Political Action Cont. plus Life without the Subte

Hola amigos,
What a day it has been. The subtes (subways) were on strike so it was time for me to learn how to use a bus. In Bs. As. there are hundreds of bus routes.

We have the "guia T" (The transportation guide) which is supposed to help us. It just makes life more confusing. The good things about it: You can tell if there is a certain bus within a few blocks from you and I use it as a walking map, which is very helpful when walking. However: there is no way to tell where the bus stop is, and if you take a bus into the city using a certain route there is no guarantee that the return trip will just back track. In the back of the guia is a route that includes just the path the bus follows but not where it stops.

So this morning, to allow for extra time in case there was a problem taking the bus I left an hour and 15 minutes to make the 20-30 minute trip.  I was waiting for the 59 bus. There was a nice lady at the stop who I asked if I was at the right place (another thing with the buses is that you dont know which direction its going). We saw a 59 bus. Hooray! It flew right past us. The next one and the 5 after that, same thing. Finally a 59 stopped even though it was so packed. We squeezed in (mom you would have hated this) and literally I didnt have to hold onto anything because I couldnt move so the people around me supported me. Luckily, since the bus was so crowded, I wasn't able to pay, so I saved a whole $0.25 American cents (1.25 pesos). During the bus ride I just prayed that I was going the right direction. Luckily, we turned onto 9 de Julio (the main drag in Bs.As.) so stupidly I got off as soon as we turned onto it. Little did I know that I had another mile or so to walk in flip-flops, in the rain.  I arrived 1/2 hour late to the VISA registration, but luckily that was not a problem (trip totaled 1 hour and 45 minutes (not like the 25 min I was expecting))

After our preliminary VISA process, I grabbed some tea and then walked with others from my program to the Catholic University (UCA). I am hoping to take a Twentieth Century History Class here (instead of at UBA) and possibly get my art credit there (if my Tango class is not approved to be an art form). The University is beautiful! Unlike most of the universities in Bs.As. UCA has all its buildings together and a campus-like atmosphere. It is right near the government center.

After UCA we had time to spare so we (2 other girls: Erica and Sandy) grabbed some empanadas and then walked back towards our school (about 1 1/2 miles).  We heard some marching music and looked back to see a parade of political activists walking down the street waving their flags. 

We thought it was just Argentines doing what they do but actually they were all headed to Congress to hear CFK (Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, the president) give a speech. Somehow we ended up there too. There were guards all along the road and steps of the Congress building, but we think CFK gave her speech from inside. We did however see her on the television screen displayed in the center. Many people were there sitting on the sidewalks, waving flags, or just standing and listening. Some of what CFK talked about:

http://www.buenosairesherald.com/article/94174/cfk-defends-subsidy-scheme-praises-argentinas-economic-growth

http://www.buenosairesherald.com/article/94184/cfk-to-seek-reinstatement-of-bamalvinas-flights

Coming home was another experience using the bus. I couldnt find the bus I was looking for so just walked in the direction of where I live. I probably walked a good mile and a half or so and then finally got on a bus that I hoped would bring me closer to home. Luckily it brought me close, but not THAT close, so I still had some walking to do. Now my feet are blistered and I am going to a tango class tonight at 10pm (I'll have to take another bus to get there, but Marta and I went through in great detail exactly what I need to do to get there without a problem)

What a day! I miss the subte.



Good news! The subte will be back tomorrow!!!!! Hooray for being able to get places again