People Watching

Every since I can remember, I have always enjoyed people watching.  Observing the dynamics, quirks, and everyday ennui, interests me enough that I can spend hours being a fly on the wall.  Add a camera, and I can actually document the fascinating mundane.  Yes, I know that’s an oxymoron and yes, I know I sound a little bit creepy.  Sorry. 

Today the weather was pleasant, I was alone in my apartment, and I could hear music coming three blocks away from what I assumed was the park.  Being the month of “Carnival,” things in Buenos Aires have been a little bit more musical than usual.  So, I got dressed, packed my Canon point and shoot and headed out.  Saturdays are my favorite day of week here.  People flock to the parks, vendors set out blankets advertising an assortment of handicrafts and used goods for sale, and the opportunity to people watch is much is at its best.  My goal for the day was to work on taking some candid shots, something that has always been difficult for me.  I always feel self conscious whipping out my camera and taking pictures of random people doing random things.  Sometimes I get smiles, sometimes frowns, I also get blank looks, curious looks, irritated looks, amused looks, and sometimes when I take pictures of kids, I get a “stop taking pictures of my kid you creep” look.  Understandable, I am good enough at reading body language to know when someone does not want their picture taken.   That’s fine.  I sometimes feel the same way when my husband put his camera in my face. 

I spent two hours of circling the park, listening to live music and taking in Argentine life on a Saturday afternoon.  Then the rain clouds rolled in, and it was time to go home.  When I got back home I uploaded my pictures on my computer, and was not surprised to discover that a lot of the pictures I look are crappy.  Unfocused, uninteresting, ordinary.  I’m not a professional photographer, not even semi, I just like taking pictures, and I am still learning how to use my camera. Yet in my mix of unprofessional pictures, I managed to pick out a few that I like, a few that show what Argentines like to do in the park on a Saturday.

Feeling the Music

The Kiss

Caballo de la Parque

Boys

Painting

Concentration

Kitty

Ajedrez (Chess)

Urban Art

Buenos Aires is a colorful city.  Graffiti art and murals are common, and include everything from whimsical pictures to political messages.  They can be found on the sides of schools, in the park, or on random street corners.  These are a few murals I have captured while out and about.

Blue Man

Argentine Flag

"Eyes"

Elementary School Mural

"Soccer for Everyone!"

En Parque Rivadavia

Face in the Wall

City Tromping

City Door

Photographs taken while tromping around Buenos Aires.

Street Toys For  Sale

 

Thomas

Handicrafts

I love handicrafts, and supporting local artisans; but I am often bummed by the fact that I am unable to buy all of the things I want back home in Denver because of the price tag.  I am a teacher, so naturally that means I make squat.  Traveling abroad however present a new scenario:  strong US dollar, weaker foreign currency equals the opportunity to indulge.  Today while taking a stroll around my neighborhood I came across the coolest thing ever, aluminum deodorant cans that had been cut, bent, and painted to represent miniature chairs.  The chairs had been painted with colors to symbolize the various popular soccer teams in Argentina.  For just eight Argentine pesos (roughly one dollar and eight six cents American) one of these chairs could be yours forever.  I of course bought one, and since I like supporting my local artisans, I let the nice man who sold me my chair keep the change.

Chairs

My Travel Buddy

My Husband Thomas

The Chef

Chef

Candid shot of a chef at the cafe we were eating lunch at today...

Cementerio de Recoleta

Today my husband and I took a field trip to visit the Cementerio de Recoleta.  If you ever make if to Buenos Aires, you have to see it.  It is an amazing sight to behold.  Built in the 1700’s by monks, Cementerio de Recoleta is comprised of 14 acres of very elaborate graves, crypts, and mausoleums.  Argentina’s famous Evita Peron is buried there.  You could spend an entire day walking amongst the maze of ornate grave sites.  I always find it fascinating how other cultures pay homage to their dead.  For the wealthy of Buenos Aires, elaborate is the word that comes to mind…

Inside a Mausoleum

Cobwebs

Jesus in the Window

Lampost

Standing Guard

Shhh...

Stained Glass Crypt

Brick Wall Angel

The Window

Subway Station Art

Subway Station Art

This is a picture of Anibal Troilo, a famous Argentine accordion player...popular in the 40's during the "Golden Age of Tango..."

Out and About...

I took these photos while riding on a double-decker city tour bus...

Blue Skies

This building is called Cabildo de Buenos Aires it is a museum, but was once a building used for the former Spanish colonial administrative council. 

Mural

This is a shot of a mural taken on Avenida Florida, a large street and pedestrian mall in downtown Buenos Aires.

La Rebelion

A shot of a random mural...there are a lot here.

Comedor

Taken in La Boca, a very unique part of Buenos Aires known for poverty and colorful

architecture.

La Boca

Mi Barrio (My Neighborhood)

Thomas and I lucked out.  We were able to find a room for rent in an apartment in my favorite part of the city called Caballito (translated it means "little horse).  Caballito is about a thirty minute bus ride from the center of Buenos Aires.  If Buenos Aires were New York City, living in Caballito would be like living in Brooklyn.  It's a busy area, but you don't see very many tourists in these parts.  There are coffee shops and parks and magnificent tree-lined streets.  Its a nice area to live.  For $400 a month Thomas and I live in a two bedroom apartment with a an orange cat and an older male flat mate who is hardly ever home.  The bathroom is a tenth the size of my old one, and there isn't air conditioning, but we like it.  For now, it's home. 

Taking a reading break...

Photos I took around Caballito:

Outdoor Book Shop

The Argentine people love books and they have one of the highest literacy rates in the world.  It is very common to see these outdoor book shops selling everything from musty classics to kids picture books.

Books for Sale

Argentine Youth

I got lucky when I snapped this picture.  With the reverse seasons (we are very far South) kids here are on summer break until March.  This was taken at a park near our apartment called Parque Rivadavia.  From experience, I would have to say that Argentina has some very awesome young people.  Most are very friendly, speak some English, are eager to chat, and are very globally aware. I spotted this group of youngsters hanging out in the park and pointed my camera to take a picture, spotting my intentions one of the kids decided to strike a pose.

My Husband Thomas the Photographer

This is my husband and best friend Thomas.  He takes amazing pictures.

Buenos Aires

My name is Angela; I live in Buenos Aires, Argentina with my husband Thomas.  I'm not Argentine, not even close.  I'm a nanny/teacher from Denver, Colorado.  I like mountains, but I have never gone skiing.  I like big noisy cities, hence why I decided to up and move thousands of miles away to one of my favorite cities in the world.  I like city tromping. I've seen some amazing places in my life, but for some reason Buenos Aires has my heart.  My husband Thomas is a budding photographer, I guess I am too.  Together we like to take pictures.  We like to capture anything that looks interesting.

Avenida de Mayo (My favorite Street)

I decided to start a blog because I wanted to record this experience. Thomas and I left home with backpacks, bloated duffel bags, and some savings.  We didn't have jobs or even a place to live exactly when we arrived at the airport.  Why the risk?  Because, what is life worth living without adventure when the farthest you can fall is back home on your mom's coach, and scanning the Craig’s List want ads?  Besides, I am putting stock that the college degree I'm now 10k deep in student loans for is going to somehow pay off.  I'm hoping to put my education degree to good use and hopefully get a job teaching English, or maybe we'll get lucky and people will pay us to take their picture.  You never know....