A few more pictures to share...

just a few shots from Palermo, La Boca and from the roof top of my house

First official holiday in Buenos Aires...

So apparently it's a holiday here in BsAs, banks, schools, most businesses, etc.are closed- it's official. Por que? Well, if you, like me, are not Catholic you probably wouldn't know it's the Catholic Church's observance of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. And since I did not know all of that- I looked it up of course. So this holiday celebrates the Immaculate Conception of Mary and therefore the beginning of her divine grace bestowed from God and free from sin existence. So there you go, a little religion theory (notice I say theory, not history), tossed in this blog for a bit of enlightenment of sorts.

So what does holiday mean in modern day? To be honest, I really don't know, so far it seems that families get together and eat- much like most holidays celebrated across the globe. For me? It means I get the day off of work and sit around sweltering the heat. No medialunas today- it's too hot and the bakery is closed (ya' I know the real reason lies in the latter.) I would have loved to be working on my tan on the beach but, which this might come as an alarming surprise as it did me, there is no beach in Buenos Aires. WHAT? You ask? Sad, but true, no beach, the closest "proper" beach with sand and surf lies a few hours out of the city. Here is BsAs the "beach" consists of a coast line in the Ecological Reserve composed of construction remains, no sand, not even real salt water as the Rio de la Plata runs into the ocean here. Lame, eh?

Not that I'm complaining... I am in Argentina, one of the most beautful countries in the world... its just hot and humid today...... okay I am complaining, I'll shut up now.

Picture captions-

The first 3 are from a barrio here called "La Boca", its the home of the Boca Juniors Futbol club as well as brightly painted buildings and the place where Tango started.

The rest are from the barrio I live in called Abasto, which I've already spoke about.

Life in BsAs

Hey everyone,

I suppose it's about damn time I serve up an update of my where with alls and actions. I have been in Buenos Aires over a month now sustaining on medialunas (yummy mini crossiants), dulce de leche, and mate, which all of these things will be very hard habits to kick once I leave! I think most know what dulce de leche is, however mate is a strong very caffieinated tea drink you drink with a silver, filtered straw. Very delicioso abeit adicting- think quadruple espresso with a lively light bodied cup of joe with lots of sugar, and maybe a redbull thrown on top!

I started working with a NGO PH15, an organization that teaches photography to children and teenagers from Ciudad Oculta, a shantytown in BsAs. (Ciudad Oculta means the hidden city). I have mostly just been in the darkroom with that org so I joined up with another program called Club Acorn that provides afterschool activities for the children in the barrio of La Boca. Tomorrow we start a photography, art and theatre project- "Nuestro Barrio es tu Casa" (Our Neighborhood is Your Home). I'm very excited to see what their minds will create!

Also within the last month I moved from the San Telmo area of Buenos Aires to the Abasto neighborhood. This is where the Tango Godfather Carlos Gardel grew up and lived before he died tragically in a plane crash. He is known for his unique embodiment of the Tango song and soul of its music. It is a beautifully colorful area of Buenos Aires as on practically every corner there is a Tango hall and/or a mural dedicated to Mr. Gardel. This area is also very hasidic, reminiscent of old Brooklyn with views of wide brimmed black hats and yamikas.

Alrighty my dear readers I will leave it at that for now. But before I go here's a little info about the pics...

The first one is from right around the corner of my house, an example of the ornate architecture here.

The next few are from the Botantical garden and its fine abundant community of cats, all very sweet, and hungry.

The next picture is of the cartinas that rummage through the garbage to pick out and every resellable material others throw out. Families make their living this way.

Lastly, is the sweet little Airdale that likes take on the role of the neighborhood's alarm clock and howl for everyone to hear... at 5 in the morning.

Chau for now, I promise there will be more soon!