South America - Crossing the Strait of Magellan

Leaving Ushuaia is no easy, mentally and physically.  Physically, I aimed for the bus. The reason is simple - the Strait of Magellan and the Comerson Dolphin.  The bus leaves at 6.30am.  I woke up at 3am, got in very early at 4.30am to the bus station. A bit too early because it was like deserted, nobody there and really really cold! There weren't many using the bus to leave Ushuaia as the bus ride is very long.  Mine, is 16 hours to El Calafate. 

It was good to leave Ushuaia in such a way, quietly in the darkness, so that I would not feel too difficult as I could not see anything around.  I was tired.  The bus came, there were only 2 passengers, me and another lady. I fall asleep right away.  When I woke up, the sun start raising when I peeped through the curtain. It seem to be a bonito morning.

Tierra del Fuego sunrise, Apr 2010.

This tip of our earth, is interestingly shared by Chile and Argentina.  Geographically, Ushuaia faces south on Tierra del Fuego, which makes up by multiple islands but mainly  by Isla Grande Tierra del Fuego.  Leaving Ushuaia and Tierra del Fuego mean the bus goes around to the back of Martial Glacier and headed north,  crossing the Strait of Magellan into the mainland continent. We were still at Isla Tierra del Fuego. It is my 1st crossing to Chile and through the Magallanes.  It is also feel like the real journey start here, as I have been flying and flying never justify things that we want to see in this land.

As the morning passed, yet, this is still Patagonia.  We will not miss the cattle and sheep, while the steppa is a lot more low grown here.

Patagonia sheep herd in Tierra del Fuego, Apr 2010.

It was surprising to see the road condition is not bad, but Patagonia is flat y wide. It took the whole moring to overland the Isla Grande Tierra del Fuego and we reach the point of crossing around noon.

Crossing Point at Strait of Magellan, Apr 2010.

La Isla Tierra del Fuego, Apr 2010

al Estrecho de Magallanes, Apr 2010.

The 1st sign post is the northern end of Isla Tierra del Fuego within the Chilena border and the 2nd sign post is the transborder crossing of al Estrecho de Magallanes (Strait of Magellan) with the main continent.

Ferry Austral Broom for Magellan Strait crossing, Apr 2010.

The waiting was not long. The bus had timed the ride and the ferry came within a short while.  I was told the Strait of Magellan is where the Comerson Dolphin actively flipping.  However, I didn't catch any. The water was as calm as it wanted me to leave my 28 years old dream behind.

South America - Argentina End of The World, not The End yet!

I was lucky, from the thought of the earthquake at Chile on 26Feb2010, the 8 hours delay caused by turbulence dented the aircraft wing on 28Mar2010, the luggage didn't get on and off the flight to Trelew on 1stApr2010, to finally comes to the End of The World!

Knowing La Boca like knowing meaningless price tag for creative mind, watching Buenos Aires El Centro strike and demonstration as whether human right manipulated, seeing no animals in Peninsula Valdes and Punta Tombo afraid of human, understanding traditions in Gaiman, experiencing Ushuaia and Tierra del Fuego with Peace simply being at the End of The World, where can you get that?

I took my time. I know I would not want to leave the place, but the most I can do is spending more time there. To fully understand the meaning of travel, not holiday, take your time, don't rush, even you don't get to see all the things, but you will see all the things with your heart, like a mirror!

Talk about mirror, the Beagle Canal around Ushuaia and Tierra del Fuego is reflecting themselves in all different time at different places.

Ushuaia airport in Ushuaia, Apr 2010.

With the mountain at the backdrop and Bay of Beagle circulating the inlet, Ushuaia airport sits in the middle with the mountain reflecting in the water. The thought of the most southerly town with a spectacular image is what has lured visitors here for years.  Tourism industry is doing well.

Walking up the hilly Ushuaia, you could see the water with a simply magnificient view as Ushuaia is leaning on the hill.

Bay of Beagle in view from Ushuaia, Apr 2010.

Bridges Isles at Beagle Bay in Ushuaia, Apr 2010.

After heading back to the harbour, another forbidden face of Ushuaia is in view.

Ushuaia in Argentina, apr 2010.

It is this paradoxically figure that made it an attractive gateway for many.  Nowaday, other than the booming oil and gas industry, many retirees found refuge here in Ushuaia.

Take the boat tour, you will be sent to the Bridges Isles for a short hike.  From far at the Bridges Isles, it is the postcard look that every tourist took of Ushuaia.  If your lense is powerful, you can most likely took the photo from the boat when it is heading out from the harbour.  This is one I used many times.

