Yesterday on my way home from my course I went to the Plaza de Mayo, which is the main government square in Argentina.
These benches look like they’re covered in fancy upholstery, but they’re actually decorative concrete.
This afternoon I had the awesome opportunity to do a ‘street art tour’ in a couple of areas in the north of the city. I didn’t realize how much history and political information I would learn from graffiti but I guess when you think about it, it makes sense. People use art to express themselves, so what better way to check the pulse of the people than looking at the street art?
This was one of the most interesting to me:
The ‘ghost-like’ paintings at the top are a well known symbol in Argentina, representing the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo. We learned that in the late 70s and early 80s, many Argentinians who were vocal against the dictatorship government disappeared. It is believed that they were tortured and killed, though their bodies have not been found. About 500 of them were young pregnant women. The mothers of many of the missing banded together and protested by silently walking around the Plaza de Mayo wearing cloths on their heads as shown in the painting. They still do this weekly to highlight human rights.
It is believed that the kidnapped pregnant women gave birth, then were killed and their babies adopted to ‘politically agreeable’ families. The Mothers organization has set up DNA testing and have found something like 240 of these missing children.
Pretty moving, especially to think that I am the age of one of these missing children.
The tour also covered numerous sites and a couple of street art galleries.
Even Argentinians know that this US election is crazy…
Otherwise I’ve been filling my brain with great info at my course, and filling my belly with great food! My strategy has been to walk along until I see a restaurant that is filled with Argentinians. This strategy has not disappointed thus far.
‘Break a leg’ to the cast of Rock of Ages, which is starting tonight in the Hat. I know Rob’s going to kill his role as a gay seeming German!!