Southern Summer, Argentina, Chile and Y Wladfa Gymreig 10th Jan

Today we decided to have a little holiday from our holiday. They can be such hard work if you know what I mean. We set the modest target of getting to the San Telmo Sunday flea market. We also want to try to use the bus system which will be quite a challenge. You might notice an improvement in the quality of the photos because I have managed to get my decent camera to wifi shots to the tablet.
The market is quite a crowd puller and is located in a fairly run down area near Bocas. The original market started in 1971 with over 250 antique stalls but as well as the indoor market, the fiesta stretches down 9 blocks and is alive with street entertainment of every description. The main downer was that it rained quite hard so that limited the outdoor activities and our desire to see them. The next few shots focus on the market.

We also enjoyed an excellent late lunch inside before trying to
bus it to Retiro where the main bus and railway stations that serve the rest of the country are located.
Sadly the railway system was partly privatised and has suffered from lack of investment ever since. It is a shadow of its former self as you can see from the pictures of the main station.

We had hoped to do most of our travelling round the country by rail but the road lobby prevailed here so it will be coach travel you will be hearing about.
From the station we have a walk to the Subte for home. We pass this excellent, if somewhat ostentatious monument to General San Martin, the Liberator.

 Here is his story for those who can read

And here it is for those who can't. 

Talking of reading, the Subte system's lines are colour coded as they often are to assist navigation. However this system is also colour theme decorated to help the blind of course.

Do you see what I mean?