Jorge Luis Borges is considered the most prominent and influential Argentinean writer of all times. He penned essays, newspaper articles, poetry and short stories, which he mastered to the highest degree.
Borges in 1983 (Wikipedia Commons)
The floor of the Cathedral of Buenos Aires is a work of art in itself. It was laid it in 1907 to mark Argentina’s centennial. Repair work was begun in 2004 and was finished in time to mark the country’s 200th anniversary in 2010.
Buenos Aires cathedral
A short history of the cathedral
The current building is the last of a series of buildings that occupied the plot allotted to a church by the founder of Buenos Aires, Juan de Garay, in 1580. The first church was built of wood and adobe and was replaced in 1605. As the building was in danger of collapsing, it was rebuilt in 1618. In 1620, the church was made seat of the Diocese of Buenos Aires and thus its status changed to cathedral.
Suppose you want to sell you car, how do you go about advertising the sale? You can place an ad in your local newspaper or a noticeboard, you can list it on one of several specialised websites or you can use social media (Tweeter, Facebook) to let your contacts know.
In Argentina, although many people use the methods mentioned above, the traditional thing to do is to place an empty can or plastic bottle (filled with water so that it doesn’t fly away) on the roof of your car while it’s parked.
Our next door neighbour is trying to sell his car
In the past, people used to ring the bell of the house the car was directly parked in front of. Nowadays, car owners place a piece of paper with the car model, mileage, price and contact information. If someone is interested, they’ll try to contact the owner in order to start negotiations.
Do you have a similar custom in your country?
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Picture Postcards: cars in Japan
Buying a car in California
Which countries drive on the left?
The Buenos Aires Botanical Garden, designed by landscape architect Carlos Thays, was opened in September 1898.It is located in the neighbourhood of Palermo, across the street from the Zoo. Although the botanical garden is surrounded by the din of the traffic and the hustle and bustle of a big city, it is an oasis of tranquility, where people can take a respite from their hectic life.
A smiling boy welcomes visitors at the entrance (Avenida Santa Fe 3951)
Hard at work keeping the flowerbeds tidy
This building dates from 1881 and houses the administrative offices
Cats are the most famous residents of the Botanical Garden.
People enjoying the peace and quiet
This Art Nouveau glasshouse (late 19th century) houses tropical species
Our contributing editor, Ana, has sent us these photos of the clothes she wears when she is out and about in Argentina in the winter. Thanks, Ana. Looking good!
Read more:
Holiday Season in Argentina
Camila O’Gorman, the Romantic Heroine of Argentina
Students Day and Spring Celebrations in Argentina
December 8th is a special day in Argentina. While Catholics celebrate the Immaculate Conception of Mary with masses and processions, some simply enjoy the day off as it is a bank holiday. But the real excitement, especially for children, is that Christmas trees go up today.
Street decorations near Plaza San Martin in Buenos Aires
I remember that when my siblings and I were little we would pester our mother to go find the tree and let us decorate it. We held our breath when the star (or angel) was out at the top. It was a fun day, a prelude of even more exciting things to come. Every night, my mother would light up the tree and I can still see the reflection of the multicoloured lights on the white wall.
We use artificial Christmas trees in Argentina, probably because the wooded areas are relatively small and very far from big cities. It is much easier to buy a tree that you can fold up and put away and not have to worry about pine needles falling on the carpet! And since it is summer in the Southern Hemisphere, we are not familiar with the smell of pine trees and snow.
The next big day is Christmas Eve, when families get together for a big dinner that includes some European traditions introduced by immigrants. We eat, drink and make merry until midnight, when we have a toast and open the presents. Christmas Day lunch is a much quieter affair as most people are still recovering from the revelries of the previous night.
We have a week to get ready for yet another big event: New Year’s Eve. More food, more drink, more fireworks at midnight. More liver salts the next day! Just as Christmas Day lunch, New Year’s Day lunch is a subdued affair too.
The festive season draws to a close on January 6th. Children get more presents, this time left by the Magi. It’s time to put the tree away until the next December.
Read more
A very Argentinean Christmas
Christmas around the world
Magic Christmas in Catalunya
Picture Postcards: Colours of Argentina
The Netherlands – a country of many names
Bucharest Seen From the Arch of Triumph
Cape Verde: Encouraging Storytelling and Creative Writing
From our contributors: week of May 13
Familiarizing the World with Assam.
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