Greg Roden - Buenos Aires

Trabajo Blanco

2007-02-18T12:32:00.000-03:00

"I'm living in a foreign country but I'm bound to cross the line. Beauty walks the razor's edge, someday I'll make it mine. If I could only turn back the clock to gardens where we were born. 'Come in,' she said... 'I'll give you - shelter from the storm.'" Bob Dylan.

This was originally intended to be a photo-of-the-day blog but alas, it's become a photo of yesterday-gone-by. Read and see more photos from the razor's edge at GoyoWorld.

Barbara Bush Bag Battalion

2006-11-23T10:31:00.000-03:00

Despite the US secret services best attempts, and while under heavy Argentine guard and escort, Barbara Bush, age 24 and daughter of US President George Bush, had her handbag snatched from under several watchful eyes while eating with her twin sister Jenna in San Telmo's Plaza Dorrego. Read all about it in the London Guardian.

That's funny, my buddy Jeff visiting from San Francisco, was in the plaza that same afternoon writing. "I didn't see anything either," he simply replied.

Other random happenings and events in the past week or so.

Edesur, the main electric company for Buenos Aires (I'm guessing, somehow related to the old man Edison himself if nothing other than in name only) came yesterday morning to rudely awaken me, notifying me that they were going to cut off my power. Then the technician then actually opened the circuit breaker box and literally cut the power wires to my apartment. There was an outstanding bill of a whopping $16AR ($5USD) that had gone unpaid and that was that. No more power.
Paid the debt of $16AR and got a stamp on my bill saying as much
After several attempts on my laptop, emailing the electric company while thinking the whole while how futile my efforts must be, without the ability to actually call them because my cordless telephone also needs electricity, I begin to realize how much I actually rely on toma corriente.
Today at 8:45am there's a loud knock on the door and the bug spray guy is standing there. "Absolutely NOT!" was my simple answer. "OK, we'll catch you the next time. But it was posted outside the door."
Then my doorbell rings at 9:30am and its Edesur - "We're here to turn your power back on," says the technician. And just like that, the power goes back on and all is well. Didn't even have anything in the fridge (besides Jeff's leftovers that he ate anyway first thing this morning while I was frantically getting the house in order for the new maid.
11am this morning and the doorbell rings again - its Gladys - my new Peruvian maid. THANKS GLADYS!! (And she's pretty beyond just being pretty handy with the broom and plumero.)
1:30 - meet the graphic designer at the Obelisco
2pm - pick up tiny rental car and head for the gaucho town of San Antonio del Areco and then on to Rosario for another night.
Met up with Miss Tango in Her Eyes and Tango Speak for the first time - very cool.
Massive karting outing with several rib injuries, none of them sustained by me.
Happy Thanksgiving - a day of remembering the thankful Pilgrims and their new native American friends that we later slaughter, just like the buffalo on the open plains of the western United States.

Hope Barbara Bush had tons of money in that purse. Wonder if the robbers even know who she was in hindsight? Probably a couple of pibes from the street that have no idea they are now famous.

Summer Turns to Fall

2006-03-21T09:28:00.000-03:00

One of many storm systems that roll through town on an almost daily basis, Buenos Aires is known for its dramatic weather patterns and every-changing skies.

Balcony with a View

2006-03-20T09:34:00.000-03:00

Located at the corner of Av. Martin Garcia & Tacuari, this is our neighborhood produce stand seen from our first floor balcony.

Model Preparation

2006-03-14T10:09:00.000-03:00

Final touches of lipgloss and then this 20 year old model from Buenos Aires, recently back from Milan will be ready for her shoot today with local clothing designer Miss Kitty.

Paragliding Argentina Style

2006-03-06T14:30:00.000-03:00

Dan takes off with Condor into the wild blud yonder. Chuci Corral, Cordoba

Alta Gracia´s Main Square

2006-03-05T22:54:00.000-03:00

Some sort of church or fort taken when I was barefoot and half asleep, looking for Che Guevarra's house in Alta Gracia, Cordoba.

