A historic event for Argentina, 10th December 2015. An era has ended and a new one has begun. Mauricio Macri has been inaugurated as President of Argentina, and the country will be governed by him and his cabinet.
I joined the multitudes in El Centro of Buenos Aires to celebrate the transition and watch the parade from El Congreso to Casa Rosada, along the iconic Avenida de Mayo.
Of course, getting there was half the fun. Most of the centre of the city had been closed to traffic, which meant hiking for quite a number of blocks along streets and avenues normally plugged with traffic and unusually quiet today. The walk took just enough time to get me to Avenida de Mayo to find a great seat, (strong enough to stand on) in a street side café on the shady side (the other side would be like an oven) of Avenida de Mayo.
To celebrate, and cool down from the 32 degree heat, I ordered a beer and await 'THE EVENT'. Avenida de Mayo, free of traffic, was filled with thousands of pedestrians restricted to the sidewalks by almost as may thousands of police, gendarmerie, plain clothes security and retaining fences. Cameras and TV crews every where....a sea of sky blue and white all over: balloons, flags of all sizes, t-shirts, head gear...you name it. Overall an atmosphere of a Gran Fiesta.
Conversation with my table mates flowed freely...everyone seemed to have let their guard down and express their (mostly negative) feelings and thoughts for the previous government.
The past president had decided to flee the scene and attend neither any transition ceremonies, nor allow her party member to attend them either. I had the impression that gave quite a number of people felt a sense of relief about her absence. Many , seemed not to be too impressed by her somewhat bizarre behavior concerning the whole transition process.
When I congratulated one woman to the obviously desired change, she burst into tears. A Federal Police lady, whom I embraced and wished her luck, let a sunny smile break through her steely expression. People appeared to connect with each other through a common happiness about the change. Spontaneous conversations burst forth at every occasion. Obviously not everyone is 'happy' - however, the Portenos appeared delirious.
Shortly after mid day the 'desfile' started and to the growing excitement of the crowd, the mounted Gendarmerie led the procession of the official Presidential Cars. Macri and his absolutely georgeous wife waved and greeted the enthusiastically shouting multitudes.
Hundreds of horses, mounted by uniformed gendarmerie, followed his car to close the procession. After that - free for all - people just poured into the Avenue to follow towards Plaza de Mayo in front of Casa Rosada, the traditional spot where IMPORTANT EVENTS happen. Yours truly followed.
The ceremony of passing on the symbols of office, which took place inside the Casa Rosada, was transmitted to Plaza de Mayo on gigantic TV screens, followed by earsplitting shouts of 'Al Balcon'....which means, come to the balcony, the famous balcony of the Casa Rosada, where the leaders are 'embraced' by their adoring people.
Although there were thousand of people, there was no sense of danger, unwonted disturbances - but a sense of happiness filled the Plaza.
All the hullaballoo over, I retreated back to Avenida de Mayo, where cleaning crews were already removing the detritus of the festivities of the day, another refreshment, a few more discussions 'with the locals' at my table, and back home. Not a day for dancing, but a day to pay respect to a country that has embarked on a new, and - as many expect it to be - a better path into the future.
And the buses worked again as well....the trek home was a little quicker.
I joined the multitudes in El Centro of Buenos Aires to celebrate the transition and watch the parade from El Congreso to Casa Rosada, along the iconic Avenida de Mayo.
Of course, getting there was half the fun. Most of the centre of the city had been closed to traffic, which meant hiking for quite a number of blocks along streets and avenues normally plugged with traffic and unusually quiet today. The walk took just enough time to get me to Avenida de Mayo to find a great seat, (strong enough to stand on) in a street side café on the shady side (the other side would be like an oven) of Avenida de Mayo.
To celebrate, and cool down from the 32 degree heat, I ordered a beer and await 'THE EVENT'. Avenida de Mayo, free of traffic, was filled with thousands of pedestrians restricted to the sidewalks by almost as may thousands of police, gendarmerie, plain clothes security and retaining fences. Cameras and TV crews every where....a sea of sky blue and white all over: balloons, flags of all sizes, t-shirts, head gear...you name it. Overall an atmosphere of a Gran Fiesta.
Conversation with my table mates flowed freely...everyone seemed to have let their guard down and express their (mostly negative) feelings and thoughts for the previous government.
The past president had decided to flee the scene and attend neither any transition ceremonies, nor allow her party member to attend them either. I had the impression that gave quite a number of people felt a sense of relief about her absence. Many , seemed not to be too impressed by her somewhat bizarre behavior concerning the whole transition process.
When I congratulated one woman to the obviously desired change, she burst into tears. A Federal Police lady, whom I embraced and wished her luck, let a sunny smile break through her steely expression. People appeared to connect with each other through a common happiness about the change. Spontaneous conversations burst forth at every occasion. Obviously not everyone is 'happy' - however, the Portenos appeared delirious.
Shortly after mid day the 'desfile' started and to the growing excitement of the crowd, the mounted Gendarmerie led the procession of the official Presidential Cars. Macri and his absolutely georgeous wife waved and greeted the enthusiastically shouting multitudes.
Hundreds of horses, mounted by uniformed gendarmerie, followed his car to close the procession. After that - free for all - people just poured into the Avenue to follow towards Plaza de Mayo in front of Casa Rosada, the traditional spot where IMPORTANT EVENTS happen. Yours truly followed.
The ceremony of passing on the symbols of office, which took place inside the Casa Rosada, was transmitted to Plaza de Mayo on gigantic TV screens, followed by earsplitting shouts of 'Al Balcon'....which means, come to the balcony, the famous balcony of the Casa Rosada, where the leaders are 'embraced' by their adoring people.
Although there were thousand of people, there was no sense of danger, unwonted disturbances - but a sense of happiness filled the Plaza.
All the hullaballoo over, I retreated back to Avenida de Mayo, where cleaning crews were already removing the detritus of the festivities of the day, another refreshment, a few more discussions 'with the locals' at my table, and back home. Not a day for dancing, but a day to pay respect to a country that has embarked on a new, and - as many expect it to be - a better path into the future.
And the buses worked again as well....the trek home was a little quicker.
