Symphonic orchestra on the widest avenue

After going for a run (actively combating the effects of Argentine food), Eli and I walked to the Obelisco for a symphonic orchestra concert of the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra conducted by a renowned Argentine, Daniel Barenboim.  It was the most highly attended show that I had been to at the Obelisco.  There were 8,000 chairs set up, which had to have been filled hours before the 3:00 pm show.  We arrived 10 minutes early and there were people standing blocks behind the last row of chairs – reportedly 40,000 people attended the concert.  It was a fascinating sight to watch the entire Avenida 9 de Julio (the world’s largest avenue) fall completely silent – people even shushed those around – when the composer took the stage.

the crowd

 

Eli and I treated ourselves to some pan relleno (filled bread) for lunch

we met up with Marcela and filled our craving for helado

crema de café and pistachio helados

While walking through San Telmo, we stumbled upon a crew filming a U.S. commercial for Kleenex...oh, outsourcing!

i didn't even notice the NYC taxi until my friends pointed it out

 





why paint new white crosswalk lines when you can lay down temporary pieces of white material? poor Argentina! (as if NYC has perfectly white crosswalks!)

 






















We wandered to watch the Catalanes playing fútbol at an athletic club under the freeway in San Telmo.

old Coca Cola signs in the athletic club

 

Afterward, we enjoyed some empanadas at the tercer tiempo (third period…known as the eating period) at the Casal de Catalunya with the opposing team.