The Ateneo Grand Splendid

Long before it became a bookshop, El Ateneo Grand Splendid was a theatre. The balconies, ornate ceilings, and red curtains remain, but the audience has been replaced by readers wandering quietly between the shelves.

I spent hours exploring its many corners, looking up as often as I looked at the books. The building seemed to invite both curiosity and reflection.

Some places are remembered for what they were. Others for what they become.

For me, El Ateneo will always be both

Random Thoughts

20th May 2023

El Ateneo Grand Splendid Bookshop

Buenos Aires

Argentina.