The Argentine Way

Just to demonstrate the typical Argentine way of thinking. This happened in San Ignacio:

• family stands in front of this piece of wall which the foreigner (me) with camera in hand so obviously wants to take a photo of

• family 'discusses' who should take the family photo

• mother takes on photographer duty by digging deep into her capacious handbag to find the camera

• mother then realises she has to put batteries in the camera and digs deep into her capacious handbag to find said batteries

• mother puts batteries in camera with many exclamations (probably about how doing so is ruining her nails)

• mother points the camera and realises that she is too close

• mother backs off and frames shot, ensuring she will get the whole of the wall in shot with her husband and daughter huddled at the base

• father and daughter realise they have to pose and do so, 'discussing' whether daughter should go on her father's left or right

• mother takes photo

• mother then takes second photo 'for luck'

• daughter (aged about seven) exchanges place with mother

• daughter shouts instructions to parents about how they should pose

• daughter takes photo

• daughter takes second photo 'for luck'

• family finally remember frozen foreigner with camera in hand and wander slowly off into the distance

This little episode took forever and made me realise that it was time for breakfast.