Ushuaia in Argentina, Apr 2010.

Other than far being for its reputation of a pictureque town at the southernmost tip of our land, one thing undoubtedly you will find in Tierra del Fuege while Ushuaia is, it is the Calmest place on earth!

South America - Argentina Tierra del Fuego, the Ona calling

The Ona, southern Selk'nam Indians (also known as Yaghan or Yamana), came to Tierra del Fuego 10,000 years ago despite the icy Antarctica weather.  When Magellan first passing the island in 1520, he named this isolated land as Tierra del Fuego, Land of Fire. Today, as the southernmost province for both Argentina and Chile, there are hardly any indigenous Ona left where they survived for centuries. Sadly, it was not the brutal fault of nature.

Satio showed up at 8am with Pepe, the temperature was 7 degree celcius and we were heading to the Parque Nacional Tierra del Fuego. Along the way, we had 8 others with us so Satio became the peddling partner of mine.  The national park was a lumbering ground before till 1960. Thus, when we hiked the ground, we can see that the trees are young with the root quite surface to the ground.  The timber industry had wiped out any possibility for aging tree here. Harder more, the wind is so strong that the guide told us the forest renew itself because the wind storm would tow away trees almost every decade. We could see all the trees bent diagonally 45 degree due to the strong wind.

 

Nacional Parque Tierra del Fuego, Apr 2010.

The trees are well trimmed by the Patagonia wind, making it look like the gigantic "bonsai".

The park is more than beautiful.  I would rather use the word - Serene - due to its geographical location and nature.  Looking out to the shore, we saw the bay of another island across belongs to Chile.  It is so close, yet far!

Nacional Parque Tierra del Fuego, Apr 2010.

Nacional Parque Tierra del Fuego, Apr 2010.

I have never been a place in the world where Peace is a norm, especially in the great wilderness.  I couldn't describe more because it is all about feeling.  It feels, deserted but not, soliture but not, loneliness but not, just Peacefully there and give that Sense of Contentment.

Start from Bahia Ensenada, the path was wind around thorny bushes and tough shrubs.  The ground was full of spongy moss on the stepping stones. We hiked 7KM along the coastline of Beagle Canal, in between Argentina and Chile waterway, and reach Lake Boca for our lamb stew lunch afternoon. The activity after the hiking was canoeing across Bay of Beagle. With the best peddling partner Satio, my canoe has no issue safely advancing. While the spanish couple, Juan and Suzana, when Juan jokes that he needs to divorce his wife during his honey moon,  we saw 6 sea lions swimming toward us.

Nacional Parque Tierra del Fuego, Apr 2010.

The 6 sea lions end up swimming along with our canoes till the end, flipping and splashing the ozing cool water at us. It was a wonderful moment! They are so playful, Satio said they are very used to human and they like to play. Satio seems to know them since he is in this national park at least twice a week.

We arrived at Bahia Lapataia, after close to 2 hours in the water. Bahia Lapataia is the end of the Argentina RN3 and the end of the Pan-American highway from north to south of 17,848KM. That is why it is the End of the World. Here, it is 3000KM from Buenos Aires and 3000KM from South Pole.

Nacional Parque Tierra del Fuego, Apr 2010.

We leaved the park and headed back to Ushuaia. I really had an amazing time. After saying good bye to Pepe and Satio, it was tough to leave a day like that behind when the contentment is filled!

South America - Argentina Ushuaia, the Missiones begin

Before I bought my ticket and start planning for my trip in Oct 2009, Lee Min who runs the Yongo Travel made a 3 weeks trip down to Chile and Argentina in Mar 2009 after his Peru/Bolivia Feb 2009 group went home. I had followed Lee Min's Morocco Oct 2009  group before.  Lee Min's Chile and Argentina trip photos are excellent and provided a lot of recent information and inspiration for me to plan my trip, especially Ushuaia.

Ushuaia in Argentina, Apr 2010.

I was nervous for Ushuaia.  It was a misty morning, Ricardo in Puerto Madryn sent me to the airport.  I arrived Ushuaia on 4th Apr 2010, it was a cloudy afternoon and quite chilly. Ushuaia airport is small (running 1 flight per day from Buenos Aires) and nice.  Come out from the wooden frame building, the air is fresh and Ushuaia is in view.

