We worked our way over to the El Ateneo bookstore on Santa Fe for lunch. I was eager to show it to Guille and Ale since they both love bookstores. We had a great few hours there lunch there eating, relaxing, reading and catching up on email etc. It pleased me that it pleased them. I was happy to introduce them to this little gem.
We then bussed it as far as we could towards Puerto Madero and walked the rest of the way to the Buenos Aires Yacht Club....as you do!
Alejandra's partner, Oscar's eldest daughter, Maria was there with her boyfriend Fernando (get that?!). He's the one whose the member as this club still doesn't allow full membership to women or to Jewish people. WOW! What year is it?!?! Well, as guests we enjoyed our afternoon visit where we had a nice drink in the shade and then went to snoop in the clubhouse which is a city landmark.
I have a confession. While I've done remarkably well up until now...well...I couldn't help myself today. I went into my first South American branch of Starbucks! I have a love-hate relationship with that chain but it was exactly what I wanted right then and there. At least I could people-watch on the pier of Puerto Madero where all the cool kids were. That was a very enjoyable activity in a part of the city that is just SO MUCH NICER than the old dirty, garbage-strewn smelly streets I'd been seeing in the last few days. There are lots of new condo buildings, funky shops, restaurants and cafes, people roller blading, and 'seeing and being seen'! It was nice to see a different side of BA, especially since it's been on 'probation' in my books this week.
We didn't get back to the apartment until 20h45. We had made arrangements to meet Margaret at 21h30 at the nearby dance club, 'La Catedral', for a tango lesson. Both Guille and I were beat. I checked my email to see if Margaret was going to bail as a lazy night at home sounded so much more appealing at that point. No news meant she was still going, so we knew we had to go too. We convinced ourselves we'd only go for a little while...or so we thought...
Living away from everything, it was a treat to only have to walk 6 blocks to be somewhere so we had no excuse. We rallied our energies and off we went to the 21h30 tango lesson...or so we thought....
When we got there we were told 'No, no, tonight is folklore dancing.' Not sure if Margaret was already inside, we ventured in and discovered the coolest dancehall hiding in the upper floors of this old warehouse that looks like nothing from the outside. She was there alright so Guille went to pay the 25$ entrance and I went to the bar. We could at least visit and have a glass of wine in lieu of the class...or so we thought....
The instructor came by to all the tables to personally encourage us to join. There was this moment where we all looked at each other about to say 'thanks but no thanks' when the first words of reply were from Guille's mouth. The matter was decided with her trademark "Okay!".
I was initially sceptical but as a dancer from days gone by, I am interested by all forms of dancing. In terms of folk dancing, I've done the Quebecois gigue, Cape Breton step dancing, and even the Irish dancing (at the peak of the Riverdance craze!). As a tourist in Argentina, what better way to learn about the culture than learn one of their traditional folk dances, the chacarera? It was even more authentic in that Margaret and I were the only gringas.
After the first few steps I was hooked and a permanent grin was on my face for the next hour. The instructor taught us the steps as a group and then had us stand in two lines, boys opposite from girls. Looking across at this line of men, I couldn't help but notice that it was a line of cool, young guys at a folk dancing lesson! Completely unexpected and very cool. I seriously doubt that would happen back in Canada!!!
After the lesson it became an open dance and groups of people showed up to dance to the live bands. I was mesmerised watching them all. Just as I think Margaret and I were ready to call it a night, the band called up the pretty blonde to come and dance with one of the locals. Guille handled it like a pro convincing everyone from the lesson to get up and do the group dance we'd learned.
We made some new friends with Hernan, Lucas and Sergio, who was my first partner in the class. I noticed his great smile and good sense of humour and was so pleased that he took an interest in Guille. I played the part of wing-chick well and I'm hoping he contacts her again. Stay tuned!!! ;o)
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