Walk through the slums of Buenos Aires

• on the Buenos Aires slums Walk

In the heart of the Argentine capital has slums, which did not happen 99.99% of the local population, whites almost never meet here. It is surprising that the area "Viila 31" (can not be read as a "villa", but as "viyyya" or "vizhyyya") is located in the heart of the city, surrounded by prestigious areas, highways and bus station Retiro. Bus station locals by the way is used as a transition.

View from the bus station in the slums away

Unlike favell Rio de Janeiro, which have long been a tourist attraction (you buy the tour for $ 100, and you carry them on an excursion), in the slums of Buenos Aires did not get round, they simply do not, and walk them yourself safe. Thanks to my friend Maxim that resides in Buenos Aires, and his friends from the police, I was able to walk on the very dangerous areas of the city.

Let's start with the fact that the area is not marked on any map of Buenos Aires, usually at the site designated slum green spot (allegedly bushes here, yes parks). Google sees all, knows all, look at how the slums look like from a bird's flight

The name comes from the novel by Bernardo Verbitskaya "Villa Misery - also America" ​​(Spanish Villa Miseria también es América, 1957.), In which he describes the difficult conditions of immigrants. (C) Wikipedia

Our accompanying police officer Marcelo is in body armor and weapons, he was slightly lame in one leg and walks with a cane. With him, we met at the market, was a Sunday, so in addition to fruit and vegetable sellers smartly deployed sale that were once Argentines (old shoes, toys, stolen watches and different stuff)

As we walked, it bypassed some places side, Marcelo said he started up a gang, dangerous to walk even a policeman. Guardians of the law does not run the risk of appearing in some parts Vizhi 31 and we bypassed some places side.

To be honest, there is very beautiful. All the houses are colorful, narrow streets with bruchatkoy someone fry meat on the barrel, someone swears with his wife on the second floor. Some home warm atmosphere

Please note that all windows and doors with bars

All crime is living here: the robbers, thieves, beggars and other criminal elements. Most migrants from Paraguay, Peru and Bolivia, the Argentines are very few, and even has a small Chinatown.

Marcelo

Someone's dinner

Electricity is taken illegally, but energy companies often do not pay attention.

Build houses without roofs with a heap of floors - Peruvian style construction. Grow up child or funds will be to build - will complete another floor.

When there is nothing to do play soccer, note that the overpass is the roof of the houses, the rain probably convenient

80 years of the district, it not only can not carry, on the contrary, only the building around the clock here

Locals

How can the government - helps. We built a soccer field with bleachers and playground, despite the eternal debate "what to do with viyey 31"

We went to church

How can local reacted against us? Differently. But always with a surprise, especially they like my camera lens. Someone was shouting in polupyannom state, someone interested in the police who are we and what can I do, someone smiled. Ordinary people troubled inner-city that lives its own life.

This is surprising, as the capital of a large metropolis such a mess? In the heart of the city. Even more surprising as this place did not make the tourist center, it is much more interesting than "la hips" with Kamenita. He is a true, without artificial oblizannosti. This is important and valuable.