A 20-hour overnight bus journey to Salta in northern Argentina offers plenty of time to reflect on what I´ve made of Buenos Aires in such a short time.
As its reputation suggests, it´s very civilised and beautiful, brimming with architectural delights, fountains, squares, parks, cafes and bookshops. But what is less well known is that it´s also dirty and impoverished, with about half the national population officially poor and kids aged about six working the streets and trains.
The city´s inhabitants are even more fascinating. They have a reputation among Latin American countries for being rather aloof but I met many that were lots of fun.
One oft-quoted stat is that they have a higher proportion of people seeing shrinks than anywhere else, even Manhattan. One of my teachers put this down to a fundamental identity crisis between being Latin and European.
Who knows, but they certainly struck me as deep thinkers. They devour newspapers and have a very healthy curiosity about the world, especially British culture. I´ve been asked questions about figures as diverse as John Le Carre, Luke Chadwick and Black Sabbath.
But it saddens me that the friends I have made here - among them architects, accountants, teachers and students - will probably never be able to explore the faraway places that so fascinate them, because the economy is in such a perpetual mess.
PICS OF BUENOS AIRES PEOPLE:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14099398@N00/sets/72157623654501997/show/
AND SIGHTS:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14099398@N00/sets/72157623567979582/show/
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