hola, primavera

my little mate gourd

Today I spent the entire day "tomando mate y sol" en true Argentine style by celebrating Dia del Primavera, which also happens to be Dia del Estudiante...which means no class for students! It's hard to rightfully describe to someone the laid-back nature that is living in Buenos Aires, but the number of holidays this country takes and the way in which they celebrate each one definitely says something about it. Dia del Primavera is a day each year when la gente flock to the Bosques de Palermo or any city plaza/parque nearby to spend the day picnicing, drinking, playing music, etc. etc. * Some places are a bit crazier than others - several people warned me to be wary of getting robbed and to watch out for peleas/fights - and others places are more tranquil, like the one some friends from my theatre class and I went to today. 


I spent the entire day taking in the sun, celebrating Dia del Primavera!


My day went a little like this:
I picked out my favorite long skirt to wear because, it being the first day of spring, weather permitted. Walked to Palermo to meet Sarah, where we walked some more around the city to find some sidewalk cafe to eat at and people watch. I loved seeing everyone in their summer gear. And it was clear that many people were headed to the parks, because almost everyone was walking with groceries in their hand or what looked like a picnic bag with their friends.


Afterwards, I met up with the girls/guys from theatre in the park. We had an overabundance of facturas, little pastries/sweet breads, wine, and of course, mate. We found ourselves a little patch of grass and blissfully spent the next five or so hours there in the grass, tomando sol y mate. This is pretty typical for Dia del Estudiante, and looking around there were tons of little groups just like ours, all little circles of friends hanging out in the grass. Some guys were playing soccer. Other groups had out guitars and were clapping/singing along. Even after the sun set, no one seemed to be in a hurry to leave. Really, what's the rush? No one is ever in a hurry here. Some of them are probably still in the park now.


*I think open container laws technically exist here, but only technically. If you see the policia, you're supposed to conceal your botella de vino or what have you, but it appears to be just a sign of courtesy, really. Actually, visit any weekend feria and you'll find venders selling Quilmes, the national beer, in the grass where people are snacking/listening to music in the plaza.