This may sound like a totally random, and fairly ridiculous topic, but one of the things I adore about Buenos Aires are the sidewalks. They change so much. In the US, the sidewalks are really a public space in that they are built and maintained by the city, which tends to mean a pretty uniform type of paving tile or concrete slab.
In Buenos Aires, this is not so.
As far as I can tell, the building is responsible for the sidewalk directly in front of it. This makes for patchwork sidewalks. There are poured concrete sections, pathways of small square paver stones, portions of patterns pavers, even painted tiles. It is less than predictable, and for some reason, to me, completely lovely. It is just one of the ways that Buenos Aires is different than every other city I have been in. The city has such a lovely mix of everything, not just sidewalk tiles.
I feel like I am part of the city waking up as I walk to work.
Argentina is not a country of early risers. Because of the schedule of the consular division, I work from 8 to 5, which is considered very early to start work. I am on the streets before the rush starts, and see shopowners putting up their awnings, unlocking their doors. I see how every morning the doormen of buildings and the owners of shops wash off the sidewalks in front of their buildings. I feel like an insider, like I get to see the city before it is all shiny and polished and ready for business. And feeling like an insider, well, that feels good.
