Warts and all

Back in Buenos Aires today – it’s a national holiday, the Day of Remembrance for Truth and Justice. In 1976 on this day, a military coup overthrew Isabel Perón’s government and began an 8-year period of repression that involved torture and disappearances.

The city’s quiet (though some are still working, more than on a typical Sunday) – I think I’ll go out for a bike ride and see if any photos are to be taken.

Well, another week’s flown by as I’ve explored and photographed San Juan. It’s a very different place from Buenos Aires, for a number of reasons. Firstly, it’s smaller, with a population of 600,000: there’s far less bustle. Secondly, the climate and geography and their consequences. It’s on the opposite side of the country from Buenos Aires, on the east side of the Andes and bordering Chile. It’s amidst a desert. It’s hot – frequently above 40C in the summer. That means that the midday siesta is a part of the daily routine. Thirdly, the buildings are all quite modern; unlike much of Buenos Aires where much ancient architecture has survived a few centuries, most of San Juan was built in the 1940s and 50s, after a devastating earthquake levelled the entire city. As a result, many of the buildings are less than three storeys tall, as well.

Greetings from (and farewell to) San Juan continued »

Wow, has it been over two weeks since I last posted? This must be rectified. With the move to the new neighbourhood, I suppose, I’ve been spending more time exploring in the evenings. I’ve also been doing more capoeira – and, in the last week, cycling!

Bikes, business, and more continued »

So, last night an earthquake struck Chile – with a magnitude of 8.8, it apparently released 500 times the energy released by the quake that hit Haiti a bit over a month ago. There are tsunami warnings all across East Asia and Hawaii’s getting ready for some big waves too (BBC, CBC, Toronto Star).

Apparently buildings shook in Buenos Aires as well, but I certainly didn’t feel anything. When it struck at 3:34am, I was sound asleep. I woke only to the sound of several neighbours hammering. I guess it’s the Argentine equivalent of weekend morning lawnmowing.

I’ve been saving this post for a while, because I knew I’d think of more additions as I go. But I think it’s time to post it and update as I go.

Opposites continued »