Dear Readers,
Let me start by saying that while I do believe that certain strong 4 letter words, when properly used to emphasize a situation on rare occasions, are appropriate; I do ,however, personally take offense when they occupy every 3rd of 4th position in an oral or written form. And while the word "crap"is not one of those 4 letter words, I felt it appropriate to use in today's observations.
As I have mentioned before, I live half the year in Prague and half the year in Buenos Aires where I am now. Since I got up early today, Sunday, not because of my very inconsiderate neighbor who sets an alarm clock every morning Monday to Friday at 05:50 and turns it off every day sometime between 6 and 630am. All deny it and despite my letters under the doors to some neighbors whom I suspect and public posting in the main hall of the building through which all must pass to get to their respective apartments, it continues to ring. Another plan of action is being prepared as I write this today and if the continued ringing does not cease, I am sure the tale of the mystery alarm clock will find its way into next week's stories.
But I got up early today because I wanted to go shopping before the torrential afternoon rains, which were forcasted, would arrive... AND THEY DID! THEY FINALLY GOT A WEATHER PREDICTION RIGHT!
There are many more differences between Buenos Aires and Prague than there are similarities although one thing which both cities have in common is their architectural beauty. After over 35 years of being aware of architecture in both cities, I am surprised daily(a good surprise in the land of 1000 surprises) as to the gems which abound in the two capitals. It must be told that Prague, due to its age, has a much more complete realm of all variations of major Western architectural trends from Romanesque dating from the 11th century until the most recent variations of Socialistic Realism which saw its end in the late 1980s . Of course, the most impressive styles , in my opinion, fall in the centuries between having made Prague a jewel of Gothic, Baroque and Art Nouveau architecture.
Buenos Aires, on the other hand, was founded in 1536 and really only saw any signs of important construction of buildings in the 17th century as it was a port of arrival for the Spanish conquistadores as well as for English fortune hunters whose destinations were far north of Buenos Aires , especially in what is today's Bolivia and Peru where great silver mines were found. Buenos Aires was a necessary arrival port through which all had to transit and while in the following centuries Spanish colonial-style buildings were built and replicated as copies of European Baroque, the city is perhaps best known for its magnificent French-inspired "Belle Epoque" Art Nouveau architecture.
Argentina in the late 19th century and early 20th century was quite the place.
And it was the place where everyone wanted to live. In the early 20th century, there were almost as many foreign-born residents( aka immigrants) as there were native-born Argentines. The country was richer than most European nations and its neighbors to the far north, Canada and the "land of Liberty",(aka USA). Art Nouveau got a later start here than it did in Paris, Brussels and Prague but it also got many of the same architects from Europe who arrived with first hand knowledge of this ornate and sensual new style. In today's Buenos Aires, one needs just to look at any the 48 barrios or neighborhoods to see superb examples. The big difference here is though that Prague has a very strict,often too strict and little pragmatic Historic Preservation Committee where as Buenos Aires "more or less" does not which means that many fabulous palaces, mansions, apartment buildings and legendary cafes have given way to office blocks and high rises.
And while both Prague and Buenos Aires are a magnificent feast for the eyes of admirer of these man-made wonders, its really down to the ground where ones eyes should go.
Most of the citizens in both cities live in apartments or flats. While there are some neighborhoods with family houses, they are in the minority so that most Prazane (natives of Prague) or Portenos (natives of Buenos Aires) live amongst many close neighbors. And while apartments don't have the gardens that many family homes would have, that doesn't prevent the apartment dwellers from having pets. Not just birds,guinea pigs, cats or small dogs but huge canines.. the likes of german shepards, labradors or retrievers.
Having any pet, or even a gold fish or a plant, assumes responsaiblity on the behalf of its owner. And of course while not the responsability, efforts and costs of having a child, owning a dog and keeping it happy and healthy is also not for the irresponsable or lazy owner. The animal must be groomed,fed,have medical check- ups and walked so that it can execute its necessary bodily functions just as its owners may do after a morning coffee. The difference is that the owner knows him or herself when it is time to answer the call of nature and heads to the toilet. Although the poor dog may indeed express its dire need, it is the owner who must take it to its proper place for its relief.
Many dog owners are resposable citizens who stroll the streets with the dog on a leash in one hand and a piece of paper,plastic bag,scooper etc in the other but too many do not. And these two cities are notorious for the amounts of dog excrement left on the sidewalk. And not only on the sidewalk. In my upper middle-class French- facaded Art Nouveau apartment building, we have a terrace where one can hang clothes or grab a few rays of sun. But we have a huge sign put up by the administration of the building after many requests from some of its inhabiters prohibiting the access of animals to the terrace. Is this because someone was bitten by a dog? Some children afraid of dogs screamed bloody murder when they saw one approach them? No, it is because certain lazy neighbors couldn't be bothered by taking their pet for a walk and let the dog crap on the terrace upon which clean clothes can fall after being blown off the line by wind or people sit on to get a tan. And they didn't even pick up the dog's crap.
On my walk back to my apartment this morning from the store, I was inspired for today's writing after counting some 42 piles of "crap" in various forms, sizes, colors and consistencies. 42! and more than half in the middle of the sidewalk and this was before mid day.The rains we have just had will have washed many of the lesser consistancies away but it will also have transformed the more solid examples into spread-out thick puddles of merde.
On Friday afternoon while coming back home from seeing my doctor, I went flying into the air with an abrupt landing on my knees and hands on the very street where I live, Santa Fe, due to the haphazardly placed non-fixed stone street pavements which rise when pressure is not placed on their exact center causing such accidents. As I arose after a few seconds of embarassment and then deep pain hightened by blood all over me and my clothes, I thought how lucky I was that on top of this, I didn't land on top of a pile of dog doo to further deepen my honte, infect my open wounds and stain my clothes even more.
Prague in the past years has become a bit better but it still has piles to go. I remember when the city installed in certain locations a special container for the canine's "hovnicko" along with paper bags in which it was to be placed. Well, many a time did I see people, especially older women, go to these conveniences to grab a handful of bags and go back home not because of future walks with Fido or Lassie but rather what I would gather as a way to save on buying bags(which are not free in most stores in the Czech Republic) in which one would store things such as food!
You might be able to say it to a friend or foe but it surely can't be said about the dogs of Prague and Buenos Aires that they are full of crap!
If you want to enjoy the roofs, cupolas and details which lie up above your head, get a seat next to a window on a bus and just make sure you watch where you step when you get off.
SES
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