Scouting Buenos Aires

1. “Versos a la Tristeza de Buenos Aires”, Alfosina Storni

Tristes calles derechas, agrisadas e iguales

por donde asoma, a veces, un pedazo de cielo,

sus fachadas oscuras y el asfalto del suelo

me apagaron los tibios sueños primaverales.

Cuánto vagué por ellas, distraída, empapada

en el vaho grisáceo, lento, que las decora.

De su monotonía mi alma padece ahora.

–¡Alfonsina! — No llames, ya no respondo a nada.

Si en una de tus casas, Buenos Aires, me muero

viendo en días de otoño tu cielo prisionero,

no me será sorpresa la lápida pesada.

Que entre tus calles rectas, untadas de su rió

apagado, brumoso, desolante y sombrío,

cuando vagué por ellas, y estaba yo enterrada.

2. The aristocratic pyramid of Recoleta Cemetery.  Taken by Buenos Aires Photographer.

3. The prolific triangular shadows that change their shape as the sun passes over the city grid.

About a hundred years ago they passed a law here requiring all buildings to have a beveled corner. I believe it was to improve visibility for automobiles at intersections. The law only applies to the ground floor, however. There are a lot of these functional apartment buildings from the 1960s where losing those few square meters was simply economically unacceptable. The result is a sharp corner above the diagonal.

For more ochava photographs, visit Thomas Locke Hobbs.  Quote and photos are his.