South America - Argentina Buenos Aires, with all faces.

Buenos Aires has many nicknames, but I think Buenos Aires itself is a good name.  Although with merely 500 year of history, some traditions are long lasting here. One here is about the Argentinean flag.  I was told by all Argentinean that once the Argentinean flag is fly from new, the tradition is they never flag it down.  There is no such thing as change for wash or dirty, or flag raising in the morning.  They only falg it down when they are changing it to a new one.

Monumental Tower - Buenos Aires, Apr 2010.

It is not hard to see Argentinean is proud of their cultural tradition.

The Obelisk located at the Avenida 9 de Julio is an iconic landmark.  You can't miss it as it is like the centre of the compass for Buenos Aires city.  The Obelisk reminds me of those built by the Egyptian and the Roman in Egypt, it is like a guiding light of where one is heading.

The Obelisk at 9 de Julio - Buenos Aires, Apr 2010.

To see the Obelisk, one must walk the Avenida 9 de Julio.  Before coming here, I have read and Diego had also told me about this widest avenue in the world.  I have never guess how wide until I see it myself.  Avenida 9 de Julio is 140 metre (459 feet) wide.  In case you can not imagine it, there are upto 18 lanes for each way.

Avenida 9 de Julio - Buenos Aires, Apr 2010.

The name, is to honour Argentina's independence day.

For all mentioned, let's get back to the Plaza de Mayo.  Across from the Casa Rosada, the Cabildo is still standing although it is no longer in used.  The new city hall is not far behind it, but the Cabildo is still the place where the history is showcased.  In 2011, a laser light show on the history of Argentina was showed here.

The Cabildo - Buenos Aires, Apr 2010.

I would like to tell you all about Buenos Aires, but that is impossible because the conversation will be endless!  Many times we pick up a magazine and read about interview of certain designers.  They were asked where they thought it is most interesting, artistic and cultural place that they think they want to be, the answer is quite often Buenos Aires.  After 2 weeks, I completely understand the reason.

***Note***

I have not written about Tango, the show, both in commercail theater or on the street of San Telmo.  It is because I think it is best for one to experience it themselve.  It is not something easily expressed through words.

The journey will be moving on to nature talks.  But the journey will be back to Buenos Aires before my South America journey ends.  

South America - Argentina Buenos Aires, Madres de Plaza de Mayo.

One can hardly write about Buenos Aires without mentioning about the Madres de Plaza de Mayo (The Mother of the Plaza of May).  These mothers, came to the Plaza de Mayo every Sunday so that their missing children are not forgotten, even though the missing had happened more than 30 years ago during the period of military ruling in 1976-1983.

Madres de Plaza de Mayo - Buenos Aires, Jun 2010.

There were closed to 30,000 people suspected to be secretly kipnapped, tortured and executed in the period.

To some Portenos, they should move on.  But for the Madres, it seems it is as difficult as yesterday!

Madres de Plaza de Mayo - Buenos Aires, Jun 2010.

Peaceful protest or demonstration is more than part of Buenos Aires culture, it has became part of the tradition.  Portenos often showcase their concern at the Plaza de Mayo.

Plaza de Mayo - Buenos Aires, Apr 2010.

Plaza de Mayo - Buenos Aires, Apr 2010.

No doubt, Plaza de Mayo is like the independent square of Argentina, reminding all the day of 25 Mayo, 1810.

For all the peaceful demonstrations, it always starts at Plaza de Mayo.  Go down the Avenida de Mayo to the Congreso de la Nacion Argentina.

Plaza de Mayo - Buenos Aires, Apr 2010.

Congreso de la Nacion Argentina, Apr 2010.

To most of the Portenos, the event, which happens in very high frequency, is creating a lot of in-conveniency because the police force needs to be around, the Avenida and Plaza de Mayo needs to be closed while proper security needs to be ensure.  This causes huge traffic jam and public safety issues.

However, to those of us (Malaysian) at home where almost every peaceful protest or demonstration has been deemed illegal and a threat to national security, this is desired democracy! 

South America - Argentina Buenos Aires, endless architecture.

Writting about Buenos Aires is no easy, this city is like a treasure and the hunting never ends.  I am still at architecture matter.  For once, I need to show something completely different.  For the famous architect who had designed the Malaysia Twin Tower, once was the tallest building in the world, Cesar Pelli, has a signature modern design right across the port.

YPF ( Repsol) Tower - Buenos Aires, Apr 2010.

The look has the shadow of Kuala Lumpur Twin Tower (KLCC).

Metrovias - Buenos Aires, Apr 2010.

In contrast, you can find one of the oldest subway built existing in the world in Buenos Aires. It is underground, does not have air conditioning, open window and some carriages still maintain its wooden bench.  I like it, but imagine riding it in summer with the humility surges and fully crowded.  After riding it myself, I completely understand when Diego told me about his experience in summer.  I still have fun no matter the sweat.

