Pictures finally!

But first some general observations about Buenos Aires:

1) Any regulations or rules related to driving (including lanes) are optional. If a light is red but no cars are coming, people will simply go (looking beforehand is optional). If lanes shift, cars might not. The intersections by my house actually have no stop signs, no traffic lights, and no signs whatsoever, so it is quite literally a free-for-all. It's really amazing that there aren't more accidents.

2) Porteños very rarely seem to be in a rush. Everything here starts notoriously late (except for the theater, I am told). In New York, everyone walks on the right side of the sidewalk to allow faster passage, but there is no generally accepted side to walk. No one seems to think that they might be in the way, because why would you be in a rush? All cafés here are sit-down (it is impossible to get a cup of coffee to go, but why would you need to multitask?), and restaurants will not bring you the check until you ask for it--they will literally let you sit for hours. This is weird but defintely enjoyable!

3) The word "vegetarian" does not translate. People here assume that it means not eating red meat and will go right ahead offering chicken and fish. This is really surprising, because (based on the Argentine faculty of the study abroad program) there actually appears to be a decent number of vegetarians here.

And now on to the pictures...

This is my room...definitely great accommodations! I have a view looking out over the neighborhood of Recoleta and a balcony that will be great once it warms up.


This one is La Avenida 9 de Julio that cuts right through the middle of town. It's kind of a crazy cross between an interstate highway and a city street:


Pictures like this make sure that everyone in the general vicinity knows you are visiting from the United States. This is taken in front of the Casa Rosada, which is essentially the Argentine equivalent of the White House.


This is a shot of Retiro, which is a neighborhood towards the "microcentro" (essentially downtown Buenos Aires). The main train station is right around the corner from here.


Parts of Buenos Aires really do look like Paris! This was taken in a square in Recoleta, which is one of the nicest/most expensive neighborhoods of the city. There are a lot of boutique hotels and shops all over the place...a really nice section of town!


That's all for now, but I will share some more soon...