Spring in Paris - of the South Americas

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This splendid specimen is one of the most famous trees in Buenos Aires. Popularly known as the "Lapacho de Ezcurra", this "lapacho rosado" (Tabebuia impetiginosa), a tree native from the North-West of Argentina, was planted by landscaper Martin Ezcurra on the corner of Ave. Figueroa Alcorta and Mariscal Castilla, in Palermo Chico, and on September every year announces the arrival of Spring with an explosion of pink flowers:

Quotes from Sandra Gutrejde Suarez 'My Buenos Aires Travel Guide.

Glorious flowering trees, and spring like temperatures make life very pleasant in Buenos Aires. Palermo district appears cleaner than ever, thanks to newly installed garbage bins. Instead of hundreds of loose garbage bags littering the sidewalks, and being scavenged by street entrepreneurs for recyclables, we now have relatively clean streets - except for the ever present dog poop of course.

Trains in Argentina
Still a rather risky business. Yesterday a train crashed through a barrier at ONCE station in Buenos Aires, full speed, climbed the platform and caused 90 injuries, fortunately none serious. The 'motor man' is held in custody in a local hospital. Rumors fly that he was asleep at the controls, that he stole the security video from the driver's cabin. Government insists that trains had just been inspected. Motor man in the meantime is too injured to be questioned.
Ironically - a year ago on the same platform in the same station another ill fated train crashed into the barrier, killing 51 people and causing hundreds of injuries. Outrage all around - however, trains still crash frequently.

After violent thunderstorms  battered the city last night, a cool and cloudy Sunday makes for pleasant walking - with luck without cloud bursts.