Daydreaming of Summer in Uruguay

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Once in a while, especially in winter, I long for these beautiful and hot days and weeks at the beaches of the Atlantic Ocean. It's almost ten days ago since the days began to lengthen again and before long spring will take over. Since Buenos Aires lacks decent and clean beaches, everyone is heading either to Mar del Plata or Punta del Este in summer. These are the closest holiday destinations from Buenos Aires. Punta del Este is virtually the Saint-Tropez of South America but unlike there you will find a lot of secluded beaches here. Uruguay is so enviably rich in great and sandy beaches.

This post is supported by HomeAway®.
HomeAway has created the website http://blog.homeaway.com and is asking consumers to sign a petition requesting U.S. Congress to proclaim a "National Vacation Day" on August 7, 2009.

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Cake Pie Shop in Palermo Viejo

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Whenever I'm in Palermo I try to stop by this fancy, little Pasteleria in Gurruchaga Street and have coffee and cake. I really like the interior deco of this little shop. It is modern and vintage at the same time. The shop's tiny sales room provides just enough space for a few customers. What I like most is to sneak a peek into the "cake laboratory".

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Let Freedom Ring!

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With today's post Buenos Aires Perception expresses its ardent support for the pursuit of self-determination of mankind and firmly condemns any kind of suppression and intimidation.

It is up to us — not to close our eyes but spot the big picture.
It is up to us — to better understand the history and learn for the prospects of humanity.
It is up to us — to ask unpleasant questions to those in power and be inconvenient.
It is up to us — to remember what has already started in 1953.

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants in support of the missing City Daily Photo blogger from Tehran.

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Dorrego Square in Winter

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San Telmo is covering a relatively small geographic area of Buenos Aires and the Plaza Dorrego is its focal point for tourists. Because there aren't many tourists in winter, you can enjoy the beautiful scenery freely. On this chilly morning, there were only a few locals on the square, offering odds and ends while sharing gossip and socializing.

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Concierge Reading the Newspaper in the Lobby

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What might this guy be reading? Is it about the upcoming legislative elections in Argentina on Sunday, the growing impact of the worldwide economic recession, the state terror against the Iranian people or about the deaths of Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson? The newspapers are full of bad news these days.
Whatever it is, this guy needs to stay awake and alert. Many residential houses in Buenos Aires, not only upper class, have these concierge and security services. The business hours and job description of such a lobby entrance guy is varying according to the size and needs of the building he works in. Mostly he will answer visitor inquiries, escort guests, and handle the mail, packages and deliveries.

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Car "Doors" by Gustavo Gagliardo aka DEFI

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You never know what you might find in a city like Buenos Aires. That day it was street art on a dented, discarded car hood by the artist Gustavo Gagliardo aka DEFI. The hood is part of a whole collection of daubed car parts, mostly doors, which he had distributed across the neighborhood of Palermo. His mobile art is designed for public environments like the streets. Because most people won't recognize the pieces as art, they are always chained to prevent them from being accidentally removed by the CLIBA or cartoneros. DEFI's main element is a simplified cat face that makes his work distinctive. He exhibits all over the world but especially in street art friendly cities like Barcelona, Berlin, London, Los Angeles, Milan and of course Buenos Aires. If you want to learn more about Gustavo, please visit lindokiller.com.

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Carlos Gardel Remembered on 74th Anniversary of Death

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Thousands maybe millions of fans around the globe will today remember a "singing hero" who dedicated his life to the tango. In 1935, the spotless career of the King of Tango came to a sad end. Carlos Gardel died in his mid 40s in a plane crash in Medellín, Colombia. Gardel is buried in the La Chacarita Cemetery in Buenos Aires. His tomb is over and over plastered with bronze memorial plaques and fresh flowers. On top of this his adoring fans provide the lifelike statue with a smoldering cigar ever so often. He truly remains an idol especially for the Argentinean and Latin American fans.
If you are interested in more information on Carlos Gardel, I recommend a visit to gardelweb.com.

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