The writing is on the wall

"Burn all the prisons" (better in Spanish)



"Neither houses without people nor people without houses. No more evictions!

Boca football club

Argentina is mad about football. A number of Argentines are mad about Diego Maradona. A similarly high number are mad about Boca Juniors, the club where Maradona thrived. Should I have therefore been surprised that this fervor culminates at Boca's Bombonera stadium and its aptly named "Museum of Boca passion"? This is a rare case where the word 'passion' fails to properly convey the devotion to the club. From trophies of the team's many victories to old jerseys from the start of the 20th century, the museum has it all. But the highlight of the visit? A group of obnoxious Brazilian tourists, all decked out in a bright yellow national jersey with Pele's name on it, loudly taking pictures. It seems Argentine-Brazilian rivalry is equally legendary.



Museum of Boca passion.



Bombonera stadium.




Diego Maradona and a lovely afro, taken when he first joined the club.



This is priceless. "A name resonates throughout Africa: Mandela is liberated. In Asia, the Gulf War breaks out. Another name resonates throughout America: BOCA, the continental champion, who won the 'Recopa' and 'Clausura'." Just to put Mandela's freedom in context, you know.



Collection of football jerseys.

Lost in translation

In a Spanish/English restaurant menu: "Tarta del dia."

Which one would assume translates as 'pie of the day.'

Wrong.

"CAKE DAY", read the awesome menu's translation.

The writing is on the wall

"Celebrating 200 years of state crimes." (Argentina was founded in 1810).



"We're here to protect you."



"Uniforms deform men and make them go crazy."



"No to mandatory heterosexuality."



"If the earth shakes, no one will be able to save themselves."

Tango

Tango seems to be honoured every day in Buenos Aires, but according to this year's annual Tango Festival's slogan: "August is tango." Well, now we know. The event kicked off this week and offers classes for klutzy beginners (ahem, I may have a personal testimony coming soon) and displays of the best gliders in town. On Sunday night, I attended a powerful, mournful concert of tango music. Unfortunately, there was no dancing to gawk at, but the plain looking man in a suit (See below) was a wonderful singer.



"August is tango." Great drawing of Carlos Gardel, Argentina's most famous tango singer.



The scene on Sunday night.



Tango chords.

Vocabulario

NI LOCO/A-- Would you skydive? Will you vote for X presidential candidate? Are you wearing that tonight? "Ni loco/a," is a most appropriate, and possibly recommended, answer to all of these questions in Argentina. As you may have guessed thanks to Ricky Martin's hit, 'la vida loca,' the word means crazy. So not even crazy would I vote for X presidential candidate.

MANZANA-- Apple, as we learned in the first week of Spanish class. But also, cutely, the way to describe a neighborhood block.

The writing is on the wall

"I don't want your compliments, I want your respect."



"We have memory; we have future."



"Rural Society-- creator of poverty." Argentina's Rural Society, which groups large agriculture producers, has been criticized for hurting small farmers.




"Drink/ take conscience." ('Tomar' in Spanish means can mean both drink or take, so the original version is funnier).



"Love, light and truth."

Graffiti tour-- the city's top walls

A three-hour guided tour of Buenos' Aires best and brightest street art? I nearly fainted of excitement when I heard that such a gem existed. And I was not disapointed by the incredible creativity and spunk of the underground (or, better said, overwall) art scene plastered around Palermo neighborhood. I haven't been able to recall/find the names of each artist, so apologies for the lack of attribution. You'll just have to visit Argentina to find out.



A house painted by artist Gaulicho that is apparently up for sale. Hint.



Friendly giant and passenger.



Outside a new restaurant.



Compelling face, mix of genres.



Dog not painted.