San Telmo's Graffitti Gallery: of Chirps and Churros

Lately life has been decidedly rock hard. This moment in which I need some light-hearted relief provides the perfect opportunity to introduce what I hope will be a recurring topic on this blog. I bring you San Telmo's Graffitti Gallery: Visual Goodies Within 20 Blocks of my Bed! (I realize that if I relocate to another apartment during my stay in BsAs, this complicated title may require some editing).

Much of Buenos Aires has been decorated by guerrilla artists with aerosol cans and a penchant for super-saturated colors.  San Telmo, my hometown barrio, is no exception, offering some of the city's most imaginative public art. 

As today I would have to dig deep for some cheery and sincere salutations, for my first installment along this thread, I introduce a friend of mine who is dependable to do just that. He makes me smile with an aw'-shucks-maybe-life-ain't-so-bad shake of my head every time we meet, regardless of how cloudy I may be feeling.  He calls the corner of Moreno and Peru home, giving us the opportunity for daily visits.  Just a beak isn't enough to express his felicity, no no, it is with a gregarious grin that he greets his pals. While this is a simple and basically linear example of what Porteno Graffitti artists can do; it is precisely the economy of line and color that makes this piece so brilliant.

Ain't he a gem?

Another silver-lining moment of my day was strolling along Defensa for the weekly Artesanal Feria. Not only did I finally find an affordable and cute messenger bag with comfortable shoulder strap, which I have been hunting down for about a month now, Leah and I indulged in Churros Rellenos, i.e. sweet fried sticks full of gooey dulce de leche.  The vendor winding his bike and churro basket was something of a visual delight as well....

ARGH!

Because I'm new to this blogging thing, I can't seem to to format this photo, so it is stuck up at the top- I can't tell you how irritated this makes me. Good thing I've got that bird around. 

In memory of Grandpa

I come to the garden alone

While the dew is still on the roses

And the voice I hear, falling on my ear

The Son of God discloses

And he walks with me 

And he talks with me

And he tells me I am his own

And the joy we share as we tarry there

None other has ever none

He speaks and the sound of his voice

Is so sweet the birds hush their singing

And the melody that He gave to me 

Within my heart is ringing

And he walks with me

And he talks with me

And he tells me I am his own

And the joy we share as we tarry there

None other has ever known

I'd stay in the garden with Him

Though the night around me be falling

But He bids me go; through the voice of woe

His voice to me is calling

And he walks with me

And he talks with me 

And he tells me I am his own

And the joy we share as we tarry there

None other has ever known

Cinco Mangos, Cornudo?!: 10 of Buenos Aires' Best Slang Phrases

Here I am coming up on my three month anniversary with Buenos Aires, and I am just now taking the initiative to introduce my loved ones to my new love.  My plan is that this forum will primary pertain to this, the Paris of South America- but I also hope to show that such comparisons to not do justice to Argentina's diverse capital. Sure it is probably the South American capital with the most European flavor, but I'm convinced that it has a palette all its own. 

Now I confront the common problem for any inaugural blog, so much fodder at my fingertips, and such short 21st century attention spans.  The solution, a concise top-ten list and a stunning visual.

Top-Ten Lunfardo (Slang) Phrases I have learned from Portenos:

(in reverse order and unfortunately with no accents)

10. Dale - do it, leave it, good, go ahead

9. Un beso, ciao ciao! - end your phone conversations with a kiss and some Italian flair.

8. Re - very

7. Barbaro! - Excellent!

6. Mango- peso (like "buck")

5. Chabon- guy

4. Cornudo/a - Someone whose significant other is cheating on them, discretion advised.

3. Che- hey (Guevara's famous nickname; particularly well combined with #1).

2. Pelotudo/a - as I understand it, it is synonymous with it's more famous counterpart, #1.

1. Boludo/a - big balls, amongst friends fun and light-hearted, otherwise exercise extreme caution

If I've got you hooked on lunfardos, check out James Bracken's Che Boludo!: A Gringo's Guide to Understanding the Argentines, perhaps not the most practical of BsAs guidebooks but certainly a hilarious one.

Ah yes, now for that stunning visual: me with my dear friend and flatmate, Leah.