Buenos Aires, Baltimore & Boston

My last day in Buenos Aires was Easter Monday. I was prepared for it to be a holiday, but i didn't know it was a national holiday called "dia de la memoria", when the coup d'etat started the proceso in 1976, and the "dirty war" in which thousands of politcal prisoners disappeared. So I spent the morning at Recoleta cemetery and at MALBA, the Museo de arte latinoamericana de buenos aires, and was shocked when i emerged from the subway back by the hostel to find myself in the midst of a huge march. There were groups from each party marching, from the Juventud Peronista to the Universidad de Buenos Aires's delegation to the Partido Obrero (workers' party). I sat in the back of a cafe to watch a bit. There were lots of signs about the desaparecidos (those who disappeared in the dirty war) and also signs about Uribe and Bush.

The day I flew out, i walked down to mail letters from the old Post Office by the Rio de la Plata and then walked over to Congreso. Talked to the taxi driver on the way to the airport about the "paro" or farmers' strike that's blocked the highway to the northwest of Buenos Aires. Apparently, farmers have to pay 33% export taxes to sell any food to other countries, and president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner wants to increase it to 45%. Because of that, when i left Argentina farmers had been on strike for about 2 weeks. Food prices in Argentina have been rising really fast (a dozen eggs in Buenos aires just hit 10 pesos...which is about $3.50!) and people are upset especially about the increasing price of meat.

I got back to Newark and after waiting 2 hours for the train to come (a little eerie after reading the end of Atlas Shrugged, which describes the collapse of the newly communist economy from the perspective of a railroad exec who's trying to keep the trains running through multiple crises), and met my mom in Baltimore. i had a great 3 days with her - met up with Tara and Westra and (a surprise bonus!) Roma at Ulah's Bistro on U Street. tasty pizzas like Ratatouille and Chicken Artichoke. Friday night we went out to dinner at an old Rockville staple Indian restaurant with Lilly and then went to her mom's house for middle eastern desserts. and Saturday I went hiking and climbing with Steve at Old Rag down in the Shenedoahs.

I got back to Boston where i'm staying in 69 Elm with my fabulous roommates! I drove out to Lincoln yesterday to get some things and halfway out route 2 the hood of my car flipped up! Luckily, it didn't fall off, didn't crack the windshield, and because it came unhooked on the left side, i could still see in front of me pretty well so i pulled over. and then freaked out. and then waited 1.5 hours to get towed. so lucky though, it could have been so much worse. Today I went to Roxbury and built raised beds with Kathleen and Johnny, who just started in my position 2 weeks ago. i'm hoping to show some pictures at staff meeting tomorrow and to help build more raised beds friday before i move to williamstown sunday!