El Bicentenario

Plaza 9 de Julio for the Argentina's Bicentenario

On May 25th, 2010 Argentina turned 200 years old. Tuesday’s celebration was initiated by a week long pandomonium of cultural fesivals, parades and art exhibitions. But after a five day long weekend (classes were canceled throughout Argentina in honor of the bicentenario) and constant warning that we would be mugged, trampled or attacked if we ventured outside for the Bicentenario, I found myself in the cafeteria of la Residencia working on a project of Beatriz Sarlo’s “Modernidad Perifcérico.”

Wanting a break from our studies, a few of the girls and I walked to a local restaurant where I sampled my first Parilla (see “Comida Tipica” coming soon). The restarurant had a flat screen mounted on the wall and was tuned in to live coverage of the Bicentenario celebration: Fireworks, parades, concerts, President Crisitina Kirchner dancing in the street (face looking impeccably wrinkle-free as always)*. At that moment, we decided we couldn't be in Argentina and not be part of the country's 200th anniversary. We asked for la cuenta and headed back to the Res. After recruiting a few friends, we called a cab and headed to Plaza 9 de Julio. When we arrived the scene was chaotic. Think Time Square’s New Year’s Eve celebration on steroids. The show featured fireworks, various folkloric performers and pop stars performing in what appeared to be giant plastic snow globes.

It was not too dangerous as long as we remained on the opposite side of the concerts and at a safe distance. But we still had our guards up. Individuals would approach us asking where we bought our snacks, where was this restaurant or that street was; a common ploy of pick-pocketers.

It was reported that nearly 2 million people attended Bicentenario celebration. When we left the plaza Fito Paez had just taken the stage. Despite the chaos and congestion the Porteños still managed to carry backpacks stocked with thermos and cup for enjoying their traditional refreshment: mate.

*Argentina, as well as other South American countries is known for its lower-than-North American priced plastic surgery. President Kirchner has been nicknamed "The queen of Botox." Argentina has highest ratio of plastic surgery operations to population in the world.