Changes are underway at local TV station canal 9 after Mexican media mogul Angel Gonzalez (who now lives in Miami) brought 80% of the TV station.

I’m not sure if this was related to the sale or was a long-term plan but the former studios of Canal 9 overlooking Av 9 de Julio are to be demolished for a new apartment building.

Too bad they’re not making more creative use of this building, perhaps even just maintaining the facade and cupola. The replacement appears to be simply yet another, bland, generic apartment building.

Thursday marked four months from the disappearance of Jorge Julio Lopez, an elderly witness who has been missing since testifying in the trial against a police official from the last dictatorship. Displayed sporadically throughout the city are posters and graffiti serving as reminders that he is still missing. Despite these efforts, there seems to be little progress in actually finding the man. A commonly accepted belief, after this much time, is that Julio Lopez is dead and his body will never be found though the government has strongly rejected any such statements by the media.

The 18th of each month brings a march down Av de Mayo from the Congreso demanding he re-appears alive.

Different causes, same faces

Thursday was another hot summer day in Buenos Aires. By late afternoon storm clouds gathered overhead. While the rain didn’t come in the downtown area, except for a few sprinkles, strong winds blew along the streets.

As with other marches down Av de Mayo, the participants are mostly the same despite the reason for the march. The front lines may change depending upon the cause but the majority of protesters are leftist political groups and piqueteros.

There are always the familiar faces. Go to just about any street march in Buenos Aires and you’ll see this old guy banging on the metal street posts with his little metallic stick. He makes quite a racket.

And as with other marches, the TV cameras, reporters, and photographers are gathered at the front of the march and waiting at Plaza de Mayo. Yet, other than the disruption in traffic - which can be very problematic for those driving or taking the bus through downtown around 6 pm - I get the sense that no one pays any attention to all these marches.

In my last post I mentioned that I would say more about this block of apartment buildings on the 400 block of Av Caseros. I adore this set of buildings, designed by the architect Christian Schlinder and completed in 1910.

I was intending to say more about these buildings but I couldn’t find the books to verify my information. So, being a good librarian, I’m not going to say more about it until I verify my source. Anyway, I wanted to go ahead and post the photo.

I tend to say that I live in San Telmo but, in actuality, Av Caseros is the boundary of the two barrios and the south side of Av Caseros is Barracas. So, these buildings also are located in Barracas rather than San Telmo. If you find yourself anywhere near Parque Lezama, then just wander a block down Defensa and take a look at the marvelous 400 block of Caseros.

Whenever I walk by these buildings I find myself thinking about the New Town area of Edinburgh. There’s a slight similarity in style but New Town just happens to have dozens of streets with incredible apartment buildings. Perhaps because I like cold, dreary weather, but I wouldn’t mind living in Edinburgh someday….meanwhile, I’ll just continue reading Ian Rankin. Despite that, I still love Buenos Aires.