What a lovely travelogue! We had plans to visit Argentina in the spring of 2020. Ahem. We never got there. I have not yet rebooked the trip. You have inspired me to do it!
Victoria, thank you for the mini-tour of a city we promised to visit again—about 17 years ago. Reasons to return to Argentina, for us, include no jet lag, great weather for a winter trip, and fine wine. Mendoza was the highlight of our trip—like California wine country in the distant past, with exceptional meals for a surprisingly affordable price.
The murals were such a lovely surprise everywhere. I had more photos from cab windows that didn’t turn out well enough to use. You’d get so much more out of the city with your Spanish— I hope you get a chance to go sometime.
I've never been to Argentina, Victoria, but your glimpses of it here look and sound amazing. I particularly love the photo of the "Ofrenda" studio. What a vibrant space!
Doing yoga in that space was a trip in itself. I didn’t understand any of the directions and kept lifting my head to peek around. It was very calming though— and such a great way to engage with the art.
As some of my favourite writers are from Argentina, I've been to Buenos Aires many times, but only in my mind, never in person. I lived in Ecuador for many years, (just) in the southern hemisphere. But BA was a long way from there too and I never visited. It's one of the two or three cities in the world that I actively want to visit (though I don't enjoy long-distance travel much any more). So I envy you!
Your experience of flying south and arriving at a place not obviously on the way to anywhere reminds me of flying to Perth in Western Australia from Tokyo. You go about 10 hours due south and find yourself in a new world, in (more or less) the same time zone. As you say, disorienting. But energising too.
I figured you would have been there because you’ve been “everywhere” 😁.
Oddly, I had very little connection to the writers, though I went out of my way to find the Centro Borges, which was not at all on the beaten path. There was a cafe near the Recoleta Cemetery that he had frequented, with a life sized statue of him at his usual table, where you could sit and take a selfie for 5000 pesos or something— but that was about it for writers. Maybe there isn’t that much overlap with the visual art world—? I did get a recommendation for a current Argentinian sci fi novel, if you are into that. Dengue Boy by Michel Nieva. I’m going to try it— if you have other recs of where else to start with Argentine literature let me know.
I have a US friend from the Midwest with an apartment in Buenos Aires. He is teaching history there this year on. Fulbright (he already had the apartment, and has been in the city for years). He’s trying to get me to recruit a travel group, and you are reminding me that I need to do it!! How long was your trip??? And I take it that your sister is a visual artist?
I was only there a week. My sister is a museum director and is there for a month. You should go while you have a friend there! What kind of travel group do you mean? I’ll DM you— 😁
Wonderful! I'd like to be in the "Ofrenda" most of all -- what color & playful design.
Looks like a great trip! I’m enthralled that street art extends to private houses..
What a lovely travelogue! We had plans to visit Argentina in the spring of 2020. Ahem. We never got there. I have not yet rebooked the trip. You have inspired me to do it!
Thanks! I recommend it, obviously. 😁
Victoria, thank you for the mini-tour of a city we promised to visit again—about 17 years ago. Reasons to return to Argentina, for us, include no jet lag, great weather for a winter trip, and fine wine. Mendoza was the highlight of our trip—like California wine country in the distant past, with exceptional meals for a surprisingly affordable price.
I’d love to see more of the country— including Mendoza, which is another 2 hour flight!
Sounds like a great trip. I have always wanted to go to BA. I loved seeing the pics of the murals!
The murals were such a lovely surprise everywhere. I had more photos from cab windows that didn’t turn out well enough to use. You’d get so much more out of the city with your Spanish— I hope you get a chance to go sometime.
I've never been to Argentina, Victoria, but your glimpses of it here look and sound amazing. I particularly love the photo of the "Ofrenda" studio. What a vibrant space!
Doing yoga in that space was a trip in itself. I didn’t understand any of the directions and kept lifting my head to peek around. It was very calming though— and such a great way to engage with the art.
Thank you for this tour, Victoria!
As some of my favourite writers are from Argentina, I've been to Buenos Aires many times, but only in my mind, never in person. I lived in Ecuador for many years, (just) in the southern hemisphere. But BA was a long way from there too and I never visited. It's one of the two or three cities in the world that I actively want to visit (though I don't enjoy long-distance travel much any more). So I envy you!
Your experience of flying south and arriving at a place not obviously on the way to anywhere reminds me of flying to Perth in Western Australia from Tokyo. You go about 10 hours due south and find yourself in a new world, in (more or less) the same time zone. As you say, disorienting. But energising too.
I figured you would have been there because you’ve been “everywhere” 😁.
Oddly, I had very little connection to the writers, though I went out of my way to find the Centro Borges, which was not at all on the beaten path. There was a cafe near the Recoleta Cemetery that he had frequented, with a life sized statue of him at his usual table, where you could sit and take a selfie for 5000 pesos or something— but that was about it for writers. Maybe there isn’t that much overlap with the visual art world—? I did get a recommendation for a current Argentinian sci fi novel, if you are into that. Dengue Boy by Michel Nieva. I’m going to try it— if you have other recs of where else to start with Argentine literature let me know.
I definitely want to go back!
I have a US friend from the Midwest with an apartment in Buenos Aires. He is teaching history there this year on. Fulbright (he already had the apartment, and has been in the city for years). He’s trying to get me to recruit a travel group, and you are reminding me that I need to do it!! How long was your trip??? And I take it that your sister is a visual artist?
I was only there a week. My sister is a museum director and is there for a month. You should go while you have a friend there! What kind of travel group do you mean? I’ll DM you— 😁