Ego Monsters

From El espíritu de los cínicos

Un domingo

Hace más de un mes empecé un curso de fotografía en la Escuela Rosarina de Fotografía y estoy muy contenta. No sólo porque estoy aprendiendo un montón, sino porque conocí gente muy copada. 

Ayer domingo decidimos encontrarnos todos en el Centro de Expresiones Contemporáneas para ver un par de muestras y terminamos en el MACRO. 

Enjoy!

Paula Modersohn-Becker y los Artistas De Worpswede

Augusto Costhanzo

Feria

Rosario’s Museum of Contemporary Art (Macro)

Nazza Stencil

Notes on Buenos Aires: A City de Mierda y Capos

This is why I love Matador so much. Articles written by foreigners that live in Argentina. Another point of view of your life. Sometimes we are so pessimistic, negative about our country that we forget how beautiful it is. And I’m not only talking about the architecture, but the people too.

 Photo by libertinus

You have to be careful not to step in dogshit in Buenos Aires. For some, that’s what they’ll remember most about it. In what terms do you ‘see’ a place?

Riding home from Palermo on the creaking subte during rush hour madness. People elbowing me in the back. The heat of so many bodies. Everyone keeping his or her head down. Looks ranging from disgust to all-out despair on the faces. Nobody saying a word.

“Viste lo que es?” my friend Gustavo asks. You see what this is?

I nod and and think about it for a second and then say, “People get used to anything after a while.” The verb acostumbrar: to become accustomed to.

The train rocks through the curves and we all lean into one another, then recoil, pretending we never felt or smelt each others’ bodies.

“This is us,” Gusavo says. We push our way out through a dozen people–”permiso. . . con permiso…perdón,” nearly falling into the station where a guy wearing a scarf is playing a somber and perfect melody on the cello. Gustavo flips a coin into his open instrument case. We climb the filthy stairs to the cold and miraculous air outside.

“Those poor people,” Gustavo says. “They have to do this every day.”

“That many people, traveling every day… you’d think there’d be enough revenue to improve the transit system.” As soon as this is of my mouth–even though it was in flawless Spanish–I realize how much of a Gringo-sounding statement I’ve just made.

“Cuidado!” I step over a huge pile of dogshit. Then I say: “So these people get on a train de mierda, go to jobs de mierda, and then on their way home, actually step in mierda?”“Yeah, but it all ends up in the impresarios’ pockets,” Gustavo says. “It’s a país de mierda.” A shit country.

“Exactemente,” Gustavo says, laughing. “Es todo mierda.”

Gustavo and I have had this same conversation–how Buenos Aires is una mierda–off and on for the last five years. He was born here and lives here but every few months just can’t take it anymore and ends up cooking or managing some restaurant in Mar del Plata or Miami or Costa Rica.

Anyone who is used to clean streets and orderly public transportation will see immediately how Buenos Aires is a city de mierda. But at the same time there’s something lovable and unbreakable about this place.

At the bottom of it all are the street dogs–some with unspeakable wounds and scars and deformities–trotting the concrete, tougher than any army. There’s the guy playing cello. Adding just the right soundtrack to the madness of the subway.

And then there are the capos, those doing whatever it is under whatever circumstances–whether it’s playing soccer or delivering babies–as well as it can be done.

Photo by Loco085

Capos are rare, but you meet them here from time to time, like today in the Cafe Ocho Rincones, on the corner of Forest and Alvarez Thomas. Lau and I walked in and sat down, and there he was, immediately nodding at us that he’d noted our entry and would be right over.

A waiter from the old-school with pomade-slicked hair and an immaculate bow tie. And even though he’d probably arrived here this morning off a train or bus de mierda, you’d never know it from his eyes, which said ‘as long as you’re here, whatever it is you need, I’m going to take care of you.’ He approached our table.

“Madame,” he said, bowing slightly to Lau, then “Caballero,” turning to me, “Welcome.”

David Miller.

[Lo que me gusta}

Y vamos de nuevo… Flor, Florcita, Petisa, Bebu Sadone, arquitecta, compañera de emociones, reidora oficial, nos dice cuáles son las cosas que más le gustan. 

¡Gracias amiga!

***

Perderme en un buen libro

Ver en vivo a mis musicos favoritos

Vivir viajando. Siempre viajo, aunque sea a la esquina o con la mente. Estoy mas en otro lado que donde realmente estoy.

Tener el reproductor de música en shuffle y sorprenderme con cada canción.

Caminar en invierno y sentir el frio en la cara, y taparme con el cuello del saco hasta los ojos.

Reírme a carcajadas. Una vez Ivi me dijo que en los viajes me rio distinto, y es verdad. A esa carcajada me refiero. {Adhiero}

Sonreírme sola recordando alguna travesura y ver la reacción en los extraños, lo máximo es cuando les robo una sonrisa. 

