Me llamo Malena

I've decided that while in Argentina, I will go by Malena. I think it's a lot easier than going by Malaina because Malena is a lot more familiar to people here, and it's easier for them to pronounce...

It's also fun to go by Malena- it rolls off the tongue nicely.  We saw this poster for a missing dog named Malena (have to italicize it, don't know why, but I have to) when we stopped for a drink last night. 

 

We found the most AMAZING handicraft market last night; it was like going to the Salt Lake Arts Festival or Portland Saturday Market and being able to afford to buy stuff!  I was TWITTERPATED (twitterpated: 1. to be completely enamored with someone/something. 2. the flighty, exciting feeling you get when you think about/see the object of your affection.)

I found a purse... 

And talked to the artist that hand-crafted it. 

It's a soft, beautiful leather purse, with a hand- painted portrait of the Mexican artist Frida Kahlo (who was married to Diego Rivera).  I asked about it, and she said excitedly, "Me encanta (love) Frieda Kahlo!" or something to that effect. (did you notice the hand-blown glass earings that I bought only moments earlier?)

The purse also has really beautiful hand stitching.  I LOVE this purse, it's exactly the type of thing I was looking for- good quality/handcrafted; this doesn't mean I won't buy another one...or two.  I'm also in the market for some nice leather shoes... good thing the market is open every weekend.

Earlier that day:

We were walking around the city and nothing was open.  All of the shops in the area were closed, and street vendors with jewelery, clothes and pirated DVDs were out.

We decided to do the tourist thing and take a city tour on one of those double- decker buses.

As we first began the tour we were thinking, "great... tourist trap."  It turned out to be a lot of fun though- everyone is so friendly.  Five or six different groups of guys waved, honked, or shouted, "Hola Chicas!"  

On the tour we stopped to see another really neat cathedral.  This one was built in the 1930's but was architecturally designed to look Gothic (there are really, really high walls and vaulted arches).  There is only one steeple- representing the perfection of God; the side without the steeple represents the imperfection of man.

There were some beautiful stained glass windows.

Later that night (after the awesome handicraft market) we walked through the Plaza San Martin to briefly watch the tango dancers.  

I originally recorded some of the dancing, but for some reason can't figure out how to rotate the frame so you can watch it right- side up.  I'll post some dancing later- Amanda and I are going to a tango class Monday evening at a cafe/hang-out near the handicraft market.  We are also starting our Spanish classes at the language school tomorrow- I'm hoping to really improve this week.

We went to church this morning; everyone was extremely nice to us.  I love the South American tradition of kissing acquaintences and friends on the cheek when you meet and say goodbye. After church was over, it seemed like we kissed everyone two or three times as we made our way towards the door.  

More to come later, I gotta' go to bed.