Travel & Tours in Argentina, in Buenos Aires & Beyond
Business was booming for florist, Elena Regalado on Día de la Primavera, the first day of spring. Argentina celebrates the holiday (which coincides with Student’s Day) on September 21, two days before the actual Spring Equinox. It is a day in which young people get together to celebrate, and it is one of the year’s biggest days for flower sellers. To witness Buenos Aires’ real passion for nature’s blossoms, head to the flower market in Almagro, one of the largest flower markets in the world.
A group of Argentine redheads gather at the Obelisk to celebrate ‘Redhead Day.’ More than a 100 redheads showed up to celebrate their shared gene mutation known as the MC1R gene, which causes red hair, freckles, resistance to anesthesia and a tendency to look older or younger than one’s age, depending on one’s particular variation of the gene.
Gingers are rare worldwide, but even more so in Argentina. They make up less than 2% of the population on earth, and 1.5% in Argentina, which includes men with dark hair but red facial hair. Argentina experienced lots of European migration in the 20th century, including from Ireland, but since MC1R is a recessive gene, gingers are going extinct.
The day’s event included ‘Ms. Redhead’ and ‘Mr. Red Beard’ competitions and prizes. The event is organized by Omar Fornataro, who founded ‘Pelirrojos Club'(Redheads’ Club) in 2013 in an effort to celebrate flaming hair and fight bullying and discrimination. Redheads are considered mufa (bad luck) in Argentina.
The far end of Buenos Aires’ Ecological Reserve in Puerto Madero is a popular lounging spot on warm days in the city.
On clear days, the landing on the far side of the reserve, alongside the Rio de la Plata, or River Plate, offers views of Uruguay.
On the last day of Carnival Buenos Aires 2016, a resourceful kid protects his eyes by wearing his dad’s motorcycle helmet, enabling him to attack with his canister of foam unfettered.
A Buenos Aires Carnival tradition is for children to spray chemical ‘snow’ sold in canisters at each other. For some reason the tradition continues even though the carnival play often results in tears, as the snow stings slightly when it lands in the eyes.
A 2015 mural in the Monserrat neighborhood by Jorge Rodriquez Gerada depicts a realistic face of a boy. The mural titled ‘David’ is located at Tacuari and Venezuela streets, above a new parking lot, where an empty lot sat for many years.
Take the Buenos Aires Graffiti Tour to find out about Buenos Aires street art scene.