La salida semanal de cerveza con amigos.

Recibir cartas.

Las canciones que describen a la perfección el momento por el que estoy pasando.

Las papas fritas de mi abuela.

La calidez familiar.

Londres y NYC no específicamente en ese orden.

Cantar.

WEEKEND AT THE RIVER

This past weekend I traveled to Corrientes, a city 300 miles away from Rosario, to visit some friends. It can get really hot there but you can get through it if you sail to the sand banks in front of the city or if you travel 15 miles to a small town called “El Paso”. Here are couple of pics. 

{View of the Paraná River and General Belgrano Bridge}

{Sand bank in front of El Paso}

{Crystal clear water}

{Nobody left}

{It was time to leave but….}

{My friend’s boat motor got burnt…bummer!}

{The next day we went to another bank in front of the city}

{We stayed there until sunset… It was perfect!}

It’s not the Caribbean but it was a great way to leave everything behind and have a great time with friends. Great memories! ♥

IT’S COLD SOMEWHERE IN THE WORLD

I love Winter. I’m beginning to realise that it’s my favourite season now that it’s getting hotter and hotter everyday here in Rosario. In this part of Argentina we don’t get very low temperatures, so maybe it’s a bit easier not to hate it. Plus I love wearing my scarves, coats, and boots. Here, Summer get’s sticky, heavy, grumpy, unbearable, especially for those who have to work during it (me!). Is this a sign that I’m getting older? I don’t care! I still love it… ha ha!

Anyway, when I see the beautiful Autumn and Winter pics my fellow bloggers post, I’m so so envious. This is a sneak peak. ENJOY!

(frommetoyou)

(helloneest)

(for me, for you)

(babypicturethis)

Brrrr… :)

(blissfulb)

(bferry x 2)

Mmmm cold Saturday mornings…

(that’sjustitphoto)

j

(hither and thither)

A BIT OF ARGENTINA. PART 3.

This is the other half of my selection of pics from my trip to Argentina’s Northeast. My boyfriend and I had a blast there. The scenery was breathtaking and the people very kind. It’s amazing the diversity of places you can find in Argentina. From the humid area of the Iguazú Falls, and the arid North, to the cold and stunning Perito Moreno Glacier. You should all pay a visit :) 

{Tilcara - Jujuy}

{Pucará de Tilcara - Jujuy}

{Road to Salinas Grandes. Cuesta del Lipán - Jujuy}

{Salinas Grandes - Jujuy}

After many many times we finally got a good pic! 

At 4,000m (13,000ft) above sea level, the puna of the Argentine Andes is a forbidding ecosystem. Vegetation is sparse and few animals can endure the cold and the altitude. Amid the mountains, a lake glitters, but this is a salt lake, the Salinas Grandes that stretch over 25 sq km (200 sq miles).(BBC News)

{Purmamarca - Jujuy}

{Humahuaca - Jujuy}

{View from our hostel in Cafayate - Salta}

{Vineyard in Cafayate}

Torrontés is the characteristic type of wine produced in the area

{Our tour guide and a tourist}

{The Amphitheatre - Cafayate}

Hope you enjoyed the pics! :)

FOREIGNERS IN ARGENTINA

Last night I found the most witty, interesting and funny series of blogs written by foreigners living in Argentina. Not only do they write about their lives here, but they also teach stuff, and give advice! I love to read their views about our country.

One particular section in The Buenos Aires Blog caught my attention:

Is My Argentine Girlfriend Only After My Money?

Dear Southpat:

I have been dating an Argentine girl for about three months now. She is beautiful and fun to be with. I’m beginning to worry, however, that she’s only after my money. Should I be worried that I’m dating a gold-digger?

Sincerely,

Joe

Dear Joe: 

Of course she’s after after your money. Who cares? It doesn’t mean she doesn’t love you. You’re not settling for a horse-face, don’t hold it against her for not settling for a broke loser.

There is nothing wrong with wanting a better standard of living, and there is nothing wrong with an Argentine trophy wife. They’re all the rage. Ask Matt Damon or Robert Duvall. You bring home the bacon, and she cooks it up in a thong. It’s a win-win.

Sincerely,

Southpat Sue

LOL. Loved it. 

More to come!

ROSARIO: Parque Independencia

It was one of those booooring Sundays so Emmanuel and me decided to get the car to drive aimlessly through Rosario. When we got to Parque Independencia (Independence Park) at about 6 pm I got out of the car and took some pics. Generally, this park it’s filled with families that come here to spend some time outdoors.

{I wish it wasn’t so dirty…}

{This guy makes Rosario’s most famous popcorn}

{Caramelized apples…nom!}