Hasta Luego Buenos Aires

I can't believe it's time to go home. I feel like I had so much and yet so little time here! Bah studying!

There is so much left to see, do, explore. I can't wait to come back. I feel like I was just getting to know the city, and now I have to leave! I spent the first week trying to understand Peronism, Evita, and their history. The second week was mostly studying, the third week, mostly studying and exploring Recoleta. Now I need a fourth and fifth week to get down to business.

Here's what I'm doing next time:

Abuelos de Plaza de Mayo -just learned they still march every Thursday afternoon. How did I not know this? How is this not on everyone's top 10 of BA list? The guidebooks don't mention it. I am UPSET at myself for just finding this out now.

Visit MALBA

Enjoy the Botanical Garden...I really should have done this, it was so hot though and an hour walk away.

Feria de Matadores





Watch the stars at the Galileo Planetarium

Explore Argentina's past at the Museum of National History (just learned about this today, why!?!)

Go on a Graffiti Tour

Dance at a Milonga



Pay homage to Carlos Gardel at the Tango Museum

Visit Ex ESMA and pay my respects to the Desaparecidos

Go to an event at Teatro Colon

I love living in a different place so much. Understanding and appreciating the history (every place has its horrors and heroines), I love eating the food, listening to the language, reading the news, watching the movies, listening to the music. But 3 weeks is not enough! Especially with studying full time! Heck, I've been here 6 weeks technically and its not enough! It just leaves me finally beginning to peel apart the layers and figuring stuff out. Can't I stay longer?

But this is the great part of traveling. Now, I have my entire life to be interested and enthused and pay more attention. Still, there is something so unique about living in a place, breathing the air, seeing the architecture, the street art that just makes you want to dive in and learn more.

Casa Rosada

On my way to San Telmo, I noticed that people were walking right inside Casa Rosada. What?! Ok me too. A free tour? Yes please! It was awesome!  There is a beautiful art room, the room celebrating the Women of Argentina in which the President gives important speeches. There is the Salon de Eva Peron.  The tour even includes the President's office! No photos allowed in there, but man, Christina has a LARGE pile of books on her desk, and very sweet photos in her office. Could you imagine visiting the Oval Office?! Apparently no one comes to work on the weekend, and the President lives elsewhere. I was so pleased with stumbling across this experience!

Evita's desk

Abuelas de Plaza de Mayo

This cartoon runs on the children's channel of the Argentine Ministry of Education, explains the reasons and history behind the "Rights of Identity" and exactly what the Abuelas are still working for.

I'm sorry it's only in Spanish...

Who is Mafalda?

At the flea market today, I saw so many "Mafalda" items- t-shirts, bags, mugs, keychains, even refrigerator magnets. Clearly she was a character from a beloved Argentine cartoon that I knew nothing about. I thought I'd share with you my findings...

Mafalda is a cartoon character from the late 1960s to early 1970s, created by "Quino". She is a 6 year old girl, who "reflects the Latin American middle class and progressive youth, which is concerned about humanity and world peace and rebels against the world bequeathed by their elders". 






Aww! No wonder she is so beloved! I totally would have bought a t-shirt!

Update: I found Mafalda, La Pelicula with English subtitles on youtube, had to share!

Feria de San Pedro Telmo

I can describe the San Telmo Antiques Fair in just one word: OVERWHELMING!!!

The traditional antiques fair is centered around Plaza Dorego, but there are 270+ stands set up over almost a mile along Defensa. It's awesome and exhausting, so many people, so much stuff to look at, and several different bands playing throughout. A really cool place to check out. I hear it's a big pickpocket area, but I didn't have any trouble. I'm running out of pesos, or else I would have several items I'd be taking home with me!

View from my window in Recoleta

The stormy summer here in BA creates such beautiful skies! Counting my blessings :)

Ciao!

Julia

Argentine Women

One of the most unexpectedly pleasant surprises of living in BA is seeing how many distinguished, well-dressed, older women they are. Women here do a wonderful job of taking care of themselves.

You might here that Argentina has a huge amount of plastic surgeries and its probably true, but of course that's not what I'm talking about at all. I'm talking about the two 70 year old women who sat next to me at the tea shop, with put together hair and make-up that celebrated their age, jewelry that added glamour, and sophisticated outfits like a button down shirt with a skirt and cute belt and nice sandals.

I LOVE the shoes in Argentina. So many flats, low heels, and wedges that women can actually walk in. (The current platform trend isn't my favorite, but that's why its a trend). As I was running I passed a woman walking down the street, about 60 years old, wearing skinny white pants with wedge sandals and a lovely colorful blue blouse with coordinated jewelry. Good fashion amongst older women here is just so plentiful!

