Here and There, Buenos Aires

Here is a random assortment of pictures, snapshots from my photographic expeditions that don't belong to any particular theme or location. Enjoy!

The bench looks... tired.

The streets of Buenos Airesare litered with thousands of puestos de flores (flower kiosks). They add bursts of colour and lovely aroma to the city. Jasmin is especially popular.

Wake up, World.

My favourite Argentinian beer (for its name, not its taste, of course).

A restaurant in a remote barrio.

Des bubulles!

 

A cool little park in Palermo.

 Watermelons here are LONG!

A lovely colonial window in one of Buenos Aires' posh neighbourhoods.

Street art.

Outside the famous Café Tortoni.

Detail on a lovely door in the Microcentro.

Pizza scooters!

Connected!

The morning of the 28th, Roberto and I headed out to Palermo Hollywood to buy a cellphone. I figured, since I did not have neither home nor routine, this would be an important tool to keep me connected to the world around me–to start building a network of acquaintances. After all, I was building a life from scratch and I had no idea where to start. Also, it would help me tremendously with my job search. I chose the most basic plan and the cheapest phone, and Roberto helped me along with the procedure. We walked back home talking about clothing vocabulary as we passed by shop windows.

I decided to spend part of my afternoon at one of my favourite museums in Buenos Aires, which happened to be half-price on Wednesdays. MALBA (Museo de Arte Latinoamerico de Buenos Aires) has a great collection of modern Latin American art (1900-present) and additionally hold exhibitions on contemporary artists. They also have a great giftshop with tons of art and design books in both English and Spanish.

Entrance to MALBA

A cool bench inside the museum

On my way to MALBA, I stopped for a stroll in the Jardín Japonés (Japanese Garden), an enclosed haven between busy boulevards.

 

An indispensible part of my visit to MALBA was a tarriance in the Café des Arts, the wonderful coffee shop and restaurant adjoining the museum, where you cannot help but feel sophisticated and classy as you sip your tea, or nibble on the hors-d'oeuvres.

Sitting on my padded chair in the outside terrace, I received my first Buenos Aires phone call. It was my ex-boyfriend, wanting to know if I wanted to get together some time in the evening. We set an hour in which he could meet me in front of my new apartment.

Mauricio and I took a nice stroll through Palermo. He showed me his apartment and we ended up in Plaza Serrano, having a drink outside at one of the busy bars.

My New Barrio

In the morning, I phoned Roberto straight away to confirm that I would take the room. He told me I could arrive at 5:00. So, in the meantime, I put my luggage in the hostel's storage area and went for one last walk in San Telmo (I sure I will still go there, but not as often, now that I live on the other side of town).

 

 

 

I passed by the centre, because I needed some money, and poked my nose in a few antique and second-hand bookshops. After standing in line at five different banks, I finally was able to withdraw money. I returned to the hostel at four, and took a taxi with all my stuff to my new home on Santa Fe. 

 Farmacia de la Estrella was founded in 1834

Books!

I find the apartment pretty feo (ugly-especially my room), but it is spacious and comfortable. However distasteful it might be, I know that I will be able to feel much more at home here than in any hostel. Plus, I could not have asked for a better location, right on the intersection between the Palermo of shopping, cafés and nightlife, and the Palermo of parks. What is more, the entrance to the subte is just one step away (literally-you come out the door and are almost falling down the subte stairs). After showing me around, Roberto prepared a coffee for himself and a tea for me. Then, we went out to grab a few things that I would need to start my life in Buenos Aires, which also served as a short introduction to the barrio. I love how every moment with him is part of a lesson. He asks me what things are called as we run across them, corrects and mistakes and taught me new expressions. So far, he seems to be a great teacher.

On the way back, he showed me what he claims is one of the best pescaderías (fish shops) in the city. It is only two blocks away from the house, so I think I will be there often, stocking up on seafood for my kitchen experiments.

At 9:00 in the evening, I am sitting outside one of my favourite cafés in Palermo Viejo, Mama Racha, much more busy now that the night has fallen and dinner time is approaching. The world around me is abuzz with conversation. It is getting chilly, but I feel much more relaxed, now that I am settled in, that I don't have to deal with hostel life, and with looking for a place to stay.

I walk back to my new apartment quite content. It is midnight by the time I am finally eating dinner.