How many times in your life, you carry a dream for years and finally put your feet down and say "I done it!"? Not many.  My De JaVu feeling started the moment I stepped out of the airport.  Ushuaia, at that moment, seems so serene to me! The airport is located at a small hill out of the town where it gives a full fiew of the town with the Martial Glaciar at the back drop (refer to Lee Min's photos). I stand there and took the whole view and feeling, chopped it in my head.

After arriving at the hostel, I can't wait, pick up my camera and head out to see the town. It was a Sunday evening, all the shops were closed and there was hardly any people on the street.  It was so quiet!

Local Street in Ushuaia, Apr 2010.

The feeling of De JaVu hit me so hard here at this evening.  Coming to a place I had read of, thought of and imagined of for so many years, and it is right in front of me and I am in the middle of it.  
I was glad that the street is quiet, it gives me the chance to absorb things around.  And nobody could see a mad lady running around the street so excitedly!
To many people, Ushuaia has nothing special.  For it is, not much special other than it is deem the SouthernMost City in the World or End of the World.  However, for me, it is the journey it takes for me to come here that is remarkable!

In distance, Mt.Olivia is in view, standing there for all the times Ushauai existed. The look of pile of granite sharply raising in a suitably dramatic way.

Ushuaia with Mt.Olivia at the back drop, Apr 2010.

Mt.Olivia in Ushuaia, Apr 2010.

The vaguely evil appearance delivers the feeling of the wicked witches. This dominating peak will not let you miss him out in any angles from the town and can see Mt.Olivia in every angle from the town.

As the night fall, I was heading back to the hostel for dinner.  And I passed by a house, something caught my attention.

Poppy Flower in Ushuaia neighbourhood, Apr 2010.

It is Poppy flower.  However, to be accurate, there is only 1 Poppy flower grows there.  Later on , I got to know from a Argentinean driver that it is legal to grow 1 Poppy flower (not more than 1) under the Argentinean law. Growing a single Poppy flower in the flower bed does not consider commercialization.
I was thinking - there is no such thing as single or not in Malaysia.  Any possesion related to heroin or marijuana is not far from the death penalty.  Well, it is not a very nice way to introduce my own country in the 1st impression by saying "In Malaysia, possession of heroin and marijuana can result a death peanalty.".  So, I keep quiet.

South America - the 6 un-Missable Missiones

For it is the dream of 28 years, I crafted my South America journey around Ushuaia. However, the more I research on the continent, I realized that there are a lot more to the continent than many others. I compiled a list, I had to forgo some of the wonders because of time and money limitation and here are my 6 un-Missable Missiones.

Ushuaia in Argentina, Apr 2010.

I know about the national parks of Los Glaciares where Perito Moreno Glacier is, of Torres del Paine where Los Torres are, and of El Chalten where Mt.Fitzroy is.  But, they are all either part of the Southern or Northern Patagonia Ice Field, the third largest ice sheet in the world. 

Perito Moreno Glacier in Argentina, Apr 2010.

I always somehow feel that I am more the Robinson Crusoe type of traveller, so I wonder about that little MOST remote island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, furthest away from all civilizations, having it's own sacred statues of Moai.  I can not miss Easter Island.

Easter Island in Chile, May 2010.

Even I been to Niagara Fall for numerous times in my six years in Canada, I read about how  Eleanor Roosevelt described the poor Niagara when she saw the Iquazu Falls, which is 27 times the size of Niagara.

Iquazu Falls in Brazil, May 2010.

I have read about it.  However, I have not realized how famous and awesome it is. As it is on the way in the journey from Chile to Peru, after Atacama Desert and before La Paz, I dropped by the Largest Salt Flat in the world.  Little that I know, the Salar de Uyuni  is mesmerizing!

Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia, May 2010.

Of course, I have always been fascinated by Machu Picchu and no one could miss it in a trip to South America. Reading so much about the sacred trail of Inka, trekking it is a MUST.

Machu Picchu in Peru, Jun 2010.

There are other wonders I really would like to go but it just have to wait for another time.  The 1st on the forgo list is the Galapagos Islands in which I am intended to come back for Ecuador in another time.  The 2nd is Falkland.  It is just too far, only flight from Santiago, expensive and not many options for accommodations.  The 3rd is the Chileo in Chile. Just like any other trips, there were just not enough time for reasearch so I missed this one out.

The good news is, I know I would come back for a 2nd journey before the 1st one even started.

South America - Argentina Gaiman, Y Wladfa

While Fernando Magellan could be the first European to see Patagonia and Charles Darwin spent weeks here on his famous journey in the Beagle, it is the Peon from Wales that made the little town of Gaiman defy all odds to be what it is. Known for its vast landscape, low grown Steppa (normally waist height) and occupying one-third of Argentina's landmass, Patagonia is not a desert by nature.

