Buenos Aires Daily News

A selection of local news...

The President of Argentina wrote an open letter to Cameron, Prime Minister of Britain, to invite him - again - to to meet and talk about handing over the Falkland Islands (Malvinas) to Argentina in order to stop Colonialism. Britain refers that decision to Falkland Islanders (the 'Kelpers' in Argentine Spanish), as far as the Brits are concerned, the Kelpers have the right to Self Determination and to that effect await an Island referendum in February.

Not so apparently: Kristina Kirchner makes the argument, that Falkland Islanders are born on Argentine soil, hence they are Argentineans...

I just wonder how 'Colonialism' is interpreted in Argentina, as most Argentineans are 'Colonists' of European descend just as much as the Falkland Islanders are?

British Press answer: Hands Off, Argies!
Can anyone follow this?

As of today, the Highway tolls rise by about 11% to 46%, making it more expensive for commuters to come to work in the City.

The National Government calls the idea of closing the main arterial Subway in Buenos Aires for up to three month (A-Line) by the City Government 'una locura' - craziness. Tens of thousands of daily commuters just have to suck it up - no extra buses are put one to take on the new above ground commuter traffic. The historic wagons of A Line are being retired and replaced by new air-conditioned ones (!!!), made in China. Well, the old ones are by now so thickly covered in Graffiti, that just to repaint them would cost a fortune.
Yes, Subway fares will raise sometime soon by about 150 -200%.

Fleeting image of a A-Line subway car

 

Saint in the City's Main Cathedral...armed with a broom. Maybe he should run the city's garbage collection?

Plaza Dorrego, weekday, outside cafes in the plaza...

Talking about Argentinean Pesos


A year ago a peso was worth about 25 cents, now it is worth 20 cents Canadian on the official market, or at the ATM withdrawals. If these contraptions actually have money in them - today I had to search for a ‘loaded’ ATM. The others: no money right now.

Unofficially one dollar US fetches 7 Argentinean pesos on the street - or in some shops who illegally accept US dollars. So that means a peso is really worth only about 14 cents.



Housing Market, we think we have trouble in the North American Continent? Think again. Buenos Aires Real Estate sales fell by 43% last month, annualized it fell by 27%. Real Estate deals are done in US dollars - with it's street value now, no one can afford to buy

Tango Dancers performing on Plaza Dorrego during the week

On the Tango scene: closures of many shoe stores which used to be frequented by locals and tourists alike. Store rents are rising beyond affordable. Old established 'Darcos' shoes and clothing has cut floor space in half (the other half is now a separate eye glasses store).

Lolo Gerard, probably one of the best made to order shoemakers of Buenos Aires, has disappeared from his old store.. It is now taken over by who-knows, but the new guy wisely kept the name LOLO... have to ride on a good name if one can get away with it. The shoes - no comparison.

However, it boils down to whom one knows especially around here. My local 'connections' found the real Lolo Gerard for me. He now sells his exquisite and perfectly comfortable creations through a little shop in San Telmo called ALMA Buenos Aires (www.almabuenosaires.com).

I made my way out there after making an appointment with the master himself - to get him away from his magical workbench.

Argentinean hugs and besos. I ordered a couple of replacement pairs to measure for a price that commemorates 'good old times'.

Prices for shoes off the shelf have gone up 'slightly' as well: 650 to 699 pesos a pair from about 400 to 450 last year, which is still a steal considering the fortuitous change in currency rates.

Doll collection in San Telmo's Market

Argentines President, Kristina, is defending a new program in first and secondary schools: classes on selected political subjects (versus regular History classes), such as the 'best' presidents, the most patriotic events, the most notable social(istic) changes, Evita and the Perons, etc. According to her this program is geared to form 'good Argentineans'. Opponents call it leftist indoctrination with close similarities to youth programs introduced by Italy and Germany just before and during the Second World war.

Ceiling Dome in Sant Telmo's Market

Obviously not affected by the news....St Elmo Market Cat

To really important matters: Choripan Carritos (Argentinean Hotdog vending carts) now have to modify - by LAW - their portable grills from gas to charcoal - no patriotic Argentinean could cook anything meaty on a gas BBQ!!!




Well, the Abismo Fiscal (Fiscal Cliff) in the Estados Unidos has been averted; Chavez is still suffering either conscious or unconscious in his hospital bed in Cuba; a couple of Americans were removed from 6,600 meters altitude on Aconcagua (highest peak in the Andes) - the local SAR found them dead, together with one more climber only half alive...

Futbol is still King. Boca versus River, the rich boys versus the poor ones on the soccer field...any goal on either side is still more newsworthy than anything else.

So one goes and drinks another 'cortado', a very small, very strong cup of coffee....

Wall Art in San Telmo

And the crime scene...rather ironic. Another Millionaire was relieved of a few hundred thousand US Dollars. The thieves climbed through an open window in the victim's vast Estancia and took off with the loot.


But to be fair, another thief cleaned out the house of a local Police Chief. Daring indeed!