Let us bow our heads in respect!

This will either make you aspire to greatness in the bookshelf department or make you concede defeat and quit in despair.

The Librería El Ateneo Grand Splendid in Buenos Aires.

Pointed out by one of Tim's tweets.

Concede?, me? - Never! (But I admit this one will be tough).

A good reason to go to Buenos Aires. Possibly the most beautiful bookstore in the world.

Oh yes it's gorgeous!
I would often go there when I lived in Buenos Aires (only 3 blocks or so from where I lived) although I always made sure to buy my books from the tinier struggling (and cheaper!) bookstores. But it sure is pretty. And it's so well categorized too. Fantastic Argentinian lit section.

But, but, why has it got a stage?

5 -
It used to be a theatre.
The stage is now a snackery type area where you can eat Argentinian fare. (Not too good and midly pricey.)

#2 Concede?, me? - Never! (But I admit this one will be tough).


Tough? Gees Matt, I'm glad you've got unlimited resources! :)

I have already set in motion my plan to out do this. I have decided on the building, http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/com..., and bought a lottery ticket.

Ahh, lotteries. Some states or jurisdictions use the proceeds to fund science or maths or other education programmes.

So you could have education being funded by the cash input of people who were never even taught the basics of probability.

However, I would want to see more of the internals of the Cincinnati Music Hall before I invest/buy a lottery ticket.

It's gorgeous. I grew up in Cincinnati and remember fondly every performance I saw there.

ohhh, that is a gorgeous library! Every time I go to Buenos Aires, I always make a point to stop there and revel in the beauty. It's great to see that such a wonderful space was not put to waste!