Robert, just returned from the other side of the world, was over for dinner last night talking about how Tangier is the next Buenos Aires. Sounds fascinating!
And I remembered this building down Av Patricios in La Boca that brings a flavor of the Middle East to Buenos Aires. The ground floor is a cafe but the upper floors are clearly abandoned.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t find out anything about the history of this building.
Update: I went by this building again the other day and noticed some changes. The old restaurant on the ground floor has been replaced by a new Chinese restaurant. (One that’s not bad I might add). A guy also was coming out of one of the doors leading to the upper floors. So, it looks like this building is being saved and being put some use.
May 15th, 2007 at 8:44 am
So . . . do we all have to move to Tangier now? ;-p
Cool photos. A good example of the kinds of extraordinary buildings you find wedged in between the most unextraordinary (to put it charitably).
I just did some subtitles for shows that Narda Lepes did for the Gourmet network. It was a series on her trip through Morocco. That combined with the photos on Robert’s blog have me kicking myself that I never made it there.
May 15th, 2007 at 9:15 am
Jeff – There’s another building on Entre Ríos (almost at Caseros) which seems to be abandoned now but has red & yellow Arabic signage. I’ve always wondered what it says even though the building itself is very forgettable.
Dan – Of course we have to move to Morocco someday!
May 15th, 2007 at 12:40 pm
Dan – exactly. It’s quite bizarre to see some old building like that wedged between two ordinary apartment buildings. Sadly, I eventually expect an old place like this to be demolished and replaced by yet another average apartment building.
Robert – I’ll have to go by Entre Ríos and take a look at that building. Hey, once you learn Arabic in Morocco then you can come back and translate these for us!
May 18th, 2007 at 5:20 pm
Hi Jeff,
I am planning an event for reporters and bloggers at my store. Please go to this link for more details if you are interested:
http://azucaryespecies.blogspot.com/2007/05/sugar-spice-event-for-bloggers.html
Saludos,
Frank
May 20th, 2007 at 1:22 pm
[…] guess this series really started with last week’s posting of the Middle Eastern style building in La Boca. Then today, in this posting, is a photo of an abandoned building on Bolivar street in Barracas, […]
December 1st, 2007 at 4:03 am
Hello Jeff,
I lived very near this building and never noticed the Middle Eastern style. Duh.
In fact when it was Viejo Deporte it was my place for morning coffee
http://picasaweb.google.com/davidkanemiller/ViejoDeporte8AM
until one day it closed abruptly and then started renovating http://picasaweb.google.com/davidkanemiller/ViejoDeporteRenovation.
and I discovered it was becoming a Chinese restaurant.
http://picasaweb.google.com/davidkanemiller/ViejoChinese
I moved to Congreso before it opened so I never got to try it out.
I really like that place. A couple of the guys would wave whenever I walked by and would be sitting outside at night when it was still warm.
http://picasaweb.google.com/davidkanemiller/ParrillaLaMolinaViejoDeporteAtNight/photo#5061077633344082850
Thanks for the update and return of fond memories.
Cheers.
December 1st, 2007 at 12:51 pm
Hi David,
How great it is to hear from someone who frequented Viejo Deporte! Thanks for the links to the photos. They’re wonderful!