17 December 2013 - Heatwave in Buenos Aires: no end in sight

Blistering heat almost throughout entire Argentina, Patagonia Province being one of the hottest - topping out at about 38 degrees.

I took an air conditioned bus (there are some around) to El Arranque Milonga. Not too many tangueros around -  no one wants to face commuter traffic and a dance floor that is only 'cooled' with overhead fans. One woman dancer said to me, that tango is un 'vicio'...yes, one has to be almost addicted to face 'close' embrace tango in these conditions. But, things were not too uncomfortable, danced every dance as soon as I claimed 'my table', where the waiter now removed the Reserved sign with a flourish. Definitely a change from being relegated to 'tourist wall flower' corner on my first visit to this Milonga. I suppose the staff notices who is asked to dance most frequently, and those dancers are placed into 'premium seats'. All part of Milonga codes and etiquette.

One dances in the downdraft of the fans to catch a cooling breeze. Danced with all my 'buddies' then headed out before dissolving into a puddle.

Lucky for me, another air conditioned bus home, where mercifully the power is still functioning - unlike in many other neighbourhoods of Buenos Aires, where people have spent 5 days now without electricity.

The sun has set behind the buildings of my block. Afternoon wafts the perfumed scent of Jasmin into the stifling air. The pool next door is filled with kids, some wearing their unmistakable 'peeing in the pool' expression. Their mothers sunbathe, and display their 'culos' covered with nothing more than a string of bum floss.

All the persianas (wooden slatted roll up window coverings) of the buildings are tightly shut, thus reducing the effect of the heat on the interior.

Definitely cerveza time, as Argentinian Malbec does not cut it in this heat. One downs liters of water as it is...

One sits on the already shady balcony, watching the bathers in the pool and the doves hiding on any bit of shady ledge they can find. 

Outside, dogs still pooping warm doog poop onto sidewalks, ice cream stores (if not closed to to power outage) sell buckets of the delicious refreshment, Chinese laundry silent - none of the machines work - and protestas going on throughout the city by angry citizens who have already faced days without electricity and without water.

Generators were brought into some neighbourhoods, but they ran out of fuel...

Now the Government is proposing to initiate rotating power cuts, until the heat wave is over.

El Gobierno no descarta cortes de luz programados, rotativos y por menor tiempo

Según Capitanich, podrían ser alternativas de corto plazo. Pidió que sean coordinados por las empresas con la adecuada comunicación a los usuarios. Y adjudicó los problemas a una ola de calor de larga duración.

Some unkind soul made this comment on the internet, referring to the article above: Deberian haber cortes de cabeza rotativos 

Pitch dark Streets, lit by street fires and car head lights

The natives are definitely restless



Water in the fountains still....and put to good use as well

A few thundershowers cooled the city down somewhat overnight, but did not help with power outages.
Street protests increasing, 15% more cars on the road - Christmas Shopping - and the Christmas Fiestas just around the corner....

Photos compliments of public internet media...