This time around, the closed off streets were filled with artesan stands, food stands, performance stages, hundreds of tables and chairs to accommodate BBQ revellers - and of course horses and Gauchos. The Feria after all celebrates the history of the barrio of Matadero, where gauchos managed cattle on their last day before finishing up on one of the many Parillas.No parking beyond this sign....at least as far as cars are concerned.
Fall in Matadero - sunny, warm, pleasant....everybody out and about.
Outside the general melee of vendor stands, young and old Gauchos are preparing for the ride- past of father and son teams. Very proud of their traditions, the old customs are handed over from father to son and the urban gaucho maintains his traditional presence in Buenos Aires proper.
On the elevated stage in front of a large bronze statue of a 'resero', a cattleman, the younger generation dances to the music of the Pampas.
This is definitely serious business, the young princesses are made up like miniature models, and the young 'reseros' are very conscious of their proud macho gaucho heritage.
One Gaucho, who still wears the original gaucho hat, neither beret nor flat rimmed elegance.
Father and Son and a proud Steed...
Urban middle age spread does not keep anyone off the back of his beloved mount...
The 'President' of the Association for Gaucho Tradition and one of his attendants. Obviously being the leading man, one has to display the most authentic outfit in all it's tough and scruffy glory...
Gaucho horse halter, hand made from rough cow hide...
The smaller version of a 'Criollo' is being readied for a future gaucho by a collection of dads...
May the Parade begin...
Practising Gauchodom with a plastic criollo...
Practicing riding skills amongst the pedestrian crowd...
Dancing in the streets by urban gauchos and regular pedestrians. This dancer was at least seven feet tall, but he gracefully danced with his equally tall mujer during the whole day.
Dancing 'together'...even during their stately folkloric dances, there seems to be a gentle connectedness between the partners: eye contact, courteous touch, sensitive leads, warm smiles...
But, even folkloric dance appears to bear a trace of tango movement...
Just get into the act and enjoy the music, the atmosphere and the glorious weather...
And a bit of solo dancing won't be out of place either...
To get a seat at one of the dozens and dozens of tables was almost impossible, as feria visitors took advantage of the many parillas offering everything in terms of grilled meat...
Now we know why the gauchos wear these incredible knifes in their belts - to hack the sides of beef into smaller slabs...
Oil drums cut in half and filled with charcoal smoked and emitted burnt meat aroma throughout the closed off streets...
This is actually a male BBQ attendant, armed with nothing else but a long knife he managed various grilling surfaces surrounding a 'serving table', where his buddies were filling small baguettes with sausage, steak and chicken.
Here we go...Chorizo, Blood Sausage, Lomito, Ribs, Steaks...you name it, you get it and in very very LARGE portions.
What else but a Gaucho Mural to close off this post and wave Good Bye to Feria de Matadero.
