The Olympic torch came through Buenos Aires today, the only city in South America along the torch route for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Jenny and I waited for two hours to see it pass by La Casa Rosada in La Plaza de Mayo. We originally were going to watch the opening tango show in Puerto Madero, but there was already a crowd along Av. de Mayo and we heard it would only be 45 minutes. (We forgot to translate that to Argentine time.) But we made friends with a cute little old lady in a green leopard top and an old man who is currently studying English idiomatic phrases and Sanskrit, so the time passed quickly although it was windy and cold and wet (but not quite raining.)
Originally we were standing by La Casa Rosada, with all the chinos, but a policia came up to us (and the lady in the green leopard blouse) and told us we were to move to the other side. "¡Que ridículo!" the lady exclaimed, but we cross the street with "los cristianos" (as she called them) and view the parade from the other side. I didn't think segregating the crowd was very much in line with the spirit of The Olympics. I consider telling the policeman I am Chinese, but I doubt he would believe me. We cross the street and wait by the Argentine National Bank building.
Los chinos enfrente de La Casa Rosada
There were a lot of people protesting against China.
After watching Maradonna (futbolista) run with the torch, we made a beeline to Café Tortoni for chocolate y churros. I prefer the churros from 7-11 because at least they have cinnamon. But Café Tortoni is a cultural and historical icon (read: tourist trap) so it is nice to go back there to relax and get warm. While there, Jenny finds out she had been given a fake $100. A good fake, but a fake nonetheless. The waiter won’t accept it. Oh well. Perhaps we can pass it off to a cabbie. This is Argentina.
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