Tourists in La Boca

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The Caminito area is a banal tourist enclave in the heart of La Boca. These three tiny little streets are separated from the surroundings by tourist police which makes it kind of strange to be there. Nonetheless, it is hugely popular with foreigners and crowded every single day. All the hustle and bustle reminds me of San Telmo's Feria on Defensa street on Sundays. You will find many touristy tchotchke shops, restaurants, and local artisans selling arts and crafts, not to mention the many tango shows.

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La Boca Bridge

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The old Puente Transbordador in La Boca is a famous witness of Argentina's industrial revolution. As a matter of fact it is one of Buenos Aires' best known landmarks and the symbol of La Boca. The bridge was planned as a transporter bridge to link the city of Buenos Aires with the Isla Maciel of the Ciudad de Avellaneda in the province of Buenos Aires. The metallic component parts were built in England and then assembled in situ. In May 1914 the bridge was opened to the public. In 1939 already a replacement bridge was erected only a stone's throw down the Riachelo River. By that time the Antiguo Puente Nicolás Avellaneda, as it is also known, has fallen into disuse. Since 1995 the old transporter bridge is a declared "Site of Cultural Interest".

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Crumbling Stairs in La Boca

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These concrete stairs are certainly crumbling for years. One wrong step and you could end up at the doctor's or in the hospital. Sadly, it is no unusual sight in Buenos Aires to see sidewalks in such a poor condition. Indeed, the city has recently invested some effort in patching and repairing those break-a-leg pavements but obviously not in La Boca. It seems some neighborhoods warrant higher priority than others for fixes. You better watch your step and look where you're going!

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La Boca Bomberos

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What do you think is the biggest threat to an urban environment now and then? Yes, it is fire! Many ancient and modern cities fell victim to its disruptive forces. Luckily, there are fire fighters always on standby and ready to help. How important they are could be seen in downtown Buenos Aires today when two fire incidents were reported, one in a restaurant in Montserrat and another on Avenida Madero where a truck caught fire. Fortunately, in both cases, no persons were harmed.
The fire truck in the picture, a Mack CF 650 from 1973, belongs to the fire brigade of La Boca. You will find the fire department in Avenida Brandson 567.

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J is for Justo, Justo Máximo Lynch

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Justo Lynch (*1870 in Martínez, †1953 in Buenos Aires) is an Argentine artist known as Marinista, a painter of seascapes, scenes and events of Argentina's naval history. He was trained in the Asociación Estímulo de Bellas Artes in Buenos Aires where he met Eduardo de Martino and Oscar Vaz. In La Boca, the legendary harbor neighborhood of Buenos Aires, Lynch was one of the founders of the Nexus group, whose art works reflect themes of folklore and local traditions. The group's style was close to impressionism with elements of academic naturalism, a technique Lynch got acquainted with during his journey to Paris and Rome at the beginning of the 20th century.

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La Boca - Barrio Bonito?

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I have no idea how old this advertisement really is but it exemplifies the weird world of Nike. Calling the neighborhood of La Boca a beautiful quarter borders on cynical manipulation. When street crime is prevalent, environmental pollution is evident, and poverty is overwhelming, can this area still be called a Barrio Bonito? Well, this is something I personally cannot fathom. However old this advertising mural may be, the situation in La Boca existed long before. How far can marketing freaks live from reality?

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Eat more Fruit and Veggies

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This is what I call a scrumptious eye catcher. I stumbled upon this extraordinary fruit display in Avenida Almirante Brown, down in La Boca. Well, the store was far from being perfect and the variety of fruit and veggies was not too overwhelming but the particular presentation made it an amazing store. I really like the way they stapled the fruit as pyramids on top of these baskets. It adds to the appeal of the ripe fruits and entices customers like me. Compared to other neighborhoods, fruit vendors in La Boca seem to have a lot more space to present their fresh produce.
Anyway, eat more fruit and veggies! (:

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Massive Outdoor Advertising

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Advertising is like alcohol. Ironically, the more you consume, the less you remember. Ads are not necessarily a bad thing, neither is alcohol when consumed appropriately. The wall in the picture, though, serves as a perfect example of an advertising overkill in public areas. You may say that you know what it is like or you've seen worse. And you are right. In fact, we get randomly bombarded with ads all around the clock. Why? Simply because they are increasingly less and less effective.
Beyond sharing the same first letter, alcohol and advertising have another even more important similarity: We get used to it too fast!

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Rusty House with a Skirted Balcony in La Boca

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This house with the rusty facade is to be found in close proximity to the Estadio Alberto J. Armando. The famous football stadium in the La Boca neighborhood is much better known as "La Bombonera", home of the Boca Juniors. Buenos Aires — well, actually, the entire nation of Argentina — is acknowledged to be extremely football-enthusiastic. The Porteños like to name streets after their beloved football personalities. This street was named after Antonio L. Zolezzi who was a former president of the soccer club Atlético River Plate in 1912 and for the period from 1925 to 1927. Be it as it may, I love the house not only for its rusty charm, but because of the fancy skirt around the balcony.

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Matanza Riachuelo River Pollution in Southern Buenos Aires

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Believe it or not, this is a river in Buenos Aires, the Matanza Riachuelo River in the neighborhood of La Boca! "El Riachuelo" is a rather small river that carries huge problems. It originates in the Province of Buenos Aires until it eventually flows into the Río de la Plata estuary. In March the Spanish newspaper "El Mundo" has designated this watercourse as the most polluted river in South America. Crippling poison is your friend! There is probably no chemical you won't find in here: From nitrates, mercury, hexachlorocyclohexane (Lindan), chlorobenzene to tetrachloromethane and bromodichloromethane. It is such a dangerous and stinky mess!!! After a debate about the cleansing of the river that was ongoing for more than 17 years it was announced yesterday that the world bank has finally granted a long awaited loan of US$840 million to Argentina to clean up the Riachuelo. Let's hope that this indispensable step is not further delayed.

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Photo of a Rainy Day

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The rain started ever so slightly. Suddenly everything became blurred and grayish and the La Boca Bridge was barely visible anymore. Actually it was not a big deal because I was already inside when the rain came along. Just when I thought it was over the rain started again. Buenos Aires is usually not a very rainy place but during the summer months mild thunderstorms are not uncommon.

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Self-Planted Bushes on Balcony in La Boca

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In many parts of Buenos Aires you can find these slightly ramshackle buildings that I personally really love. This colorful house I have found in La Boca near the famous Caminito Street. The folks standing on this lovely balcony are staring down at the massive tourist crowds in La Boca.

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Colorful house in La Boca

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La Boca has many of these brightly colored buildings. The area around "El Caminito" Street is one of the most colorful in Buenos Aires. If you wonder, the female doll in the window (locally called Muñeca) is feeding the bird in the cage.

It's Theme Day on City Daily Photo. The theme, chosen by vote of the CDP participants is "Yellow". Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

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