Ring in the new year

Whilst strolling the unfamiliar streets of the Argentinian capital on the 31 December 2011, shreds of paper flew out of the windows of nearly all buildings in the microcenter. I was surprised and delighted by the occurrence - apart from it’s contribution to street litter – as the event created a joyous atmosphere in the urban centre as every city dweller spotted the white shavings ‘snowing’ down onto pedestrians, pavements and poodles.

The tradition is that portenos (as people from Buenos Aires are referred to) clear their desks on the last day of the year, and donate the pages of their daily planners and diaries to the streets below. A cheerful ritual providing each citizen to start the new year’s tabula rasa.

Have you considered how you can start the year fresh and rekindle an appreciation for your immediate milieu? More regular visits to the local park or greeting your neighbour in passing might just do the trick, without being a burden to your local street sweeper…

About Liani:

Liani is an architect who lives and works in Cape Town. With a keen eye for detail, she likes to make the places and spaces people use in the city enjoyable for all. "I'm fascinated by cities - the appeal not only being the bright lights and fast cars, but a city’s capacity to accommodate and provide the setting to multifarious urban lives. Even though our urban environments are familiar backdrops, they contain the potential to intrigue and amaze when seen in a different way.

"One of my favourite pursuits in any metropolis is to wander around aimlessly to get a passing glimpse of the modest and unforeseen delights the territory has to offer. Camera in hand, I enjoy delving into the urban landscape and capturing the average, as well as the amusing, in order to cast a fresh perspective on the familiar scene."

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