Paradise Lost: Organic Market and Colonia

This past weekend saw a flurry of social activity which in normal circumstances is rare for me. Thursday with volleyball, friday assisting a friend to paint her new apartment, Saturday organic food market and joda in the evening, and today I ventured to Colonia Uruguay to renew my visa and relax. 

Perhaps all this activity was a reaction to the social exile I had imposed on myself earlier in the week. Sometimes I will enter periods of reflection, which usually last between one and three days, and during which time I refrain from social activity as much as possible. This is simply because during these temporary exiles to my "thought cave" socializing is something I really don't want to do, and I need to balance my system. 

 The organic market on Saturday was one of the first I've been to in BsAs. It was located in Parque Rivadavia, in the neighborhood of Caballito, which is in the geographical heart of the city. The fair was a diverse tableau of foods and products, including fresh ground coffee for purchase, hummus and baba ganoush, artisanal beer and wine, and cheeses and olive oils, all organic of course.

I went with Noelia, who I had helped the night before with the painting, and we shared wonderful conversation while eating perhaps the best pastry I have ever eaten. I recall after having finished it thinking that my life had finally been completed and nothing more could ever top the experience of eating that pastry.
We purchased the pastry from Möoi, a contemporary cafe and restaurant located in the Belgrano neighborhood of BsAs, but who also had a stall at the fair. 

There is also a used book market in Parque Rivadavia and Noelia recommended I buy a poetry book by Alfonsina Storni, which apparently will be a good way to practice my Spanish vocabulary and enjoy a little melodrama. As a back story, Storni apparently committed suicide, writing her last poem "Voy a Dormir", and submitting it to the newspaper La Nacion, immediately before walking out into the sea and drowning. Depressing I know, but I get a kick out of the melodrama : )

Here is the poem below. 

Voy a Dormir

Dientes de flores, cofia de rocío,

manos de hierbas, tú, nodriza fina,

tenme prestas las sábanas terrosas

y el edredón de musgos escardados. 

Voy a dormir, nodriza mía, acuéstame.

Ponme una lámpara a la cabecera;

una constelación; la que te guste;

todas son buenas; bájala un poquito.

Déjame sola: oyes romper los brotes...

te acuna un pie celeste desde arriba

y un pájaro te traza unos compases

para que olvides... Gracias. Ah, un encargo:

si él llama nuevamente por teléfono

le dices que no insista, que he salido...

Now in English - my poor translation : )

I Am Going to Sleep

Flower petals, capped with dew,

Handfulls of herbs, you, my nurse,

 allow me to borrow your earthy sheets

and quilt of weedy  moss

I am going to sleep, oh my nurse, lie me down.

Keep a lamp by the bedside;

a constellation; whichever you wish;

all are pleasant; lower it just a little.

Leave me alone: Listen to the breaking buds...

it cradles you in a celestial body from above

and a bird traces movements

For that which you forget... thank you. Ah, an order:

If he calls again

tell him not to insist, that I have gone...

This is a poor translation but I did my best. If anyone thinks corrections need to be made please comment.

Below are a few pictures from my trip to Colonia today. 

The pier

Fish can drive!

I go to Cafe Ganache every time I am in Colonia.

Ciudanza 2014

Hi guys,

Last weekend I had the opportunity to attend one of the many free festivals offered by the city of Bs.As. throughout the year. One of my students is always sending me useful tips on free activities coming up in the city, and this one caught my eye.

I love the chicken costume

My interest was captured by the name, Ciudanza, which is a combination of the words city and dance, and after a little research I had made up my mind to go. The dance festival took place in several parks near my house on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of last weekend. I chose Sunday as the most suitable day and, not knowing what to expect but excited to see some dance performances, I invited a few friends to tag along.




The festival was in Parque Bartolome Mitre, which is where I used to go read several times a week when I lived in Recoleta. Now I only pass by the park when I go for runs, but it is one of my favorite parksy areas in the city because of its location on a hill, which commands a view of the parks and the distant riverfront. I've found it to be a wonderful place to sit with friends and dig for meaning. But last Sunday there was no digging involved, only dancing, at least that's what it was called.

The butcher eyes the chicken

I enjoyed the performance. On an entertainment level I would rate it a 9 out of 10, but it was quite avant garde, and perhaps individuals accustomed to more traditional dance styles would have questioned the authenticity of the use of the term "dance."



We watched two performances. In the first the dancers wore only skin colored bras and underwear, even the men, which they had covered with leaves. There was no musical cadence, only the dancers movements and the noise of the cars and dogs barking. What surprised me most was the silence, how the park was more full with people than I had ever seen it, but it was also the quietest I'd seen the park. The dance culminated in an orgiastic fruit eating frenzy as all the dancers became an interlocked and sensual mass, feeding each other apples, bananas, oranges and other fruity delicacies.

Pillow fight!

The second dance, of which I took some photos, was equally bizarre and enjoyable. The dancers were all dressed in an array of strange costumes, including a chicken outfit, an angel, the virgin Mary, a wrestler, superman, and a girl who wore underwear but no bra. They were directed by a group of three speakers, each in turn interjecting their own personal narrative to the mix. At one point an American folksy love ballad was played as all the dancers lay in the grass and pretended to make love with an individual lover.


The festival was fun, free, and a wonderful way to spend an afternoon. Check out more free cultural activities and festivals here at the Buenos Aires festivals page.

I love how the Greek guy speaks to the dancers in this section of the dance. He addresses all of them, says a few words to them, and then says te amo (I love you) to each!

Notorious

Hey folks,

A blur of busy weeks lie behind me and the time continues to fly by at a break-neck. I suppose that's a necessary accompaniment to the rush of city life. Since time is of the essence I'd like to devote a few moments to discussing an event I attended last weekend.

When most people think of Buenos Aires they think of tango, of dancers clad in red and black, cutting graceful angles across the dance floor. But I doubt many people, even Porteños, would think twice about jazz music, let alone know a single jazz musician. Truthfully, jazz isn't popular in Buenos Aires, but there are a few quality venues that offer alternatives to the barrage of touristic tango venues and cumbia dancehalls noticeably present throughout the city.

Much like jazz itself, the scene here is more subdued, out of the eye of the general public so-to-speak. I am no expert on jazz, my only experience of it being when I had a musical roommate in college who listened to the stuff. I love the music but have found I lack the musical background and context with which to fully appreciate it.

However for anyone looking to have a relaxing evening, with lively, energetic music, to watch musicians completely in touch with their emotions, then a trip to Notorious could be a wonderful and fun way to spend an evening with friends. 

I went with some friends to a midnight jam session last Friday. The place is a bit pricey but a $30 peso entrance fee can be put toward the purchase of drinks and food. The venue is also quite nice, with a dark, jazzy style, great accoustics, and amazingly talented artists. 

Since I have very little exposure to the world of jazz I was immediately taken up with the way in which the artists twisted and contorted their faces in deep, concentrated connections with their emotions. The jam session was a deeply positive experience and one I would recommend to anyone searching for an alternative and more contemplative nightlife scene.

Cheers,

Kyle