Please Don't Drink and Vote

On a typical Saturday night around 9pm Argentinos are planning where to go for dinner or taking a disco nap. Restaurants are packed at 10pm, and clubs open about midnight, peak at about 2:00 in the morning and go until the sun comes up. But not on the eve before an election. From Saturday night until the polls close on Sunday, no alcohol can be sold. Parties and public events are banned, and the only places open are restaurants (pero no bebidas con alcohol), some cinemas and a handful of other businesses.

Argentinos are required to vote and their national identity card is stamped as proof they have fulfilled their civic duty. In the United States, we're not allowed to drive under the influence of alcohol, but we can be totally wasted and show up at our polling place and vote for whomever we damn well please. In Argentina, citizens are a little more casual with their driving habits (a subtle foreshadowing for the next blog posting), but take their electoral obligations more seriously.

Nationality Test: Please, Don't Drink and a) Vote or b) Drive.

Fortunately, on the evening before the last presidential election, I got to visit the Casa Rosada in all of its Casa Pink grandeur. Along with Fernando (a former roommate of my friend Ariel, and my new friend in BsAs) we took a tour of the presidential palace which is open to the public on weekends when La Presidenta Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner (a former first lady turned president) is not in her office.

At La Casa Rosada on the eve before election day.

Rick, Fernando and the Guards

Inside La Casa Rosada

Reminiscent of Versailles, France

Congratulations to La Presidenta who was easily re-elected by a sober public.

The once and future Presidenta Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner - and a bottle of Coke.

Former first lady Eva Peron in a tribute to women in politics at La Casa Rosada

A lame impression of Evita on the balcony

But, I do not believe La Presidenta rallies the crowds in the style of Evita Peron from the balcony of La Casa Rosada. Yeah, this would be a good time to imagine Madonna singing "Don't cry for me Argentina The truth is I never left you ... I kept my promise, Don't keep your distance." More on Evita to come. I promise.

Besos a todos de La Casa Rosada.