Argentine Adventures #9: The world's most beautiful bookstore!

And many others besides, plus the joys of resting and growing

The world’s most beautiful bookstore

I’ve finally made it to El Ateneo! It was voted the world’s most beautiful bookstore somewhere on the internet, which I think is a fair call. It’s a converted theatre, so it has glamorous old architecture.

El Ateneo: a theatre turned into the world's most beautiful bookstore

The abstract scribbles of my journal can’t do it justice at all! On the roof, there’s a huge Italian-style mural, then the floor and next two levels are filled with books.

It’s pretty cool, though less amazing than I’d hoped, simply because I can’t understand 95% of the books! There is a small English section, but they only contain books I don’t want to read (get rich quick) or have already read (Jane Austen).

Still, very glad I visited!

Lunch and more bookstores

After this, I walked further to find lunch. I ended up with a bagel de pastrami and a small fractura medialuna (pastry). I kept walking, walking, walking, to see Teatro Colón, Obliesco, and many bookstores. They’re everywhere!

Books everywhere!

Tired of being on my feet, I sat to read The Cocktail Party, a play by T. S. Eliot that I found in the English section of Libería de Subuelo (‘Underground Bookstore’). It was my favourite bookstore so far!

Round Two

My second interview with AFES went really well!!! They repeatedly said that this is looking ‘very positive’ from their end.

Through this trip, I have been so, so grateful for God’s provision. He has clearly been with me and showered me with kindness every step of the way. I’ve been surrounded by the most beautiful people, offered a bedroom in the most beautiful apartment, and am probably going to be offered a fantastic job to come back to! My heart is so full.

I am growing and I am resting

Being in this house has been so restful. I’ve got the best of being a guest and the best of being in a family. There’s no yelling for the bathroom, things are calm and orderly, but there’s still fun and liveliness. They talk with me a lot in English, but I’m still growing my Spanish. I feel like I came here with 4% and now I’m at 7.5%!

It’s lovely to have the warmth of relationships, but so little responsibility—at least for a few weeks. I’m constantly so happy. And excited: here I am, at 22, exploring Buenos Aires (somewhat) solo! I’m learning to take public transport in a megacity, engage with another culture, offer social media consultations, eat new foods, and make friends.

In all this, I’ve hardly felt shy or socially awkward, as I often do at home in Australia. It’s nice not to overthink. I didn’t realise that I was this adaptable. That’s a nice trait to have.