An artist’s haven in the harsh shadows of the docks by Joan Scobey (The Herald)

Joan Scobey in his article tells us about a place called “La Boca” in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He provides us its general characteristics, colourful description of the people and main activities. To this port arrived immigrants from all over the world, but mainly Calabrian and Sicilian who founded La Boca; named for the mouth of the Riachuelo River. Due to the old port so near the city residents are called “Porteños”.
La Boca is characterized by people who are painting, playing the accordion, dancing the tango and just café sitting.
The poor old wooden houses are painted in bright colours, and decorated by papier-mâché figures and cartoon portraits hanging from their balconies; examples of these are Eva, Juan Peron and Maradona.
Another picturesque view is “Caminito”, a short pedestrian cobblestone alley with a riot of coloured houses.
The most relevant activities in La Boca are playing and dancing tango. In the mid 20 century the vulgar version of the tango war refined and introduced into upscale dance clubs, or tanguerias.
The “Centro Cultural de los Artistas” in the Conventillo is an example of a Conventillo; a former house where multiple immigrants’ families live in.
Boca Juniors is the most famous football team as well as Diego Maradona who is well known all over the world.
For all this, the poet and journalist Orlando Barone , native of La Boca and descendant of Italian immigrants called this place “Republica de la Boca” for its myth and mystery.