, historical photos, books, old posters and newspaper headlines. However, the
prize memorabilia has to be her wardrobe: dresses, shoes, handbags, hats and blouses lie
proudly behind glass, forever pressed and pristine. Even Evita's old wallets and perfumes
are on display. Our favorite is a picture of her kicking a
fútbol
- in heels.
Attached to the museum is a pleasant restaurant with a wonderfully leafy patio.
Museo de Arte Popular
José Hernández
MUSEUM
( 4803-2384;
www.museohernandez.buenosaires.gob
.
ar; Av del Libertador 2373; admission
AR$5, free Sun; 1-6:30pm Wed-Fri, 10am-7pm Sat & Sun)
This museum was being remod-
elled at research time, but the emphasis here is on both traditional and contemporary arts
and crafts, mostly from Argentina. Expect to see intricate gaucho-related silverwork like
knives and
mate
sets, Mapuche textiles like ponchos, and folk crafts from the country's
northern regions. The back halls hold changing exhibits.
Museo Xul Solar
MUSEUM
( 4824-3302;
www.xulsolar.org.ar
; Laprida 1212; admission AR$20; noon-8pm Tue-Fri, to 7pm
Sat, closed Feb)
Xul Solar was a painter, inventor, poet and friend of Jorge Luis Borges.
This museum (located in his old mansion) showcases over 80 of his unique and colorful
yet subdued paintings. Solar's Klee-esque style includes fantastically themed, almost car-
toonish figures placed in surreal cubist landscapes. It's great stuff, and bizarre enough to
put him in a class of his own. Tours in Spanish are available Tuesday and Thursday at
4pm and Saturday at 3:30pm.
