The 2012 Buenos Aires International Book Fair is rounding up to its closing weekend. If you haven’t been yet, you should head on over to La Rural at Plaza Italia in Palermo. Tickets are 20 or 26 pesos (depending on the day) and be prepared to stand in line to buy the tickets as Porteños love their books. You can peruse the stalls upon stalls of books for sale, drop in on authors reading from their books and signing autographs. Various provinces have booths, as well as embassies of countries including, Israel, Germany and the United States among others. Be prepared to spend a good couple of hours there, and if you are a book-worm, you can while away the entire afternoon perusing the stacks and pausing for a coffee and a bite to eat and then getting back to the arduous task of browsing into the night. The fair runs through 7th May. Friday & Saturday: $26 – 2 pm to 11 pm / Sunday: $26 – 2 pm to 10 pm / Monday: $ 20 – 2 pm to 10 pm / Children under 12: free
Photos by Beatrice Murch and Sam Verhaert
The line on Monday afternoon stretched for five blocks and took thirty minutes to get through. (Photo: Beatrice Murch)
The tunnel from one pavilion to the next funnels book lovers between the two. (Photo: Beatrice Murch)
A book lover peruses their new purchase at La Rural. (Photo: Sam Verhaert)
Wikimedia inspired globe at the entrance to the main pavilion of the book fair gives a decidedly digital air to the event. (Photo: Beatrice Murch)
The Feria del Libros fills up the pavilions at La Rural with books and book lovers alike. (Photo: Sam Verhaert)
Brisk business of miniature books at the Feria del Libros. (Photo: Sam Verhaert)
Book lovers old and young peruse books in both print and digital formats. (Photo: Sam Verhaert)
Eduardo Galeano reads from his new book 'Los hijos de los días'. (Photo: Sam Verhaert)
Cherie Magnus signs a copy of her book 'Church of Tango' after her reading from the same. (Photo: Beatrice Murch)
Donigan Merritt reads from his book 'Blossom' as his wife captures the moment. (Photo: Beatrice Murch)
Audience at the US embassy attentively listen to the author book readings. (Photo: Beatrice Murch)
The US embassy stand at the Feria del Libro. (Photo: Beatrice Murch)
A child plays with an iPad reading 'Cat in the Hat' at the Feria del Libro. (Photo: Beatrice Murch)
A stand goes through some of the life-styles and consequences of a living in the digital age. (Photo: Beatrice Murch)
Children's books on display touch on themes from the Bible to Sex-Ed. (Photo: Beatrice Murch)
A crowd eagerly listens to a talk at the Feria del Libro. (Photo: Beatrice Murch)
congratulations!!! very inspiring….