Casa Rosada

 The Pink Palace (no guesses why it goes by that name) is where the president carries out her duties during the week.  On weekends they open the palace and give free tours of this beautiful old building, which I am happy to report is not pink on the inside as well.  The guides are all dressed as soilders from the nutcracker, or in what I presume is traditional dress for the guards.  My favourite parts were the floor and ceiling details, just lovely.  There was so much design and decoration to take in, so much intricate work and money that has gone into this building. 

It´s great that they open it up so that the public can experience this important part of Argentina´s history.

 And last but not least... the pink exterior! 

The beach

I´m back in Argentina and back from my first beach holiday here in Mar de Ajó, about 5 hours from Buenos Aires.  What a delight!  I don´t think there are happier people than Argentinians on holidays.  And why wouldn´t you be happy?  Away from the hot, noisy city and into the cool, relaxing beach; passing the day with family and friends, drinking máte, sunbathing, swimming and playing beach games.  And at night, the sea breeze gently carries you off to the best summer sleeps you will ever have. 

Mar de Ajó is a 1960´s/70´s seaside town that attracts families and middle class porteños to it´s shores every summer.  Some of the builidings reflect that fading 70´s beach vibe...

This is the apartment building where we stayed.  It used to be a hotel back in the day, but now it´s just a lovely candy-coloured place to rent an apartment for the summer, one block from the beach...

Just as the buildings are full of character so is the beach.  We rented a "tent" while we were there, which gives you shade, chairs, tables and the use of bathrooms and a cafe, and had some very friendly people around us in the neighbouring tents.  There was so much people-watching to be done I had to sometimes choose between my book and the beach...

This last picture is of two beautiful girls that were from the tents either side of us, and they would spend all day, every day playing together.  The one on the left is Anastasia and she looks just like a little Pocahontas, divina!!

The couch

One of the biggest differences between the houses I know in Argentina and those in Australia is the absence of a comfortable couch (in Argentina that is).  Maybe it's a question of space or money, or a difference in culture, but it is a rare luxury to find yourself lounging on a sofa when you visit a friend.  I am much more likely to be positioned at the dining room table, my slouching posture begging to slump onto a couch.  There is something warm and inviting about a room with a couch... it's there to be enjoyed with a book, or a cat on your lap.

Living without one for the last two and a half years has left me planning the perfect purchase.  I spotted this beauty at my local second-hand store...

Belize

Belize is an interesting place, with lots of conflicting ideas.  It's in the Carribean, but was settled by the British, so everyone speaks English.  Arriving by boat, it is picturesque with pastel, weatherboard houses, but as soon as you step outside the port it looks like a typical third-world country and kinda like Guatemala.  The people all want to sell you something or take you on a tour, but if you say no and that you are not interested, they politely let you go by and wish you a nice day.

We took a tour of the city with a local guy called Bernard who seemed passionate about education as he pointed out every local school (and there were a LOT) and explained that they each have a different coloured uniform.  We went past a parade that some school kids were doing for red ribbon day, which promotes saying no to drugs.

To escape from the insane heat, we went to a Chinese restaurant and ordered a local beer from a Spanish-speaking employee and drank it while listening to a remix of songs that included Gloria Estefan and Reggaton.  I quite like Belize...

Adelaide House

The house of my friend in Adelaide is full of light, art and colour, and the backyard is an oasis of trees.  The house itself is a lovely old building with lots of space, quite distinct to the places in Buenos Aires and it's interesting to see how people share a house with a lot of space or just a little.  Here there is so much room to move that you could sit on the front porch, in the living room, the kitchen space, or venture into the enormous backyard, which means there is always the opportunity to be alone.  For me this is the deal maker.

Everyday Adelaide

Quilts, magazines and peacock feathers are just a few of my everyday things back home.

Melbourne vs Buenos Aires

I realised that no matter where I am, I'm attracted to the same things: buildings, tiles, art, graphics, and I saw a lot of similarities between Melbourne and Buenos Aires, which both scares and amazes me.