Old Man in La Boca

2006-03-01T14:52:00.000-03:00

Having problems with my color in my blog postings but on my computer, this photo looks great. He's always there on that same stoop, just kickin' it.

Tireshop in La Boca

2006-02-28T02:30:00.000-03:00

Cartonero Spotting #1

2006-02-26T14:43:00.000-03:00

This shot was taken from my balcony here in Barracas on the border of La Boca. Notice the bicycle wheels which are lightweight but durable.

Sleepin on the job

2006-02-25T08:27:00.000-03:00

Out the window of the #10 collectivo, this potato delivery guy needs a break.

Paula

2006-02-24T08:29:00.000-03:00

Paula is studying textile design here in Buenos Aires and is also interested in photography.

Motion across town on the #10

2006-02-23T08:33:00.000-03:00

It's hard to take pictures on the buses of Buenos Aires as you bounce along the cobblestoned streets.

Soo French!

2006-02-22T00:17:00.000-03:00

Arnaud had never done any modeling before but was always available for my camera.

Boca Jrs. Stadium

2006-02-21T10:54:00.000-03:00

A view of Boca Juniors Stadium from an outsiders perspective.

Cartoneros hard at work

2006-02-16T16:02:00.000-03:00

Widely visable most afternoons and evenings, the Cartoneros flock into the city in droves to dig through the trash for whatever they can find to recycle.

Terminestor

2006-02-15T13:06:00.000-03:00

Not unlike the reference to Arnold in California, this is one of the more politically provacative stencils on the streets of Buenos Aires.

Disney War

2006-02-14T16:09:00.000-03:00

Stencil = Fashion = Clothing = Art

Freak stencil

2006-02-13T16:30:00.000-03:00

Towering Fruit

2006-02-12T16:13:00.000-03:00

The art of cornershop fruit placement, common throughout Buenos Aires.

Jammin' Cartonero

2006-02-11T22:24:00.000-03:00

The phenomena of the cartoneros sometimes means that they use walkmen and cell phones on the job.

Pss...

2006-02-10T11:19:00.000-03:00

A simple spray paint on an anonymous street corner in San Telmo, Buenos Aires says it all.

Stencil - Parque Lezama, San Telmo

2006-02-09T11:16:00.000-03:00

Located in the public ampitheatre in Parque Lezama, two very American political themes are obvious - the increasing US military presence in Latin American and the pot-smoking youthful Homer Simpson.

San Telmo Market

2006-02-08T02:49:00.000-03:00

Cristina from the North of Spain tries on antique sunglasses in the Mercado de San Telmo, the best in bargain antique buys in town.

Alejandra

2006-02-07T14:18:00.000-03:00

Ale´s grandparents both hail from Spain and is a typical 'porteno' representing the rich ethnic diversity that can be seen on the streets of Buenos Aires.

Street Stencil Art

2006-02-06T12:14:00.000-03:00

Seen all over the city of Buenos Aires, stencil art is a very popular form of political art, this image based upon the famous war photo from Vietnam.

The not-so-sandy beach

2006-02-05T14:59:00.000-03:00

BA is located right on the edge of the Rio de la Plata that borders with Uruguay some 20km away making it the widest river in the world.

The Bird Sanctuary

2006-02-04T14:56:00.000-03:00

Located just down the street from us in the heart of BA is La Reserva, host to more than 200 speices of birds.

Vestida y Andate

2006-02-03T14:51:00.000-03:00

Local BS clothing boutique - a mix of stencil, graffiti and trendy fashion.

Guitar player on the 152

2006-02-02T14:47:00.000-03:00

Street musicians can play for a captive and usually appriciative audience on the local buses in Buenos Aires.

Plaza de Mayo

2006-02-01T14:32:00.000-03:00

A historical starting point for any visitor to Argentina, the Plaza de Mayo is the heart of Buenos Aires politics.