1st day in Buenos Aires :-)

Rested after my first night at hostel Casa Esmerelda I spent the first morning on a cash-point hunt that took me through the streets of Barrio Palerma and past many interesting murals.

 

Made in China

The children observe the progress of a village when capitalism arrives.

I met fellow travellers Mel, Liam and Günter over a long relaxed chatty breakfast, and the afternoon we headed out as a group towards Recoleta Cemetery, where Evita Peron is apparently buried.  On our way Güunter pointed out the number of houses and apartments that had a pair of flags flying from their balconies for Easter weekend: the one on the left in the photo the Roman Catholic church and one on the right the Argentinian flag.

On the way to the cemetery we came across a car race in Recoleta Park, the Argentine Championship Super TC2000, where we stopped to enjoy chorizo rolls and later happened upon a pair of professional dancers busking under a sweeping tree.

After a chilled afternoon, and a short and peaceful visit to the cemetery we headed for a couple of beers at my first Irish bar of this trip, where Günter, Mel and Liam were happy to participate in the postcard project, thanks folks! :-)

Daniela and comic strip Mafalda on the metro:

"Look, this is the world, see?

Do you know why its lovely, this world? Eh?

Becuase it's a model.  The original is a disaster!"

I headed from our beers to meet Daniela, my friend from the Villa Alegre residency.  Originally from Colombia, Daniela came to Buenos Aires to study and has been here two years now.  Back at Dani's we made dinner with her mate Camilla, a lovely Chilean girl who also came to Argentina to take advantage of the free uni education.  Later that night we headed to Pachamama, a brilliant underground arts venue in a crumby old building, where poets and musicians performed on an open mic til the early hours of the morning, and where you show appreciation by clicking your fingers rather than clapping out of respect for the neighbours living above.

Shh! Pull it together and don't shout! 

There was a brilliant crew of folk at Pachamama, and it felt like a real privilege to get to come along to such a local artsy scene.  After a long night of enjoying the performances we eventually headed home around 6am, just sneaking in before the sun rose!

:-)