Buenos Aires Galleries

Dogs in the Big City : Porteños love their dogs. There probably are not as many dogs as people, but it often seems there are, as we explore around Buenos Aires. What to do with your big dog when you leave your high-rise for work? Around our neighborhood of Recoleta the answer seems to be professional dog-walkers. Mostly very presentable young men [and a few women], we see them most often in early morning or midday as they collect their charges for extended walkies in BA's many parks. Our frustration has been the difficulty of capturing these fast-moving packs on 'film'. So today, Steve headed out at 0730 in search of the dog-walkers. 

Clearly the Porteño's chosen dog-walker must be highly trusted, as they appear to visit the owners' apartments to collect their charges -- after the owners have left for work. The walker connects his abuilding pack to a nearby tree/post while elevatoring to collect the next dog. Invariably the waiting pack is quiet and well-behaved, watching the building doorway for the reappearance of the "alpha dog". When the pack of a dozen or more of similar breed are assembled, it's off to the park where the walkers and packs assemble into super-packs for socializing. We invariably see groups of packs and walkers when we explore the parks.

Joe commented "that dogwalker's in trouble if all the pooches decide to take off together after a cat!" I replied "These guys are real pros - we wish we could interview one [a stress test for Dorothy's espanol]. We've drawn some inferences just from observation -- e.g., I'm guessing they select/approve the dogs they accept for such as behavior with other dogs, obedience, ... They are working the dogs in an intense big-city world. E.g., a misbehaving new dog could put at risk some very expensive dogs owned by some powerful people."

Dogs in the Big City

Porteños love their dogs. There probably are not as many dogs as peop ...

Updated: Dec 19, 2007 9:18am PST

Buenos Aires Zoo : The Buenos Aires Zoo was created in 1888.  It occupies the land which once an estancia (ranch), 18 hectares in the neighbourhood of Palermo.  We had been warned that the zoo had become worn and shabby, but instead I found a fascinating collection of character architecture, a separately designed building for each type of animal.  The zebra's building even has stripes on it.  

I wanted especially to see the native Argentine animals, and I expected to see most of them in cages, like the Andean Condor, of course.  But several of them were wandering around the zoo grounds, like the Tuco-tuco, and the Mara. The enormous mature trees, creating a shady and cool environment for animals and people alike.  Green parrots were building wonderful nests in the top of the huge aviary where the Condor was living.  Two baby condors have hatched here recently, and will be reared for reintroduction to the wild.

Buenos Aires Zoo

The Buenos Aires Zoo was created in 1888. It occupies the land which ...

Updated: Nov 29, 2007 9:52am PST

Buenos Aires Jacarandas :

Buenos Aires Jacarandas

Updated: Nov 29, 2007 9:00am PST

Dancing horses! 114th Argentine Open - C: 4:30 PM Field 1 - Chandon Cup : Ellerstina Etiqueta Negra defeated La Aguada Arelauquen 18 - 11

Ellerstina Etiqueta Negra: Pablo Mac Donough 9 (scored 6 goals), Gonzalo Pieres (h) 10 (4), Facundo Pieres 10 (scored 7, two were penalties) and Matías Mac Donough 9 (1). Total: 38.

La Aguada Arelauquen: Javier Novillo Astrada 9 (scored 2), Eduardo Novillo Astrada (h) 9 (4), Miguel Novillo Astrada 10 (3) and Ignacio Novillo Astrada 10 (1 penal) (was injured and replaced by Alejandro Novillo Astrada 7, who converted one goal). Total: 38.

Dancing horses! 114th Argentine Open - C: 4:30 PM Field 1 - Chandon Cup

Ellerstina Etiqueta Negra defeated La Aguada Arelauquen 18 - 11 Eller ...

Updated: Nov 27, 2007 6:56am PST

Dancing horses! 114th Argentine Open - B: 2:00 Field 2 HSBC Cup : Indios Chapaleufú II Culú Culú defeated Santa María de Lobos Casablanca: 14-12.

Indios Chapaleufú II Culú Culú: Alberto Heguy (h) 9 (scored 3 goals), Ignacio Heguy 9 (scored 3, one was a penalty), Milo Fernández Araujo 9 y Eduardo Heguy 9 (8 penalty points). Total: 36.

Santa María de Lobos Casablanca: Guillermo Caset (h) 7 (Scored 7, four were penalitiesl), Gerardo Collardín 7 (2), Pablo Jauretche 8 (2) and Jaime García Huidobro 7 (1). Total: 29.

Dancing horses! 114th Argentine Open - B: 2:00 Field 2 HSBC Cup

Indios Chapaleufú II Culú Culú defeated Santa María de Lobos Casab ...

Updated: Nov 27, 2007 6:25am PST

Dancing horses! 114th Argentine Open - A: our favorite pics : 
On Sunday 25 November we attended two polo games, the HSBC Cup and the Chandon Cup, at the Palermo polo grounds. We were so lucky to get back to Buenos Aires just in the nick of time to see the culmination of the Argentine season by the 114° Campeonato Argentino Abierto Movistar. We have never before paid $100 per seat for a sporting event -- this one was worth at least that. And not least for the opportunity to see a cross section of fashionable Portenos at play.

Ellerstina Etiqueta Negra took the Chandon Cup by beating La Aguada Arelauquen 18-11, in what was to our uninitiated eyes the most exciting polo game ever.

Each player fielded up to twenty-two remarkable horses [yes, that is one rider for 22 mounts -- horses which are swapped in a couple of seconds of fluid movement from one saddle to the next]. The majority of these horses were identified as the Polo Argentino Breed, dryly described by the The Argentine Association of Polo Pony Breeders' as follows:

"This is how at the present time we have achieved a polo pony biotype that is highly efficient as regards its skills.

"The origins of this breed are to be found in the criollo (native) horses that already existed in the area and were used to play the game and which were selected for breeding. Simultaneously–and brought in specially by Anglo-Argentine players–the introduction of thoroughbred racehorses (S.P.C.) began, which accelerated crossbreeding and began slowly to absorb the original criollo.

"In time the Quarter Mile and Arab breeds were incorporated, though in a lesser degree, to make the most of certain special characteristics of each breed. This great genetic variability, added to a rigorous selection generated by the game itself and to the naturally favorable conditions of the area, are what make Polo Argentino unique in the world."

Take a peek at the following photos of what we can only describe as "the dancing horses". Do you agree?

Dancing horses! 114th Argentine Open - A: our favorite pics

On Sunday 25 November we attended two polo games, the HSBC Cup and t ...

Updated: Nov 27, 2007 1:09pm PST

Museo de Motivos Argentinos Jose Hernandez :

Museo de Motivos Argentinos Jose Hernandez

Updated: Nov 11, 2007 4:03pm PST

Puerto Madero :

Puerto Madero

Updated: Nov 11, 2007 8:23am PST

Feria de los Mataderos :

Feria de los Mataderos

Updated: Nov 10, 2007 5:23pm PST

Tango at Galerias Pacifico :

Tango at Galerias Pacifico

Updated: Nov 04, 2007 1:33am PST

Ecological Reserve :

Ecological Reserve

Updated: Nov 11, 2007 12:37pm PST

Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes : The most important fine-arts museum in Argentina. An enormous collection, from European masters, impressionists to contemporary latin american art.

Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes

The most important fine-arts museum in Argentina. An enormous collecti ...

Updated: Nov 04, 2007 1:02am PST

Japanese Gardens : One of the most serene Japanese gardens we have visited -- recommended.

Japanese Gardens

One of the most serene Japanese gardens we have visited -- recommended ...

Updated: Oct 30, 2007 6:43pm PST