After yet more days of disruption this weekend, flights have resumed at Buenos Aires’ domestic and international airport. The airline LAN has flights operating from both airports, and Aerolíneas Argentinas begun their normal service from 8am this morning.

Yesterday, airport authorities decided to instigate a renewed suspension of flights after volcanic ash returned to the region, causing yet more disruption.

This morning a spokesperson for Aerolíneas Argentinas and Austral airlines said that “this morning we have implemented total normalcy to our flights leaving and arriving in Buenos Aires airports.”

Disruption however remains for flights to Bariloche and Nequén. These flights will remain cancelled because of the heavy presence of ash both in the atmosphere and on the surfaces of the airports.

An emergency team convened by the Ministry of Social Development met with members of the Mapuche community today in Bariloche. The team discussed plans for recovery from the showers of ash that the Puyehue volcano poured over the region.

The meeting was attended by the Ministry’s Secretary of Institutional Management and Organization, Sergio Berni; the director of Emergencies of Development, Sbastián Ciatti; and the Mapuche representative, Enrique Melli. The objective of the meeting was to coordinate relief efforts between the indigenous peoples and the Ministry.

The Mapuche community has been severely affected by the eruption, which began on 4^th June. Relief aid, such as food for animals and material to rebuild fallen greenhouses, has been slow to arrive to the more isolated communities of Nequén and Río Negro, leaving agricultural production in a critical state.

The representative of the Mapuche Confederation, Remlú Nanku, told Página 12 that the situation is “distressing.” According to Nanku, in one region, families “lost half of their animals.” This loss comes on top of a “scarcity of water,” brought on by several months of drought.

Indigenous communities have thus far been assisted in relief efforts by the Operative Center for Emergencies of Comallo, a town in the Río Negro province.

It’s Friday again!

And what a fucked up week it’s been. Volcanic eruptions, political scandals and even a visit by Ricky Martin! I’m not sure Argentina can take all of this at once. Of course, half of you readers wouldn’t know since you’re still stuck on the other side of the world, unable to fly to South America because those sissy airlines refuse to fly through a harmless ash cloud.

So, since one half is stuck abroad and the other half doesn’t give a shit about what happens around here and just read this for its comedic value, all I can do is let you know of all the awesomeness(*) going on around here, that you unfortunately will not be able to enjoy.

• 

  Thanks to those bastards at Reuters, I can't use a photo of the Puyehue volcano, so you'll have to settle with one from some volcano from around the world. (Photo/Wikipedia)

  So here’s what you need to know:The Rapture is slowly getting here! After several decades of remaining dormant, the Puyehue Volcano in Chile erupted again this week, pretty much fucking up everybody’s lives. From the bucolic people of Bariloche to the altered residents of Buenos Aires, an ash cloud spewed by the angry giant covered the entire half of the country. Domestic and international flights were cancelled, pissing off a lot of people who were hoping to fly here for something called the Copa America, and crops around Patagonia were ruined under a thick layer of ash. So, the country has been a mess for a week and we don’t even know if the worst is over. I mean, we all know how Dante’s Peak ended. And I’m not talking about that ridiculous “hiding in the mine” thing, I’m talking about that big-ass pyroclastic cloud blowing up shit. So let’s see how it all plays out.

• Oh, by the way, President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner gave a speech on the dangers that the ash cloud poses to your health, and she assured that it’s all psychological. So there, there’s nothing to worry about.

• Argentina launched the SAT-D Aquarius spy satellite today, which will measure the ocean’s salinity. How does that help? I have no idea, but the government put up a whole show this morning with President Fernandez de Kirchner acting as a host, a situation that brought us many laughable moments, like when she started freaking out about an “unexpected explosion” during the launch, while the guys at NASA overseeing the launch scratched their heads, wondering what the fuck she was freaking out about. Congrats, though, Argentina!

• A garbage men strike once again affected Buenos Aires this week, which meant we had to put up with an awful smell and some big-ass flies for several days until it was all resolved. What was it about this time? Something about a dead guy? I don’t know. Quite frankly, I don’t give a shit anymore.

• Thinking of expressing your support for your favorite politician but can’t come up with an original way to do so? Well, think no more! Just do what a Neuquen government official did a week before their mayoral elections: soft porn! 40-year old Alejandra Oehrens decided to attract attention to her Facebook page in support of the opposition’s candidate by having these photos taken of her in a school girl dress. So there you have it. Embarrassing AND adorable (and gross).

• Remember last week’s big announcement about the Metrobus? That new, safe, fast, clean, transportation service that takes people from Palermo to Liniers in the blink of an eye? Yeah, well, it was involved in two traffic accidents this week. Good one, Mr. Mayor!

• Manchester City superstar and forgettable singer Carlos Tevez

  Coolest guy in the world Carlos Tevez (Photo/Wikipedia)

  returned to Argentina this week to take part in something called Copa America (whatever that is), and decided to pop up at his former cumbia band’s show this week. And you know what? He may be a horrible singer and speak the worst English in the world, but there’s nothing this guy can do to make me dislike him. Maybe it’s the fact that he’s the first one to laugh at himself or something, but I love this guy, even if he plays the sport that shall not be named.

• Formerly straight and currently gay rockstar Ricky Martin visited Argentina and met with President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner and Susana Gimenez (AKA “the white, South American Oprah“). But you see, even though Susana totally seems to get along with “the gays,” she still seemed a bit awkward discussing his sexuality and avoided calling him “a gay,” so she just keep questioning him about “his problem,” which brought criticism from everyone (except Catholics) for her archaic and borderline-insulting comments. It’s alright though, at least she didn’t ask if gay adoption could lead to gay parents raping their child, like TV host Mirtha Legrand did.

• You know how some of you snobs keep saying that you “love Puerto Madero because it’s chic and safe”? Well, let me tell you something: Chic? Please, It’s the biggest nouveau-riche conglomerate in the country. And safe? Sure! It’s so safe that today, these robbers pulled a Home Alone, ransacked an entire apartment in broad daylight and weren’t even shot! That’s how safe it is.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Send Adrian your comments, thoughts or tips at adrianbono@hotmail.com or follow him on Twitter at @AdrianBono

(*) = For all you locals, I’m sorry to tell you, there’s no awesomeness going on.