18 months have gone by since I moved to Buenos Aires. It’s such a short time, particularly compared to those who have lived here for years or even their entire lives. Before leaving Miami I started this blog as a way of understanding the city and my life here. This entry marks the 200th post to this blog, more than 60,000 words.
I now know Buenos Aires better than I do any other city in the world. Walking the streets of Buenos Aires makes me feel alive. If I’m feeling depressed, a simple stroll around the city raises my spirits. Certainly, I am fortunate in my circumstances. If I had to struggle for survival here, then I may not be so in love with Buenos Aires. Then again, struggling anywhere is a heartache.
Each walk I take in this city brings an unexpected discovery, a fresh perspective. Go to an unfamiliar barrio or even one you think you know well, perhaps the very place you live. Choose a street, just start walking with no destination in mind. Don’t hurry, you’re going no where. The walk is the journey; walking Buenos Aires is your life at that very moment, nothing more.
Put other thoughts out of your mind. Forget annoyances from work and the things that must be done at home. Simply walk. Open your senses to the street, observe the life that is circling around you. Don’t hurry across the intersections. Wait on the corner for another change of the traffic signal. Look down the road, find the buildings that you may have missed with a quicker pace, each has something new to offer.
Just as important, pay attention to the people, those you normally might not notice: the man carrying a basket of bread from the bakery; the finely dressed old woman carefully leaving a building; the child on a balcony.
Listen to the sounds. Each street has its own voice, waiting for you.
September 26th, 2006 at 8:33 pm
I agree with you. There is not a day since I find amazing what I am looking. It can be someone, the way he acts, he moves, he does or something: a crowd watching a show in the street, dogs running after a poor cat, so fresh details in fact. A instinctive town
October 4th, 2006 at 2:09 pm
You should try walking along Pedro Goyena from let’s say 500 to 1,500 and look at the trees, mostly in spring, but also the rest of the year. Wonderful!
By the way, I like very much your blog.
October 5th, 2006 at 1:17 pm
Hello,
I am from Buenos Aires but left 7 years ago when I met my husband ( british with argentine parents… working in hotels… he invited me to know the world …) and I’ve lived in London, Lisbon, Mexico city and Miami since then… but I am more than ready to go back to my lovely Buenos Aires!
Thank you for talking like that about my city!
October 5th, 2006 at 1:28 pm
[…] Jeff, de Buenos Aires City of Faded Elegance, habla de la experiencia de recorrer las calles de Buenos Aires. En este enlace. Para almacenar esta entrada en tu gestor de favoritos online, haz clic en el icono:Estos iconos te permitiran agregar este texto a tu gestor de favoritos online con solo hacer un clic. […]
October 18th, 2006 at 2:50 pm
muy copado tu relato sobre caminar por las calles, yo cada tanto lo hago.
Caí de casualidad en tu blog y me gusta leer como sentis Buenos Aires,
Me atrevo a decir q sos más porteño que yo, o muchos otros porteños q conozco con solo leer este texto.
Saludos
Seba