Private Visits to Argentina's La Casa Rosada

You may recall the movie in which Madonna played the role of Evita, there is one scene where Evita addresses a large plaza filled with people from a second floor balcony. Well, the building she is in is La Casa Rosada.

This is the building I went to visit several times for meetings or to meet my friends to go for a drink or to dinner.

During one visit, I was given a tour of the President's official office area (the President was out of the country on that day). This tour included viewing the Presidential Chapel in which is ensconced, under a thick Plexiglas cover, a skullcap of Pope John Paul's which was given to Argentina as a gift. I rode in the Presidential elevator, interior of which was finished in luxurious wood and plush fabric on the benches. (Imagine, benches in an elevator that goes up two floors!)

While my friend was looking the other way, I stepped in a hallway leading to the President's office and instantly two unsmiling security officials in suits and dark glasses instantly appeared from the shadows. Of course, I had already been screened at security and my bag x-rayed but here I was apparently alone and wandering the hallways unchaperoned. My friend had to talk fast to convince these guys I wasn't a threat.

I also got a tour of the basements of the building where there are many old tunnels to various surrounding buildings, and to the port which is very close. There were also many disused chambers each with its own fascinating history!

So Madonna isn't the only foreigner to have had intimate access to Argentina's La Casa Rosada!