It was a long walk along Agenda Alcorta, but the glistening orb in the distance summoned. It was the sculpture “Floralis Generica”, a striking giant flower made of steel and aluminium. Gorgeous! 

As are one of my favorite trees here in Buenos Aires, the Palo Borracho. Their oval trunks remind me of chianti bottles that you see as candleholders in Italian restaurants. I have been told they are only full like this when there is water below for them to store. Palo Borracho means “drunken pole” and I’m not sure if it refers to fact that they store water or if they look like a wine bottle, either way it fits.  Most of the palo borracho trees in Buenos Aires have pink flowers, but some are somewhere in between white and yellow. I prefer the luscious pink flowers. They are a sight to behold.  

Visited the Latin American Art Museum of Buenos Aires (MALBA) created by Argentine businessman, Eduardo Costantini in 2001. Initially housing his private collection (made public),  the museum has continued to expand its selection of works from modern artists from across Latin America.  The mission of the MALBA is to collect, preserve, research and promote Latin Americana art from the onset of the 20th century to the present. Some nice stuff in Eduardo’s past collection – particularly like Diego Rivera; Frida Kahlo and Antonio Berni. 

There was a special exhibition of Claudia Andujar’s photos of the indigenous Yanomami tribe in Brazil in the 1980’s during a vaccination campaign to protect them from western diseases. She photo’d tribal people with numbers, as a health record that they had been vaccinated. There is a very touching ironical tale she tells about the very different ‘ branding of death’ (numbers) that her boyfriend and family received on their way to Auschwitz. Her work with the indigenous since the 1970’s led to land rights legislation being proclaimed in 1992 – what an inspirational woman!  

Walked around the streets surrounding MALBA – rich, rich, rich people live there, quite a few in Italianate splendour…and home to many embassies. 

Had to visit the Librería El Ateneo Grand Splendid, one of the grandest bookshops in Buenos Aires. Occupying a 1920s theatre in the city’s downtown, El Ateneo has kept the sumptuous auditorium’s original furnishings – balconies, painted ceiling, ornate carvings and crimson stage curtains – and added books. The former theatre boxes became intimate reading rooms. Putting finger to page, soaking in the cozy atmosphere in the café on the stage between red velvet curtains, a few hours perfectly spent.