Tigre. About 40 minutes by train from our place in BsAs, it seems a world apart. Expanses of green grass, spacious houses and other buildings, a HUGE indoor/outdoor market to rival the biggest in the capital, and a river define this place and differentiate it from the more claustrophobic city we call home this year.
The train ride itself was an interesting experience. Although the distances are considerably greater on the train, it costs far less than the subte! $1.50 (pesos) gets you there, and the shopping and entertainment experience is unlike even the busiest day on the subway here in BsAs: We were entertained by a boy singing (in a beautiful voice, I might add) -- he was with his dad, who was on crutches; allegedly there were no siblings and no mother, just the two of them, as he announced before he began to sing. Then there was an Aboriginal pan flute and indigenous string instrument guy (also very talented), and a fellow blasting some horrible pop music out of a portable CD player (the CDs were for sale... sales, needless to say, were slim).
The train ride itself was an interesting experience. Although the distances are considerably greater on the train, it costs far less than the subte! $1.50 (pesos) gets you there, and the shopping and entertainment experience is unlike even the busiest day on the subway here in BsAs: We were entertained by a boy singing (in a beautiful voice, I might add) -- he was with his dad, who was on crutches; allegedly there were no siblings and no mother, just the two of them, as he announced before he began to sing. Then there was an Aboriginal pan flute and indigenous string instrument guy (also very talented), and a fellow blasting some horrible pop music out of a portable CD player (the CDs were for sale... sales, needless to say, were slim).
In addition to the music, the captive train audience was subjected to no fewer than eight sales pitches. Peddlars were selling everything from iPod nano knockoffs to Sube card protectors and make-up kits. There were also several guys selling chocolate of various kinds, an Alfahors peddlar, someone selling chewing gum, and a kid w handwritten bits of paper.
Once in Tigre, we wandered along the scenic route into the market area, where we met our friends and their two daughters at a cafe. After some more meandering, through the market, we stopped at the river to enjoy the view. A street dog had the same idea, and was leaned right up against the fence, watching the water intently.
Once in Tigre, we wandered along the scenic route into the market area, where we met our friends and their two daughters at a cafe. After some more meandering, through the market, we stopped at the river to enjoy the view. A street dog had the same idea, and was leaned right up against the fence, watching the water intently.
(Click to enlarge.)
On the way back to the train, we stopped for some waffles. Then it was time to catch the train home to our little corner of Buenos Aires, where the locals were getting ready to celebrate the first night of Carnaval!
On the way back to the train, we stopped for some waffles. Then it was time to catch the train home to our little corner of Buenos Aires, where the locals were getting ready to celebrate the first night of Carnaval!