Friday Night Lights

Mimi is back in Canada visiting with the kids. It was Friday night so I went for a walkabout in the neighborhood to take some pictures. The weather has cooled off this week - it is refreshing.


This is our apartment building....

Here is the Alvear Palace....someone important is staying there this weekend because there was lots of security and an ambulance parked out front the whole time. They must have been old, sick or important...or all three.One of the local flower vendors.....



The Palacio Duhau (the Hyatt hotel)......



Here is the Santa Sede - the Vatican Embassy in BA....


This is the Disco - our local grocery store - which is the home to the 45 minute plums.



The Basilica del Pilar next to the Recoleta Cemetary - built in 1715 (lights installed later).




And right on the corner next to the apartment is Vitto (Pizza Resto Cafe) - I think I have had at least 50 Napolitana pizzas here.

B.

First it was the Dengue Fever....

Then it was the Swine Flu (now affectionately called H1N1)....but I think there will be reasons to consider Avian (Bird) Flu next.

A fresh 5 degrees over the last few days will keep the germs at bay...but not the pigeons.

B.

It was 2.2 degrees on the apartment terrace this morning. I got to wear my Descente Coach's coat for the walk to work this morning. The heat has been turned off in the apartment because of some gas pipe problems. It is down to 19 degrees in the apartment.

And it snow here yesterday.

I have a tee time for Saturday.

It feels like Calgary in July.

B.

City Update

Yes, I have been able to maintain my running (it has been at least a week now). And yes, I still take my camera. Sunday was a gray day but good for running.

From the apartment, I ran up Avenida 9 de Julio past the Teatro Colon, which is still closed for renovations. It was to re-open in May, 2008 on it's 100th anniversary but things have been 'delayed'. It will re-open sometime in 2010. In time for the country's 200th anniversary.

I ran by El Obolisco

on the way to the Casa Rosada (the Pink Palace),which is the office of the country's president. Cristina has had a rocky time lately....and pretty much deserves it. They keep the gates locked up all the time now and she commutes from home in a helicopter.

I continued on to Puerto Madero, where there is the distinctive Puente de la Mujer (Women's Bridge). It was designed by Santiago Calatrava - who has designed several world renowned bridges. He has also designed the footbridge that will be (probably, maybe, might be) built at 10th Street, crossing the Bow River in Calgary.

And another thing....

Felice Dia del Amigo! (July 20th)

It is a great little day of celebration - not a holiday, no cards - just a recognition of friends. So enjoy the day & remember your friends!

B.

Plaza Holanda

I have taken up running (again).

The cooler 'winter' weather is definitely more suited to being able to survive a run. I have a loop from the apartment to the Plaza Holanda. It is a park where the road is closed to traffic - other than joggers, bikes and rollerblades on the weekend. The loop surrounds a lake (ok, 2 ponds and a big rose garden).The paddleboat fleet doesnt get too much business at this time of year but they are colorful. I take my camera when I run (that's how serious a runner I am - any excuse to stop to take a picture!)

I will report back in a couple of weeks to let you know whether I have kept up with the running.

B.

MJ Tribute

I walk by this store every day on the way to and from work. The store window is always full of very colorful clothes so it took 3 days of walking by it to even notice the change.

I think it might be every piece of Michael Jackson memorabilia in the city.

B.

Now it is starting to impact my life!

H1N1 or the Swine Flu is now affecting my social life. Friends invited me to brunch this Sunday at the Four Seasons Hotel. I confirmed with them and they tried to make reservations. At the Four Seasons, brunch is cancelled until further notice. The reason: Swine Flu (or Gripe Porcina or H1N1).

The public service pronouncements are everywhere. There are even bigger signs than this in the city.

We have also posted notices in our office. The papers are also 'full of it'.

And:

• All schools are closed. The kids get an extra 2 weeks of winter holidays.
• We have gone to flextime in the office so staff can travel in less crowded buses and subways.
• Live theatre and concerts have been cancelled.
• Restaurants are reducing their capacities (less tables and spacing them further apart).

We did find a great restaurant in Palermo that was open for brunch though and then we went to the Mataderos Fair afterwards. It is a market/entertainment event that goes every weekend in the winter. The place was packed. Temporary booths are set up for blocks. No flu fears here.

Besides the market selling local wears, restaurants cooking traditional food and the cultural music played be a number of bands through the day - you can get a ride on a wagon pulled by a pony. It might be difficult to see but there is a dog on top of the pony 'announcing' their arrival. Down one of the sidestreets, they spread sand in a narrow strip on the road and out come the gauchos to put on a demonstration of riding skills. They hang a ring (the size of a wedding band) from a bar and then race full speed towards it and try to catch the ring on a stick the size of a pencil. We have seen it before at an estancia but here they 'bring it to the cityfolk'. These guys are quite good.
It is winter here and the weather has been like great autumn days. Cool, fresh & sunny.

B.