Now there are three of us Duncan Tangoistas here in Buenos Aires. We are revisiting some of the more common attractions of the city: Plaza de Mayo, Casa Rosada, La Cathedral, Abasto Gardel Quarter, Cafe Ideal and Cafe Federal and so on and so forth.
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| Inside the Cathedral, the mausoleum of General Martin, the hero who carried the Argentinean Flag over the Andes. Once past the formally attired honour guard, one comes on a large copper plaque showing the General, hidden behind a gigantic mausoleum topped by an impressively carved sarcophagus. |
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| In a large window recess of the elaborate building of the Banque Frances adjoining the magnificent Plaza de Mayo, a somewhat more modest dwelling. At least this inhabitant has an unobstructed view of Casa Rosada, the seat of government. |
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| A bow to US merchandise....Barbie dolls in hand crocheted (local artisans) outfits. |
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| At a street corner of Calle Defensa and Avenida Belgrano, tango dancers and two piece band earning their well deserved pesos |
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| A resident of San Telmo, enjoying the throng of people, profusion of street vendors, music and tango from his elegant first floor balcony |
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| The swearing in ceremony of Obama was shown in full on local television, with a running translation of his inauguration speech. |
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| Argentinean President Cristina Kirchner, on her Asian Tour, receiving an Argentinean cherry with gold setting. |
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| The Argentinean President in Vietnam, celebrating the Viet Kong and Ho Chi Min during a visit to the Chu Chi tunnels, where Vietnamese peope protected themselves from French and US bombings. |
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| The Argentinean President, entering one of the tunnels (the lid was subsequently put on, and she disappeared for a few seconds underground). In her good bye speech, taking leave from Vietnam, she spoke of Argentina as a highly advanced country, which proudly has two Argentinean faces which almost everybody in the world knows: Madrona and Messi, the soccer greats. |
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| One dreams of an excursion to the loveliest province of Argentina: Salta...way up north. |
Two more locomotives derailed/jumped the tracks in Buenos Aires - no injuries. The morning train to Mar del Plata has been taken out of circulation (the last of 165 train lines discontinued since a couple of years), it happened without warning overnight...wagons were in too decrepit a condition to run. Passengers with train tickets were rerouted to buses.
Two more subway robberies, Stn Flores and Stn Medrona. Same system, same band of 'ladrones': one guy pulls a gun on the ticket office attendant, whilst the rest 'clean out house'. One grows eyes in the back of ones head.
Well, some thieves are different: two broke into a house, whilst owners were home, wielded a gun, and robbed two purebred puppies, French Bulldog and Mastiff. They did not want any money or jewels...just the dogs.
Similar robbery on a pet store, same system, maybe same band...no money but an armful of Labrador pups were the coveted booty.
Apparently 'quema coches' are on the rise, people burn cars 'just for something to do'.
Soccer game in Rosario was cancelled, the 'hinchas leprosas' - badly behaved fans - started shooting at police, robbing the belongings of the visiting team from their team bus, and generally cause serious mayhem. People complained about the 'irresponsibility of stadium management towards fans' when it cancelled the game.
US dollars are impossible to get for love, money, threat, whatever - AGAINST THE LAW for banks or any other institution to sell them. Black exchange market for 'blue' dollar is going nuts.
The good news...a Canadian friend came back from a visit to an Argentinean dentist. The patient came armed with US dollars.
Three fillings and one root canal later, the patient handed over 200 of these hard to come by green backs to pay for the whole lot - no waiting, one session. One almost wishes for a root canal treatment with these prices!!
Cosquin Folkloric Festival is underway...and Argentineans are happily enjoying their wonderful music: chamame, chacarena, samba....great singers, great dancers, great musicians.
As the Argentinean President mentioned in Vietnam: An Advanced Country!
One of the on-line comments to this speech completed the above sentence this way:
Yes, an advanced country, advanced right to the edge of the abyss.
Resting my fatigued tango feet today....
