Big street

Big street

Av. 9 Julio has a total of 18 lanes which obviously all cant been seen in this photo. Like just about every thing else in Argentina, they also claim to have the widest street in the world. This Av. is probably 800' or so wide with three medians that are covered in trees. I will have to steep it off next time I cross it.

Wall street

This intersection is at the beginning of what the Argentines call there wall street, there are banks from all over the world and more armored cars than Ive ever seen. Watching the men who operated one armored truck during its pick up was quit a deal, it was almost like they were expecting an attack with there guns drawn and all. You have to watch your ass when you walk around this fucking place, as the armored trucks do "NOT" yield for pedestrians at all!!!. It was very obvious, that I was the only one who was unaware of that fact as I damn near got ran over by a big box of money.

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Houses

Looked at these couple of really nice little houses located in Las Conitas with Rafael from the local Re Max, and learned that all homes in Argentina owned by foreigners are pain in cash as mortgages are not available to them. One of these little homes would work great for the anti Wisconsin winter program.

Many houses in the area have been replaced with high rise apartment buildings, local zoning will only allow the north end, south end, east end plus all four corners of a city block to house high rise buildings, witch makes west facing homes like these more affordable. Still not sure why that is.

Mall

Malls are not really my thing but I had to snap a shot as it is probably one of the nicest and cleanest ones Ive seen and defiantly not what you would expect in South America.

Las Conitas

Las Conitas is one of the nicer areas around, it is very quiet during the day but also has bars, a few clubs and lots of really good indoor/outdoor restaurants. Lots of night time action without all the tourist shit. Check out the old white ford Fairlain, haven't seen one of them babies in years.

I had my first steak in Las Conitas last night at a place called Campobravo, which is owned by a beef farmer who takes claim to serving the finest steaks around. I had a rib eye, a couple coronas and a flan for 41 pesos, about 14$ us which isn't too bad as this is considered to be one of the higher urent districts.

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Constant Air

Almost all the buses and semi trucks have these goofy looking rotating joint air suppliers, one bus continued operation even though the tire was loosing large volumes of air. You could tell the driver thought it was cool that he could stay behind the wheel, as he ignored a pedestrian who was trying to point out the leak.

San Telmo

San Telmo is an older neighborhood with mostly cobble stone streets and lots of antique shops located near the water. This photo was taken on Ave. Defenca, which got it name from being the main escape rout from harbor attacks. It is a very narrow one way street, which still runs in the direction away from the water as it did when they ran from there enemy attacks.

From what I'm told, this is the tomb of the Argentine general San Martin, who was supposedly the first good guy/bad ass who defended this country from invaders and then was later betrayed by the rich and political people of Argentina.

There are many old restaurants and bars like the one below still in operation just as they were years ago. A visit to San Telmo is like going back in time.

This is an old open air meat market located in San Telmo, it was quite fancy for its time with its granite counter tops and pressed tin siding.

Across the way is a third generation butcher who is quick with his knots but probably near the end of running this little meat market. I think I might have hurt his feelings by passing on the dog.

La Boca

La Boca is one of the older parts of the city located near the mouth of the port, which is where many of the Italian emigrants lived. It is a day time "only" tourist area, packed with stores, restaurants and bars. Not a safe place to be at knight unless your looking to donate a piece of your ass and some personal belongings.

La Boca is where the emigrants introduced Tango to the people of Argentina. This photo was snapped of the lady in red, unfortunately their spin was way to fast for the $99. Kodak. Tango is performed on the side walks throughout the day, mostly by the restaurants employees as entertain for uthere customers.

Most of the wood that was used for construction in La Boca was salvaged from the old cargo crates. I wonder what colors they passed on to pick these.

Monday, February 11, 2008

New Apartments

Took a tour of an apartment building today that is still under construction, located in a great area filled with really cool open air type restaurant's and tons of night life within walking distance.
This building even has its own movie theater in the basement, although you end up paying for more shit than you would probably use, for example "child care".

Any partners?

Take a tour at www.ennarce.com.ar

Sunday, February 10, 2008

Rental apt

There is supposed to be a place for rent in this nice twenty floor apt building located in Recoleta, with sixty square meters of space for around $700. U.S. a month with a six month lease. Complete gym and pool on the top floor with 24 hour security and covered parking witch is of no use as wheels are not needed to live in B.A. This is a free standing, newer looking building with lots of glass located in the heart of a very nice area.

Immigrant Buildings

These neat old buildings are in an area called Purto Madero, which is along the main water way in B.A., where the old ships would dock to transfer there cargo. This is where most of the immigrants stayed for the first few days after there arrival, making B.A. one of the largest human melting pots in the world.

Between 1857 and 1914, more than 3,300,00 immigrants arrived in Argentina mostly from Italy and Spain.

There are a total of five buildings, with some in 1000 plus feet range that housed thousands of immigrants at a time. In Europe, the immigrants would load the bottom of the ships with heavy cobble stones for better balance for the crossing of the great Atlantic ocean.
After arriving in B.A., the immigrants would unload the stone and then reload the ships with grain for the return trip back to Europe. This was all part of immigrants pay towards the fair to come to Argentina. Many of the streets in the older parts of the city are still lined with these same stones today. Some of the old cobble stone can be seen in these photos.

Its hard to imagine restaurants like Hooters, and T.G.I Fridays being located in the same buildings were starving immigrants once stayed.

Air Plain

I ran in to a guy last night that built air plains, so I decided to stop by his shop today and have a look. I guess he does.

Empenathas

Here are my pork, chicken and carne enpenathas, being cooked in this old wood fired stone oven that is now converted to gas.

These things are the best!!!!! all within a one minute walk from my apartment.
I got 3 empenathas, and an ice cold Coke for 8 pesos, thats around $2.60 US.

Cemetary

The Recoleta cemetery is directly across the street from my first apt, this is were the well liked Argentine women Evita Peron now rest, which is who Madonna played in the movie Evita. It is filled with tombs only and is completely surrounded by a very high brick wall. It is supposedly the third most architectural cemetery in the world, and defiantly worth a visit. Dead people on one side of the street with tons of restaurants, bars and night clubs on the other.

The vegetable garden of the "Recoletos" monks, became this public cemetery in 1822 after the eviction of the religious order.

There are 54,843 meters of area with 4800 vaults.

The wall.