Category Archives: Daily Journal

The day I spent at Reserva Ecológica Costanera Sur (South Waterfront Ecological Reserve) was my last day in Buenos Aires. Shortly after returning to my hotel, I caught a cab to the airport. The cab driver tried to talk to me, but I know only a handful of words in Spanish (although I can speak some Portuguese). About a third of the way to the airport, I had a horrible realization. I had left my passport in the hotel safe! I excitedly told the cab driver (speaking in Portuspanglish) that I had to go back to the hotel and get my passport and, surprisingly, he understood me! Fortunately, I was able to get back to the hotel, retrieve my passport, and reach the airport in plenty of time to catch my flight home. For this wrap-up of my trip, I have a few miscellaneous photos to share. The first photo is of Puente de la Mujer (Women’s Bridge) so-called because several of the streets in the Puerto Madiero neighborhood where the bridge is located are named for women. To the left of the bridge is the Argentine naval vessel ARA Presidente Sarmiento, built in 1897 and named for the seventh president of Argentina. The second photo is of Museo de Cabildo in the Microcentro of Buenos Aires. Genealogists would love to visit Museo de Cabildo (the old Town Hall) because it contains maps that date from the early 1700s. The existing building is only a remnant of the original. Twice in history, portions of the Cabildo were removed to make way for modern construction. The third photo shows Caesalpinia gillesii (Yellow Bird of Paradise), one more plant in Reserva Ecológica Costanera Sur. The last photo was one of my last glimpses of Reserva Ecológica Costanera Sur, and shows a meadow of Typha sp. (Cattails). With that, I say goodbye to Buenos Aires with sweet memories of her warm, sunny days and cool, starry nights. Continue reading →

Reserva Ecológica Costanera Sur (South Waterfront Ecological Reserve) in Buenos Aires includes a huge diversity of plant life, most of which is native to the area. Parkinsonia aculeata (Mexican Palo Verde) is a glorious sight in flower. Ailanthus altissima (Tree of Heaven) is an introduced species, so what is it doing here in Reserva Ecológica Costanera Sur? It is notable for its large clusters of red colored fruits which resemble maple seeds. I also took photos of two other flowering trees, the identification of which eludes me. The first appears to be a species of Acacia with alternate twice-pinnately-compound leaves, thorns, and catkins of white flowers. Acacia greggii, perhaps? The second had driven me nuts. All I can say was that I was impressed with this small tree with such large, distinctive, deeply-lobed leaves. This tree also bore cream-colored flowers, and globose fruits. Continue reading →

On the border of Argentina and Uruguay where the Uruguay River and the Paraní¡ River meet is found the Rí­o de la Plata (River of Silver or, alternatively, River Plate). The Rí­o de la Plata is more an estuary than a river, extending 180 miles to the ocean, varying from 1.2 miles wide in the interior to 140 miles wide at its mouth. Because the river carries huge amounts of sediments from the interior of South America, the Rí­o de la Plata is muddy and brown. The capitals of both Argentina (Buenos Aires) and Uruguay (Montevideo) lie on the shores of the river, and Reserva Ecológica Costanera Sur (South Waterfront Ecological Reserve) in Buenos Aires borders on the Rí­o de la Plata. From Reserva Ecológica Costanera Sur, the Buquebus can be seen carrying passengers between Argentina and Uruguay and container ships such as the MSC Fiammetta (MSC = Mediterranean Shipping Company) can be seen carrying goods to Buenos Aires and other cities along the river. Continue reading →

Nearly everywhere on the planet one can find non-native and invasive plants. One of the remarkable aspects of Reserva Ecológica Costanera Sur (South Waterfront Ecological Reserve) in Buenos Aires, Argentina is that the plants and animals in the Reserve are mostly native species that established themselves with no help from man. Nonetheless, one can find some species that are clearly not native, and others that are native to Argentina that reported to be invasive when established in other locations. Cirsium vulgare (Bull Thistle or Spear Thistle) is a species that is not native to Argentina that is considered invasive there and in other locations around the globe. Ricinis communis (Castor Bean) is commercially grown in Argentina for castor oil but, when it escapes its cultivated area, it can become a noxious weed. Ipomoea purpurea (Common Morning Glory) and Ipomoea cairica (Coast Morning Glory) are both native to Argentina, but are sometimes considered invasive elsewhere. Finally, the beautiful Lantana camara (Shrub Verbena) is native to Argentina but invasive in India, Australia, Africa, and some places in the United States such as Florida and Hawaii. Continue reading →