Another scorcher in Buenos Aires. I have a tango lesson late this afternoon and a couple of hours to kill.
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What else to do but hide in an air conditioned cafe (Iberia - Cafe notable) for a torta de papas and and gaseoso, potato pancake and mineral water. At the same time - read the local newspaper.
BCers take note, line up of annual vehicle inspection cover the length of 8 blocks, and waiting time is about 12 hours. People bring their Mate tea, books, and push their cars without starting the engine, one car length at a time, whenever they advance another spot in the line up...all that in over 34 degrees. One must admire the nonchalance of these people, who have to line up EVERYWHERE, whether it is in banks, at pharmacies (to pay their utility bills), at travel agents, at immigrations, at road tolls - just a way of life here. |
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Congreso
Patriotism is not only alive but kept at a fever pitch. Just yesterday, the Argentinean Frigate Libertador returned to Argentinean waters and docked in the Port of Rio de La Plata. She had been detained by Ghana authorities, as Argentina had defaulted on paying an old bonds debts, the Fundad Buitres, Vulture Bonds.
Well, after 78 days in Tema, Ghana (I was there a few years ago), the naval training ship was allowed to leave Ghana and return to the 'Patria'.
In Rio de la Plata, great Parties, Speeches, Flag waving, Unbelievable Rhetoric by the President, Fireworks, Rock Concerts...the works.The gist of the whole Welcome Speech was, that Argentinean sovereignty will not be abused, despite threats by the Exterior and Interior World, the Underworld, and the whole Planet.
Most of the Government was in attendance, the opposition declined. |
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| Bell ringers on the roof of one of the buildings on Plaza Congreso |
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| Angelitos are dancing and singing the praises of the local heroes |
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| Reclining statues of masculine perfection await the beginning of The Perfect State, even if the fountain is out of order. |
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| Rearing 'equinos' wait for the same thing, that the fountain is turned on again, so they can spew water from their open mouths... |
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| Shady retreats offer a rest from the scorching heat |
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| The local version of a tent city, thrives under the trees in front of the Congreso |
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And one forms philosophical theories upon the meaning of democracy and socialism and all that stuff...
Google Blogger has another little wide spread problem, which makes uploading photos very difficult. I found a way around it, but...only a few photos get onto the blog each time I post. |
