The Tango Lesson

Source:Bobbin Talk

I feared it. Two young tango teachers turned up, the comfortable bar area was cleared, whether we wanted it or not, a tango lesson was about to happen. I feel ambivalent towards dancing, I like it when I get into it but I feel self conscious to start. I'd love to be really good, nothing is more attractive than someone who can really dance. Not to mention the benefits for your figure, it's also a good way to let off some steam. I started Zumba classes when I lived in Mexico and really enjoyed myself. I should find a class again because I think that's what I need some guidelines, some steps. In England we don't dance with steps, we just get a bit drunk and move.


In theory I really want to learn how to tango and salsa, but in practise I don't want to go through the frustration and humiliation of learning.


Everyone else was keen and I was about to back out when I realised that I'd either have to sit like a lemon and watch or go upstairs to the dorm room, sit on my uncomfortable bunk bed and wait for the class to end.


I decided to just join in, it was only an hour long and the male dancer of the pair was tall and attractive. Argentinian men get my vote, they are a very good looking bunch. He had a pony tail and undercut - so 90's!


They demonstrated some pretty slick tango moves, I was quite nervous. I was pleasantly surprised however, when it came to the steps we had to learn, at how simple they were. Still easy enough for me to get about confused - had to repeat quite a few times (I over think dancing). During the hour we learnt some basics, we learnt a few steps and then demonstrated to the group which actually wasn't as bad as I expected it to be. I actually really enjoyed it and could have gone for possibly another hour. Slow, controled, sexy but with some embellishments, a good dance. My kind of dance. Someone even asked me afterwards if I danced - I looked that convincing? I doubt it, I think it was more to to with the fact that we asked for a bit of help going through the most complicated bit before our demonstration, hot Argentinian guy showed me the leg slide bit (sigh).


I think I might tango a bit more. Especially if I get to look like this!:

Source:Flo'n the go

The more likely outcome of my new found interest in Tango will be a tango outfit - I've already located a good street here for dancing shoes...

Night

Puerto Madero at night.

Street Tango

The San Telmo square with the dancers and the drummers..

San Telmo

San Telmo was every London vintage shopper's dream. Ok, the vintage clothes were thin on the ground and the ones that I did see were more collectible than wearable. They were beautiful though. It was more the experience of being in San Telmo than the cloths shopping because the streets are living breathing vintage. An experience. Walking through the streets and around the main square was actually like going back in time.


Hand painted signs emblazoned on the door fronts. Enchanting antique shops, bars and restaurants that left me with the impression I had walked into the 1920's. I excitedly told a friend that we should dress up one night and hit the bars in style, he looked at me blankly. I guess I might be one of the few backpackers with a portable wardrobe that actually permits such a fanciful night out and the enthusiasm to match.


We did go to a wine bar one night but in boringly normal clothes. At least we escaped and resisted the terrible trap that hostels present. Their snares to get you out to where they want you, blindly, drunkly pouring more of your travel money into their bank accounts. I've managed to lose the card with the name and details of the bar we went to, it was on Chile street. Black and white tiles on the floor, an old and delicate wooden staircase led to a mini mezzanine, everyone sat at small wooden tables drinking Malbec, deep in conversation. It was a dream. Old wooden glazed windows, candles, strange wooden panelling and cupboards lining the room, the bar all interior details were straight out of time a time warp, or they seemed so through my eyes. I wondered if anything like this ever existed in London, or still does.


The main square one Sunday night was strung with coloured lights and filled with couples dancing tango. It warmed my heart to see an old man in the crowd of dancers weaving around as nimbly as the other dancers, placing each foot down with decisiveness and precision, I wonder how many times he's tangoed in his life? I wish I could tango, it's such a powerful, passionate dance, really captivating to watch. On the otherside of the square the old-fashioned tango crowd were being rivalled by a younger crowd drumming out some Brazilian music and dancing a loser kind of Latin body shake.


In spite of the antiquated feel, San Telmo also offers plenty of contemporary art, graffiti, clothes. I has a young and vibrant feel that exists in harmony with the antique shops and tango halls. We ended up at a rock bar after our civilised glass of Malbec in the 1920's bar. Argentinians really do like rock music.

The residents of Tan Telmo seem to be into anarchy

Some graffiti about the paco addiction epidemic gripping Buenos Aires

San Telmo architecture

Mish-mash Buenos Aires

Annoyingly I always think I've taken more photos than I end up with by a long way. I think its because there is so much to take in in any one place and you can feel like you're always taking photos of the same things and then put your camera away only to miss loads of stuff you wish you'd captured. At least in my case anyway.

This is a mish-mash of photos from Buenos Aires, I walked and walked and walked some more around this city.

So much to take in.

 

There were an awful lot of protest graffiti and banners everywhere

Aborto legal ya! Could be a long time coming in a Catholic, Latin American country like this...

Posters and graffiti about Las Malvinas/The Faulklands were everywhere, on every corner of every street. Everywhere.

Yes, Buenos Aires had it's own Harrods. It's been closed for quite a few years but I guess it just goes to show how strong the European influences are here.

Amazing, beautiful

More Malvinas

A bookshop, the shelving and signage were so antiquated, it was great

The Cemetery in Recoleta


Quite spellbinding the cemetery in Recoleta. A city of the dead, the streets of mausoleums guarded by saints and angels was both haunting and peaceful. The grandeur of the tombs was most impressive, a true celebration and tribute to spirits they house, it was a beautiful place. They were larger than I expected, like real houses, terraced, forming narrow streets and tranquil streets. It was silent but not erie, it was pleasant walking around and taking in all the different styles of the mausoleums and their plaques. A grace and elegance envelopes the city of tombs, as I walked around I found myself wishing I lived in Buenos Aires and born into a Recoleta family with a mausoleum so that I could be laid to rest guarded by an angel with the rest of my ancestors.


Why can't I be Argentinian, I love it here.