Flat, Wide and Empty Plain Patagonia, Apr 2010.

However, the Pampa is a chilly place to live and the remote south is flat, wide and an empty plain.  Gaiman is not.

Heading 15KM west of Trelew, after driving through land that seems to the horizon, rows of beautiful White Poplar tree came into view.  It reminds me of my Silk Road journey when the bus took me out of Kashgar to the Taklimakan Desert, I saw the same scene with rows of White Poplar tree for the first time.  White Poplar tree is heavily used in the desert for stopping sand erosion where it is used to circulate oasis, agricultural land or farm, and road. Here, it seems the whole Gaiman is circulated by the White Poplar tree. So, it is appropriate to call Gaimen, the oasis of Patagonia. When the bus drove through the White Poplar tree, I saw river streams along the road making the breeze feels like fresh Spring.  This is not common in Patagonia.

Water Canals in Gaiman, Apr 2010.

Not like other part of Argentina that are predominantly inhabited by Italian or Spanish, Gaiman, in the indigeneous Tehuelche means "Rocky Point", is inhabited by Welsh since the 18th century, fleeing their homeland for being repressed for their language and culture. Welsh shows their unbeatable skills in irrigation to make Gaiman an oasis bloom out of no where, probably the only one you can see in Patagonia.  Digging through the rocky underground (it is called "Rocky Point"), draining the underground water to make water canals, making irrigation likes never before in Patagonia. Gaiman is self sufficient and was the major production area for Patagonia wheat back in the 18th and 19th century. The elders here still speak native Welsh.

I, the tourist, came here for a taste of the Welsh heritage as it once was and the other main reason - the tea houses (tai te).  The tea houses here are still serving up the Welsh cream pastries to people like me, the toursit.  When I heard about Welsh pastries, I was already drooling.  When I arrived at Casa de Te Play y Coed, I was absolutely joy filled.

Casa de Te Plas y Coed in Gaiman, Apr 2010.

Greedily, I order the size for two.  Well, there is no size for one. :-), and when the nice Welsh lady put the tray on the table, I was glad that I had a small breakfast and no lunch.

Welsh tea and pastries at Casa de Te Plas y Coed in Gaiman, Apr 2010.

I don't have to describe its delicious.  If you ever come across a chance to try Welsh pastries, please don't be hesitated!  I finished every bit of it! :-), sorry, I don't waste.

I guess I needed a little walk after such satisfaction.  Gaiman is a lovely town, even though today it seems the young people have all left, the Y Wladfa (Welsh settlement) which once before can be seen through the old houses built with the Welsh culture along the street.

The 1st Welsh house built in Gaiman, Apr 2010.

Gaiman and the Welsh remind me a piece of land called the "Holland Marsh" located north of Toronto in the county of North York. North York has a rocky bottom just like Gaiman. When the Dutch came and settled at North York where no one knows how to live there due to  the irrigation issue.  The Dutch used their best skills, dig through the rocky bottom, drained the underground water, built the irrigation canals and today the Holland Marsh is covered with miles and miles of veggie farms which supply all the fresh veggie for Toronto and the Ontarion province. I enjoyed the breeze everytime driving through the Holland Marsh. Some called them the good farmers, some said they are very intelligent, I said human as all we are, is the survivor when we think cohesively with nature!

South America - Argentina Punta Tombo, no Man land!

The reason I stop at Trelew on the way to Ushuaia is Penguins.  When I first heard about the sentence - a colony of penguins, I didn't quite get the meaning of "a colony". But I guess for all of us who had watched the movie "Happy Feet", the anticipation is nevertheless high.

A very windy but sunny morning, I woke up very early as the trip to Punta Tombo takes hours. Punta Tombo is also a peninsula where the whole peninsula is a reserve.  There is no human habitat allowed here except the conservation and research personnels.

Our guide briefed us on the rules of visiting - no touching, no physical contact, a minimum distance of 3 feet, don't go off the trail, no camera flashing (it scares the penguin) and I love this cutest last rule - if a penguin is curious of you or your camera, and walk toward you, you need to backing off.  Keep your distance! :-)

When we reach the park, I suddenly realized what is the meaning of "colony".  It is a colony!

Penguin Reserve in Punta Tombo, Apr 2010.