Many seem very fit, that is likely due to where I'm staying, downtown, no need to drive, can walk and do all the errands.

Mostly, I love their sense of style. It's so classic. With most of the women I observe, you can tell the clothes aren't new, the shoes aren't spectacularly fashionable, the earrings aren't exorbitantly expensive.

I am in Recoleta, the most posh, ritzy and European part of the city. Shouldn't I expect this? But I think their sense of style is better than any US city or European city I've visited. Mostly I'm shocked by the shear number of women in their 60-80s I've seen that I've been impressed with. These women are not staying at home all day, they are getting out!

Buenos Aires Street Art

BA is well known for great works of graffiti art. There are even tours you can take! Just about every walk I take, I come across something interesting.

Ciao!
Julia

Ladies Night!

My local Tea Connection here in Recoleta has a Ladies Night, where they give you a 15% discount AND 5% of the proceeds goes towards women's groups via www.mujeres2000.org.ar.

This was made even sweeter by the fact that there was phad thai* on the menu!!! My first taste of asian food in South America, and while my photos didn't turn out well, the phad thai was delicious! Very unlike phad thai in the US though with corn, peas, and red onions. I also enjoyed a tasty berry iced tea. While ice is a rarity in other parts of BA, this place makes super icy iced tea. Perfect after a hot and humid run.

This might be the best addition to my UWorld QBank studying yet!

I love Argentinian food, but this phad thai was a real treat!

*spelled "phad" thai because that it how it was spelled on the menu :)

Sculpture Run!

Running through Recoleta in the early evening is the best. Plenty of people out biking, rollerblading, running, walking. I noticed there are so many sculptures on my run that it begs to be named the "Sculpture Run". Here are just a few shots of the many sculptures. See for yourself!

A Memorial Plaque to the Disappeared Artists of the Recoleta Crafts Fair

Nice trail!

Relaxing on the lawn like all the other portenos

Runner's Logic

What is with my cameras not charging? I would have some excellent photos for today...except my camera won't charge. Booooo.

Have you ever gone on a run and literally felt like you were going to fall over because your legs felt weak and heavy? Well, that was my run today. Not fun, but slow and steady right? I made it 20 minutes before I had to walk home. Yikes! I blame it on the combo of the BA heat/humidity and starting to study for my Boards. The one-two punch.

So my days are becoming less blog worthy, as I study more, frequent the same places, and am not as touristy. BUT, I still managed to eat a delicious bife de chorizo sandwich for dinner. I'm sorry I don't have a wonderful photo.

Tomorrow brings another date with USMLE World qbank. I will become a doctor soon, just 2 more big tests and A LOT of practice questions before I get my medical license...

Update:
This is EXACTLY what went through my mind today as I geared up to go running...

El Ateneo

I'm so sad I forgot to bring my camera today!

After a nice walk along Santa Fe, with some window shopping of course, I stopped at El Ateneo. El Ateneo was an old theater where many of BA's greats performed, and now it still has its original bones but has been made into a wonderful bookstore. I had a terrific lunch at the cafe, which is where the stage used to be.  I ate a delicious fugazzetta, that was amazing with some hot tea on this stormy day. Fugazzetta reminds you of Argentina's Italian heritage, with a BA twist. It's a rich cheesy pizza with onions and oregano.

El Ateneo

A replica of the fugazetta I had for lunch

Me in El Ateneo previously

Recoleta Crafts Fair

Another sunny Sunday in BA. And WOW, the crafts fair was so happening this afternoon! There was even live music playing, so many people sitting in the shade enjoying the great mid 70s weather with a breeze. I took a run through the park which was also packed with families, runners, rollerbladers, bikers, kids. So great!

Tea Connection

Tea Connection is a great place around the corner. Enjoyed a delicious chai there on Friday, will definitely return!

T.G.I.R.

Thank God its Raining!

Lightning and thunder for most of last night. So cool and nice today. Took a run (and some photos).

Stormy clouds over Recoleta Cemetary

In motion

Graffiti art on Bridge overlooking University of Buenos Aires

"91 degrees, feels like 110"

That was the weather report for this afternoon. Oh boy it's been a hot one today! And I take a long walk to Museo Evita. Haven't felt this close to passing out before.

Some photos of the day...

My fresh pasta with pesto and baguette with brie

Unnamed sculpture nearby Recoleta Mall

The best of the US

Museo Evita, the building previously housed one of Eva's shelters for Women and Children

Evita Peron

A collection of Evita's stylish outfits

BA street art