We began at a Cuatro Siglos, a cafe right on 9 de Julio -- the main square of Salta -- to watch the Argentina-Mexico match. After, people poured onto the street bearing celeste y blanco Argentina shirts, wigs, face paint and flags. Even the sky cooperated by displaying the national colors.
The light in the cafe made it difficult to see people's faces, just silhouettes jumping around and screaming. During the game, the streets are dead. Not a single person to be seen. After, everyone goes outside.
Turn left from Cuatro Siglos to see the street filled with people singing, dancing and blowing horns. On a normal day, you'd come to this block to visit the Museum de Arqueologia de Alta Montana and the Centro Cultural America.
Turn right to hundreds more people outside the Cabildo Historico del Norte. Take a closer look for wigs, hats and face painting galore. Everyone gets involved.
Even the dogs.... Check out this guy parading down Avenida Belgrano.
I love the look on this guy's face. You know just what he's thinking. This dog isn't mine. It belongs to my girlfriend.
Gotta love this family, smallest to largest, all painted blue and
screaming at the top of their lungs.
The happiness is palpable. You can't help but feel the same way.
I just got word the Netherlands beat Brazil 2-1. Can you imagine what will happen if (when!) Argentina wins the whole shebang?
We're leaving Salta to drive to Buenos Aires next Thursday. I'm all nervous about tomorrow's game with Germany, but also have high hopes of driving through the country, watching games and celebrating with people from all over the country.
We leave the day after the final game.
Dale! Dale! Argentina!!!
Thanks for the preview, Leigh!
I just can't wait to be there!
Viva la Argentina!
Posted by: Jami | July 02, 2010 at 07:52 PM
Awesome photos! The atmosphere there must be electric. Good luck tomorrow in the game against Germany!
I have included this post in our weekly roundup of interesting blog posts from this week. Check it out here and feel free to share this within your social network.
http://www.gooverseas.com/go-abroad-blog/week-overseas-july-2nd/3364
Cheers,
Andrew
Posted by: Andrew | July 03, 2010 at 12:35 AM
Love the photos - they say so much about the excitement and worldcup frenzy. I can't even imagine what it will look like tomorrow (Saturday) with the game against Germany. We're on Pacific time now...so the 7 AM kickoff is not ideal, but I'm going to try to make it up! Go Argentina!!
Posted by: Audrey | July 03, 2010 at 04:59 AM
Sweeeet photo essay! Even if they did lose in the end, shame. Got a kick out of that dog riding in the basket, how is he not petrified?!
Posted by: Candice | July 06, 2010 at 02:25 PM
wow so in awe of these photos
Posted by: ayngelina | July 08, 2010 at 01:51 AM
Lovely photos! Can totally feel the energy.
Posted by: Lola | July 10, 2010 at 04:04 PM
i loved these pics Leigh & great captions!
Posted by: Rebecca | July 12, 2010 at 07:48 PM
I wish I had been there!
Posted by: Carolina | July 30, 2010 at 12:29 AM
These are such awesome pictures!!!! Just wish they would have won the WC in the end.
Posted by: Andi | September 06, 2010 at 01:07 PM
Great Staff Here..hope more to come.
Posted by: Account Deleted | December 29, 2010 at 09:52 AM