Mataderos

On Sunday L and I went to the Fiera de Mataderos which lies just outside the city boundaries. This is the old slaughterhouse district and centre of gaucho culture in BsAs. The fair runs every Sunday and there's always plenty to see, hear, eat, drink and buy but last Sunday was one of the special Sundays, when the men and their horses come to compete.

They have a specific competition whereby they gallop their horses as fast as possible along the road (which is covered in sand to protect the horses)


and try to pick a small silver ring hanging from a crossbar. It demands a lot of skill (I don't think I could do from horseback even if the horse was standing still).


The ages range from early teens to ancient graybeards (although none of them actually had beards) and when they aren't competing on horseback, they are dancing with their womenfolk.