Walking, Dancing, Marching, Honking & Banging on Pots

Today was one of those days.
In the winter when it gets grey and cold and damp, you forget just how amazing the skies are here, when the sun shines and the clouds are gone.
The skies were that blue again, that amazing blue that I will always think is only here, never this blue anywhere else.
There were a few clouds, white , fat , puffy things that came and went .. serving their purpose as a little contrast for the blue.
No wonder the Argentine flag is Blue and White.

We decided to get out and walk like we do when the weather is agreeable.
And walk we did. Miles.
My feet are no longer speaking to me and my back is considering going on strike.

We walked from our neighbourhood, down a quiet side street to another neighbourhood, called Palermo.
Palermo Botanico to be exact.
Once in Palermo , we wandered through the little streets, crammed with shops, and cafes and book stores and beauty parlors and pet shops and more cafes and   boutiques.
We walked down the little street that is divided by a small park with giant palm trees , where people can relax on benches and children can play in a tiny playground .. on an "island" between streets.

We went to the Evita Peron Museum.
Not to the Museum itself but the Cafe.
You can have just drinks, just dessert or a salad or a big meal, served by the nicest staff.
And all the while, listening to great music.
That is one thing we noticed as soon as we arrived here, the music they play in stores and restaurants and cafes. It is always good.
I like shopping at our Chinese market for the music too.
Mostly American songs from the 60's and 70's.
Yeah, that was me, on the pasta aisle, dancing .

We walked home along Libertador, the huge great avenue that leads to our house.
We had good appetites at dinner time, needless to say.
Then we got to enjoy the Protest.

Not to get into all the political this and that and whatevers, but everyone is unhappy with the Presidenta and they made it known tonight.
Starting at 8:00 pm, everyone who wanted to ( which means everyone ) took a pot or kettle or something similar and went outside and banged on it.
Taxis going down the streets, honked their horns ..
So you sort of have this cacophony of pots clang , clang, clanging while  horns toot, toot, tooting and then you have a few buses and trucks who let loose on air horns.
At first it is funny, then it is really ( at least for me) very touching. These people have been through so much, through the years, with their governments and people in charge and horrible things have happened and they are still cheerful, smiling, kind and ready to laugh and just want a President and government that will work for them. And when things don't work, they make themselves heard.
God Bless the People of Argentina, I love them all and I hope they don't need to bang anymore pots after this.

                                Another reason why it is easy to love Argentina .... the music.

Winters Last Gasp .... I hope

It is cold out.
Really cold.
I look out the window and it is sunny with big fat clouds skidding by and I think, let's go out and take a walk. Hang out at the Feria, buy something fun and very Argentine.
So eventually after many cups of coffee and scones to keep us going, we walked outside.
We made it as far as the corner.
Where the wind blows the most.
We walked back towards the building, discussing the pros and cons of Being Out or Staying In.

So we are inside now, warm and snug with some very nice music on.
Classical music played loud.
I used to worry about that, even though it is daytime and the walls are thick, were we disturbing the neighbours ?
The woman above us clomps around in high heels / riding boots ? late late at night and she doesn't seem to worry about bothering her neighbours, so I figured loud pretty music in the middle of the day can't be too bad.
The lady next door saw us one day and said something about the Musica.
I worried for a moment then realised what she said .. she told us how much she loves the music we play.
I picture her, waltzing around her apartment, humming the tune to what we are playing.
Today is Mozart, bet she likes it !

The town is quiet, everyone is hibernating or out at the country house.
I like weekends when the town is quiet but summer is not far away and that will be good too.
Everyone goes away then too, sometimes for months so we will have stores, parks and restaurants to ourselves again.
If we are still here.

For now, we snuggle in and enjoy music and tasty food and enjoy the fact that we don't have to go out and we don't have to do anything unless we want to.
This won't last forever so we will appreciate it now. . while Winter winds down ... I hope.