Palermo

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I just moved into an apartment in the Palermo neighborhood. Three blocks away is a plaza called Plaza Serrano and, the first night we went, there was a drum circle going on. I was disappointed because I didn't have a drum with me. But it turns out there has been drummers and guitar players there everynight since I've been here. I bought a guitar for about 30 dollars and I've brought it there everynight. It's a great way to meet locals and, if you play enough Bob Marley, Bob Dylan and Sublime, it attracts Americans too. 1 liter beers are ten pesos (3 dollars) at a bar, or 3 pesos at the local grocery store. Last time I went, a street artist lit up some devil sticks and juggled them while they were on fire, while I was playing guitar with the drum circle. I have some pictures and, as soon as I find out how to upload them, they will be on here too.
Buenos Aires is different than any other city I've ever been too. For the most part, people in South America jump at the chance to learn english. They practice their english on tourists so they can get better and hope to come to the United States someday. Here, people love their city so much, they never want to leave. I would have thought that most people would speak English, but I was wrong. Needless to say, my spanish had to become understandable very fast if I was going to get my point across, so I was thrown in the deep end and told to swim. I'm glad I took my last spanish class last semester, and I'm also wishing I had payed more attention instead of talking trash to my class mates.... In short, people here love their city and think of it as just as good as any in the US. Therefore, just like me, they expect others to learn the language of the country they are in.
What a great city, more news to come

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Photos

drum circle at plaza serrano
this is the plaza 3 blocks away from the apartment. It has drum circles at night on the weekends and street venders during the day

devilsticks with the drum circle in plaza serrano
this guy was juggling while we were playing

weeping woman in the cemetery
this is a tomb in the cemetery overlooking the city

Comments

[Lili]

Spanish
Hey, I am in Palermo too, and I found the same thing about the language...so I found a Spanish teacher around the corner from my place on craigslist...check out the classes listings, her ad should sill be there. It's called Spanish teacher in palermo, -should you feel like you are not understanding some things...it's been pretty helpful for me. Have you found a pool in the neighberhood by the way? lili

[anonymous]

dude, I'm so jealous. I've had to create some of my own excitement in boring old US. After my test tomorrow we're gonna start our own Beerfest tradition. If you haven't seen the movie, it's a contest with Beerpong, quarters, Long Pour, Volume Chug, and of course...Das Boot. I'll probably do so much damage to my brain tomorrow that everything I learned for the test will be gone...It's gonna be great. Not as great as a drum circle but a tradition you should definately check out when you come back. Chris can come too, bring your green hats.