A yuppie theme park: Puerto Madero

Thinking it would be nice to go to a part of Buenos Aires that was completely unknown to us, we decided to go to Puerto Madero. Our hotel was not far. We only needed to cross some busy avenues. We were not prepared for the surprise. There was Puerto Madero, but it was as if we were arriving in the Docklands in London.

It was “cool”. New and trendy old mixed together to a yuppie paradise. 

The old cranes and old ships are like artefacts on a set. Walking along the docks you have no idea even of being in Latin America. The cafes and restaurants play rock, beat and other western music. 

The one thing that comes near to tango is the bridge of the women - the puente de la Mujer. Companies have European / North American names. Prices are adjusted to the level of European cities.  

Sure, the weather is much better than in London. The pieces of meat on the menu are huge. You get them with a lot of potatoes… the green is separate. The wine is excellent and the glasses are much larger then in Europe.

Everything is smooth. I found just one derelict building. I suppose in a few years it will also be transformed into something beautiful and expensive.

I loved to be there; just watching the scenery. The blue sky, the colors, the feeling of being safe. At the same time it feels artificial, like being in some theme park. It is nice for a change to be “back” for a while, but after some time I miss the noisy, busy and lively atmosphere of Latin America. 

High Places

We were lured into a church once with the promise that we could go into the dome by elevator. The view would be fantastic. So pushing myself to be brave (I simply don’t like heights) we paid rather a lot to get in. Entering the church we saw some scaffolding in the middle and a building site elevator. First I thought they were working on the roof. How stupid of me… 

This was the way we were supposed to go up. The elevator was a see through elevator. So as we got higher the hole under me started growing to immense proportions. I knew there was only this thin floor between me and this gaping depth. Coming to the platform we saw what next they had in store for us. We had to walk over this wobbly platform to a lot of stairs going up to great heights. 

I couldn’t move, let alone take pictures, let alone enjoy the view. And I really didn’t want to go any higher. Everything was moving just a little. As soon as the elevator arrived to go down again I somehow managed to get in.

And then happened what happens always when you don’t reach the top of whatever you are climbing….. I wondered if I should have gone up further. When you are down and safe you feel challenged to go up again.  

So look at these brave men: Going up with a building site elevator, without a protective church around them. Hanging just a bit over the edge of their little “comfort zone” to untie important knots in the many cables of these high cranes. The wind blows; these are the men in real high places…..