But for sure, the favourite building by all tourists has to be the Casa Rosada.  Beside it is rosy pink, this building portraits history itself for Argentinean.  I love the colour as there is not many buildings in the world has it's sense of soft powdery bricky pink.  Of course, the balcony is known by all to be the very famous place Evita waved her hands to all.

Casa Rosada - Buenos Aires, Apr 2010.

Talk about Evita, we have to take a walk to Recoleta.  Recoleta is more than the luxury shopping and the nice cafe.  Even though everyone will come here to visit Evita tomb in Cementrio de La Recoleta then write and talk about it,

Cementerio de La Recoleta - Buenos Aires, Jun 2010.

one can also enjoy Recoleta by bringing a book, sitting at the outdoor cafe, have a cup  of cafe au lait, enjoy the sun, and the quiet time.  You will realize "Peace is Free!".  I spent 6 weeks in Argentina, but staying 2 weeks at Recoleta.  It is simply lovely.

The classic of all, my favourite, is this building which supposed to be century old, (built in 1903) but with a modern architecture built behind it (remodelled in 1989).  This building is right at the back of Teatro Colon on the intersection of Tucuman and Talcahuano.   The building was originally named Palacio Costaguta,  now is the Tribunales Plaza and the building next to it is the Palacio de Justicia.

Tribunales Plaza - Buenos Aires, Jun 2010.

When we look from the front, the building provides a feel that the modern one is hugging the old one, such co-herent existent.  From the way the two co-exist, we can see the effort the Portenos put in to preserve their cultural heritage, which Malaysian could learn a lot from.  On top, the city council has such a creative mind to put another art piece right in front of it.  By looking from this angle, one can imagine a silent musical on the park is going on.

South America - Argentina Buenos Aires, emotionally artistic!

One of the best reward out of travelling, is we can plan trip to where we want to go and visit friend in the same time.  In this case, we get to visit those who we don't normally get to see often.  For Buenos Aires, I had not seen Diego and Roxana for 5 years after our New York stay.

While everyone is working and I was the one on holiday, we normally met at lunch.  It doesn't take long for me to realize, as I walked the street of Buenos Aires, Portenos is culturally artistic.  One of the lunch is in a church, so I didn't feel very polite to take pictures of others  who were dining there.

El Ateneo - Buenos Aires, Apr 2010.

However, there was this one lunch Diego brought me to a book store, El Ateneo.  The book store is fabulously beautiful.  It is coverted from a musical theater and having lunch in it is like getting a main course with 2 free desserts.   This place makes me think of the Teatro Colon, in which I tried to take the tour inside twice but was under renovation at the time of my visit.

On another occassion where it is a walk away, the Galerias Pacifico, a shopping gallery, bears a centre dorm like no others.   It is a different emotion here.  While normally art deco is always came with an age, this place is modern.  Who said being cultured has to be always "old"?

Galerias Pacifico - Buenos Aires, Apr 2010.

This is the best place to stop after walking for hours, have a cup of coffee and admire the roof.  I do think Portenos should be pretty proud of their cultural heritage.  They put their mind on art where ever they can get it be.  This roof is too big even for my wide angle lense.

The best of all has to be the Catedral Metropolitana Buenos Aires.  Situated around the Plaza de Mayo right next to the Buenos Aires Cabildo, this cathedral is a favourite of tourist.  It is not hard to see why.

Catedral Metropolitana Buenos Aires, Apr 2010.

Most of the times, it is more than how nice they look.  It is that feeling when walking under it, once could feel like being transported back by history.

South America - Argentina Buenos Aires, best out of life!

Sorry, I don't quite get Soho in New York. I love Valpo around Santiago.  But La Boca is honest.  La Boca is where you meet real life. The real life is never perfect.  There is no perfect look, no smartest one, not a happy ending all the times because there is always some aspects we could be better while other aspects one could be worse off.

La Boca Frontage - Buenos Aires, Apr 2010.

La Boca - Buenos Aires, Apr 2010.

But those who live a good live, are those who know the secret.  The secret is how the making, making the best out of what life given us, instead of chasing for the endless demands.  Those better one, not just making the best out of what life given us, they give back!

La Boca - Buenos Aires, Apr 2010.

La Boca is the 1st place I visited, a bit nut of me, is also the place I love most in Buenos Aires.  Life is not a fairy tale.  There I say it! :-), always wanted to say one of this powerful sentence. Thus, life is not closed to fairy tale in La Boca.  So what's wrong with it?  There is nothing wrong about it and residents in La Boca use their most creative mind to send that message, directly!

Art Painting on the wall of Boca Junior's stadium - Buenos Aire, Apr 2010.