Monday, September 21, 2009

El Día de Primavera

Today is the first day of spring and the weather, at least here in Buenos Aires, has been gorgeous, pleasantly warm and sunny, the kind of day that makes you smile inwardly and think, it's so great to be alive.

We've been out and about, on our last full day here. Everyone seems to be enjoying the first taste of Spring: there's an air of frivolity, people are exchanging flowers, and everywhere there is laughter and joy.

About 8 p.m. we heard noises outside, a metallic clanging, at first isolated, that grew and grew. We went out to see what was happening and saw people out on their balconies, banging pots and pans. As we stood and watched, more and more joined the clamor, until it all became quite deafening. After about thirty minutes it died down.

Then a little after 9 it started again. A group of about 100 people marched down Callao, banging pans, shouting, and waving flags, protected by police cars with flashing lights, as more people came out on their balconies to encourage them by adding yet more banging to the din.

Edited to add: We talked to Valeria, who owns our apartment, and she told us that all the banging was another protest against the government. Tonight it was the media law controversy.

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