I knew I had to go to Recoleta Cemetery this afternoon. Sometimes that happens – I’m in the middle of something when it jumps into my head to go there (I was filing paperwork, so not hard to drag myself away).

I swung by the office for a quick chat on arrival and a man walked in and asked if we spoke English, to which my answer was, “I am!” He wanted directions to Evita. For some reason it occurred to me to lead the way, so I got to meet four delightful folk from England (two of them from Kent, where I grew up).

Backtracking a few days… On Thursday, I had the privilege of seeing two of my photographs on the walls of Centro Cultural Recoleta, which I’ve dreamed of for a few years now. They were chosen as part of the Convocatoria Panorama Buenos Aires exhibition, which is on until 14 April.

I’m weaving this in to the story because one of the photos, Spirit soaring, is composed around the condor that crowns Sarmiento’s tomb. Said man from England launched into a wonderful account of how he was born in Buenos Aires. His grandfather was a missionary from Aberdeen who came to Argentina to hand out bibles and became friends with Sarmiento (Argentine President from 1868 to 1874; click here to find out more). That encounter made my day.

Today, by the way, is my blog’s third birthday. I’m torn between two photos to mark the occasion, but this one is sticking in my head (it’s the first tomb I shot this afternoon). I love it when you can almost see the connection between our earthly reality and what’s beyond, so let’s call this one Direct line.