Hola mis amigos. I am putting this web page together at 12:27AM March 24th, exactly one month into my stay in Argentina. So, what have I been up to over the past month you ask? Well here's some pictures to give you an idea. One thing to note, I have yet to leave Buenos Aires, between work, and getting to know the city, I haven't had time to explore outside of BsAs. That's soon to change however, as I have all sorts of plans for the coming month and a half.

La Boca

La Boca is an Italian neighborhood in Buenos Aires built by Italian sailors out of sheet metal and wood. Because the sailors didn't have money to buy paint, they stole what paint they could from the local shipyards. They didn't have the opportunity to pick and choose the colors, so the neighborhood was painted with whatever colors they managed to procure. Of course, this was long ago, but the color scheme has stuck and become an identifier of the area. Another great thing about La Boca is it is the home of the Boca Juniors, one of Buenos Aires many soccer teams. The people of La Boca are crazy about the Boca Juniors, during the season, kids get together in groups and spend their time marching up and down the streets singing chants of the teams greatness. In opposition, there is the Rio Plates (the silver river) team, from the rich area of Buenos Aires. The Bocas represent the poor, and Rio Plates the rich, when these two teams meet, some consider it to be the greatness sporting event of the year, the competition is so great.

	This is the Caminito Tango (Tango Street), along which you can see tango dancers in front of cafes and local artists selling there paintings and photographs.
	No, I'm not actually dancing with this women, just posing.		Here, I actually am dancing, clumsily, I assure you.
	The mish-mash of colors in this balcony shot is representative of the area.

Recoleta Cemetery

The Recoleta Cemetery is an above ground cemetery housing the very richest of Argentina's dead. Impressive in it's grandeur, it is quite depressing to see this extravagant display of wealth wasted on the dead while so many poor go hungry.

	Since the economic crisis, much of the cemetery has fallen into disrepair, as evidinced by this broken glass door.		As exposed brick wall further betrays the grand appearances.
	Feral cats were all over the place, this black one seemed particularly well suited to the cemetery setting.
	A plaque on the Familia Duarte tomb, talking about Eva.		This is the tomb of the Duarte family, of which, Eva Peron is a part. She's burried within.
	A monument to the Paragauy War

Around Buenos Aires

	Here I am, behind the Casa Rosada.		The Casa Rosada, or "the Pink House" is the Argentine equivalent to the White House. It was painted pink as a compromise between to competing parties, one whose colors were white, the other's colors red.
	The Argentine flag.		Built in 1936 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the city's creation, Buenos Aires' massive obelisk is situated in the middle of one of the largest roads in the world, the Avenida de 9 Julio, and dominates the city's landscape.The monument is 67 metres high and marks the site where the Argentinian flag was first raised.
	This building was oddly beautiful in its rundown state.		In Recoleta dog walkers can always been seen during the weekdays, walking the dogs of rich. I think I counted 13 dogs with this guy.

My Apartment

These photos are of my second apartment. My first place was about 100 yards away from the Recoleta Cemetary in the most touristy part of Recoleta. For a week long stay, it would have been great, but for close to three months, it was not good. I'm much happier in my new apartment, it's on a major street (Callao), but it's on the 4th floor so the traffic isn't too loud.

	My apartment, the view as you walk in the door.		Same apartment, facing the other direction now.
	Yeah, I'm all about the mate. I used to drink it at work from a French press, now I've gone native -- doing it local style (out of a gourd, that is).		Check out how my hair gets all curly when I drink mate. Crazy.
	The view out my window. I'm right at the tops of the trees with a great view of the park below.