So I arrived in Buenos Aires last week, but haven't had easy access to the web, until I found this cafe near my apt with wifi. I can now start updating this blog. The Villa 31 topic is a very difficult one here. It is very dangerous to visit the site without dying or becoming disfigured. The best option I've been given is to speak to the Catholic Church. Apparently there is one in Villa 31, and they respect the priest very much, so that is the best way to get on the site so far, but even like that, it is still very dangerous.
On the other hand, I've spent most of my time so far exploring the different neighbourhoods in the city, some are fairly safe to walk around, and others not so much. The photo posted here is of the Puerto Madero neighbourhood; it is the former port of the city, now mostly converted into expensive apartments, offices, and expensive restaurants. Since it is a port, the whole area is under the guard of the Argentine Navy, so it is a very safe area to walk around at any hour. The photo shows Calatrava's Puente de la Mujer (Woman Bridge), and the other side of the dams, of which there are 4 in total. The building at the other end of the bridge (with the silos) is very interesting. It is an abandoned building, in need of quite a bit of repair. It's in a very prominent location, directly in line with the Puente de la Mujer, which is also in line with the Casa Rosada (Pink House), which is the Argentine equivalent of the White House. The abandoned building is completely surrounded by the expensive apartments, offices, and restaurants that I mentioned, and behind it in this photo is a really nice park (photo to come) and the ecological reserve. Next week, when I visit the UBA school of architecture, I will ask someone about this building... someone there should know what it is or will be.