When the scene of penguins full on the hill comes into view, it gives one those moments we open our mouth but has no word.  Punta Tombo is the largest reseve for the Magellanic Penguins to mate and migrate, closed to 500,000 penguins come here every year. This is not the mating season, so no incubating of eggs or preparing offsprings for migration.  April is the molding season and there were many young penguins are in the cycle of shredding their feather.

Penguin in Punta Tombo, Apr 2010.

This one little guy, he/she got curious of me and keep walking toward me, probably because of my camera.  I have to keep backing off.  I love the way they walk, a bit like bouncing.

Penguin in Punta Tombo, Apr 2010.

Penguin in Punta Tombo, Apr 2010.

While another little fellow, he/she shows off the penguin howl.  Appearantly, it is the way they communicate. 

I can't help but to notice that penguins are very lovey animals, they always come as a couple, walk side by side, back and front and turn their head left and right when they're boucing off.  I kind of jealeous of them, as they seem to really understand the meaning of life and enjoying it!

Penguin in Punta Tombo, Apr 2010.

Penguin in Punta Tombo, Apr 2010.

Penguins in Punta Tombo, Apr 2010.

My favourite is this lovely couple. They hide under a little walkway on our trail from the freezing Patagonia Wind, helping each on shredding their feather.

 

All these penguins do not seem to aware of the existing of human visitors, for the fact that this should be a no Man land.  At here, they are the habitat and it is their land.

South America - Argentina Peninsula Valdes, where Nature is the Boss!

It was Apr Fool where Good Friday and Easter Sunday was around the corner, I took the early morning flight from Buenos Aires to Trelew. The morning air was refreshing but the queue was long at the check in counter. First experience of not being able to speak the language, bad, even though quite a lot of local knows English. I got a windowless seat right next to the propeller at the end of an old small DC plane. For the next few hours, my ears were deaftened. But it was a full flight, so I can not complain.  When the flight got in to Trelew, some of us got off while our luggages do not.  The plane took off to Ushuaia, but our luggages were left in Buenos Aires and we are physically in Trelew. That is how we learnt about company runs by government is not a good idea.

Puerto Madryn, Apr 2010.

From Trelew, I took a 2 hours drive to Puerto Madryn, not a long distance but the first thing to learn about Patagonia - Wind is Strong here! So, drive slow! Without my luggage, I had no warm clothing and no cloth to change for the day or night. Aerolineas promised to deliver the luggage by noon the next day. The receptionist from Los Tulipanes offered to borrow me her sweater for the next day tour as the temperature was dropping to freezing point low.

The Patagonia Wind is likely to put you to sleep in 10 minutes if you are walking outside.  The land is vast, no high grown, all steppa, thus the wind swept ferrociously!  I learnt that the first thing next morning, I was freezing.  With a T-shirt and a borrowed sweater, I made the journey to Peninsula Valdes. The whole peninsula is a nature reserve, even before we reach the park, we saw many Guanacos running around.

Guanacos in Peninsula Valdes, Apr 2010.

The park is 1,400 square miles.  In South America, you will still see farms in national parks or nature reserves.  The reason is the farms and farmers were here first.  The land was designated as national park or nature reserve later.  In these countries, the government do not drive the farmers out of the land, but work with the farmers to preserve the land.

When we reach the parking and started hiking around the park, I started to see animals that I never see before. Guanacos, Pichi, Zorro Gris Chico (a type of fox) are running around every where.

Pichi in Peninsula Valdes, Apr 2010.

ZorroGrisChico in Peninsula Valdes, Apr 2010.

Most of the visitors coming here for a chance to see the Baleen whales, Orcas, Elephant and Fur seals, and sea lions.  I didn't see the whales as it was not the season.  As we reach the shoreline, we saw some flippers right at the distance and out our guide shouted "I can't believe it, we are lucky!".  There was a family of Orcas swimming north, and we run!  The Orcas swam all the way north, then turn back and swam all the way south.  They are not showcasing themselves.  According to the guide, it is the way they search for food - fish!  I watched the flippers for almost 30 minutes, did not manage to capture a photo when they  action their stunt.

When I walked down the shoreline, I realized that the animals here do not fear human.  For the fact that the animals here have more right than human, we were not allowed to go near or touch the animals, no contact.  You shall see the seals and the sea lions seem to be lazying around, just like this family, having a love scene!

Seals + Sea Lions in Peninsula Valdes, Apr 2010.

Peninsula Valdes Shoreline, Apr 2010.

I have not mentioned about the Magellanic Penguins.  For all about it, I waited till Punta Tombo the next day.

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!