thefutureisred

Picturing San Telmo, Buenos Aires

Looking back to the summer, well, summer in the southern hemisphere, that is. Noah, Lila and I got up one Sunday morning in December, one of our first days in Argentina, and ventured south to Plaza Dorrego for the San Telmo fair.

Block after block of street closes to traffic and opens to painters, jewelry designers, musicians and tango. It truly puts the NYC street fairs to shame, with perhaps the exception of the NYC Food Festival -- which is coming up May 16th and 17th -- and Atlantic Antic.

This photograph, taken by Lila, comes from one of the many stalls in Plaza Dorrego. Don't worry yourself to arrive too early in the day, though. In true porteño style, the festivities begin later in the day and carry on until late.

Picturing San Pedro de Atacama

On the road to Puritama's thermal baths from San Pedro. Middle of the desert, nothing for miles around and absolutely beautiful. I suggest renting a car with a few others and choosing a day the tour agencies in town have their trips planned elsewhere. You can stop as often as you want to enjoy the breathtaking scenery and will have the baths to yourself. Relax, bring a picnic and hike in the canyon beyond the warm springs.

Photo Essay: How Cafayate Revives the Jaded Soul

Lately, I've been feeling a bit jaded. We've traveled through so many amazing places, it seems to take a lot to really impress me. Most times, I'll compare a waterfall, a mountain, a hike to a place we've already been, and somehow I am unable to see the place I stand at that moment with clear eyes.

I see this in myself and don't like it.

Occasionally, though, we find somewhere that stands alone in its beauty, originality, its ability to take your breath away. Cafayate, where we visited this past weekend, is one of those places.

This is the first trip we've taken since settling in Salta. Here, we are now living like real people instead of the constant travel we've known. These days, we work weekdays and rest on weekends like everyone else. We run errands in town, do our laundry and return to the same house every night.

Our weekend break from this new routine seemed all the more enjoyable knowing we'll have to wait another week, perhaps another month or longer before our next weekend jaunt.

So join me on a weekend tour of Cafayate and the quebrada de Cafayate, a trip made through renewed eyes.

Quebrada de Cafayate

The quebrada lies approximately 200 kilometers south of Salta, la cuidad. As you move toward it, you see the greenery of the Tres Cerritos valley slowly vanish to be replaced with brick red rock. It is striking. The rock creates formations that make me understand exactly why la provincia del Salta has become world reknown for climbing. Cafayate is also along the Ruta de Vino, although I haven't seen vineyards in quite a while. What I do see is one amazing landscape after another.

We've stopped often to take pictures, which happened to correspond with each of the times Lila had to throw up the bright pink popsicle she had for lunch. One of us with the camera, the other rubbing Lila's back. Poor thing. I think it will be a loooong time before she eats another fruitilla pop.

A more complete photo essay of Cafayate coming later this week. Subscribe to my feed and you'll be one of the first to know when they post.

Waiting on the Corner in the Morning

I first saw them a year ago. Two women on their knees on the corner of Main Street in Buffalo. They were holding signs: Don't Give Your Baby To These Baby Killers. I looked closer. Each woman had a rosary in her hand.

This year, these two women have grown to a much larger group. They've grown organized with flyers, radio announcements and even billboards.

I pass them every Saturday morning on my way to yoga class. Finally, last weekend, I stopped, introduced myself and asked if I could take pictures. They were more than happy to oblige me.

I arrived just as they were leaving, but Jim, one of the organizers, welcomed me back for next week. I'll be there with my camera and questions.