Day 92: Day trip to Lujan to speak with the man upstairs about petting a tiger
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
This past Monday, Elizabeth and I made took a 2 hour bus ride to Luján, a small town north of Buenos Aires. We heard about this city from our Spanish tutor who had recommended it as a close place where Argentinians visit for a day trip.
By far, the largest draw of this town is the huge Catholic Basilica. At over 32 stories tall, it towers over everything in a town with few buildings are more then two floors tall. It was started and completed between 1889 through 1937 in honor of the tiny 38cm Virgin Mary that it houses. According to the story, in 1630 this Virgin Mary was being transported through Luján when its ox cart became stuck in the mud. Unable to proceed until the small statue was removed. The owner took this as a sign that the statue wanted to remain and built a chapel on the site. As this is one of Argentinians largest catholic relics, 6 million visit this church each year, including Pope John Paul II back in the 80's. In more recent times, thousands of the faithful make the 37 mile (18 hour) walk from Buenos Aires to Luján every October.
The second reason this town is well known to Argentinians is because of Zoo Luján. Which according to this website is The Worlds Most Dangerous and Controversial Zoo (in addition to some very interesting pictures). Controversial because this is a "petting zoo" which allows visitors of all ages to enter the cages of lions, tigers and bears (both babies and mature animals). "Lions and Tigers and Bears, oh my!" is right. It was definitely strange for a zoo keepers to invite you inside to play with the tigers. We did take up the offer to pet and feed some baby lions but we skipped all the bigger animals. I'd promised Elizabeth's mom I would keep Elizabeth safe (which I understood to mean "don't let my baby girl get mauled by a wild animal"). Also I'm sure I have a friend or two that would disown me (or at least de-friend me) for contributing to this zoo. So go ahead, feel free to judge.
To see more pictures
By far, the largest draw of this town is the huge Catholic Basilica. At over 32 stories tall, it towers over everything in a town with few buildings are more then two floors tall. It was started and completed between 1889 through 1937 in honor of the tiny 38cm Virgin Mary that it houses. According to the story, in 1630 this Virgin Mary was being transported through Luján when its ox cart became stuck in the mud. Unable to proceed until the small statue was removed. The owner took this as a sign that the statue wanted to remain and built a chapel on the site. As this is one of Argentinians largest catholic relics, 6 million visit this church each year, including Pope John Paul II back in the 80's. In more recent times, thousands of the faithful make the 37 mile (18 hour) walk from Buenos Aires to Luján every October.
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| The Virgin de Lujan is the right in the glass box |
The second reason this town is well known to Argentinians is because of Zoo Luján. Which according to this website is The Worlds Most Dangerous and Controversial Zoo (in addition to some very interesting pictures). Controversial because this is a "petting zoo" which allows visitors of all ages to enter the cages of lions, tigers and bears (both babies and mature animals). "Lions and Tigers and Bears, oh my!" is right. It was definitely strange for a zoo keepers to invite you inside to play with the tigers. We did take up the offer to pet and feed some baby lions but we skipped all the bigger animals. I'd promised Elizabeth's mom I would keep Elizabeth safe (which I understood to mean "don't let my baby girl get mauled by a wild animal"). Also I'm sure I have a friend or two that would disown me (or at least de-friend me) for contributing to this zoo. So go ahead, feel free to judge.
To see more pictures
Tags:
Argentina,
Buenos Aires,
things to do in BA
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