Palacio Bosch

Eve and I were allowed to visit the ambassador's residence, Palacio Bosch, which is just two blocks away, on Libertador, facing the park. The preservation architect (yes, there is a permanent architect on staff, with her own crew, to keep the landmark building looking perfect) showed us around one of the most glorious of embassy buildings around the world. Built as a private home, it became the ambassador's residence in 1929. The embassy, a frightening bunker of a building, is just a block away. The building is spectacular, vast, overwhelming (the new ambassador is single and her private quarters are on the third floor -- some ten or 20,000 square feet worth). We heard a lot about the upkeep, including the elaborate process for keeping the chandeliers clean and sparkling. And we admired the Carlos Thays-designed garden, the pool, the parilla, and, most of all, the clay tennis court which seems to go unused. I made a pitch for allowed Fulbright scholars access to the pool and court....I think they are taking it up with the state department!