Tennis a la Argentina....

Davis Cup

We had the good luck to be in town when a Davis Cup "Tie" was being played between England (old tennis and political rivals), and Argentina...(proud sports fans). We had great seats, the taxi driver got lost 3 times trying to find the stadium, I got totally sunburnt -fun day! - We witnessed underdog England win their first match , on the final day, when technically, Argentina had already advanced with their first 3 wins, but it was a rowdy Argentine crowd (see video) with a handful of us cheering on the brits, including some British duchess of sorts...maybe if Regina & I had put on dresses, and fancy hats like Wimbleton, we could've gotten V.I.P. seats too :)

Sacred Taxi

I just got back from Malba, (Museo de Arte Latinoamericano de Buenos Aires). The taxi driver, who would have been a Nascar prodigy, darted in and out of the 14 lane avenida traffic, laying on the horn and tailing within inches anyone who was in his way. When he stopped, as I handed the cash to him, he crossed himself, whether to thank God we didn't crash, to pray my money wasn't counterfeit, or for his soccer team to win, I'm not sure, but I was happy to hit the sidewalk!

Malba was very contemporary, in architecture, and the works it held. Aside from seeing a Frida Kahlo self portrait (think unibrow and surrealist parrot), and Diego Rivera, there was a temporary exhibit of the late Argentine artist Oscar Bony who had been in exile in Milan for years. He did a series of works called "de memoria", mixed media of photographs, superimposed glass, and bullet holes.
A lot of socio-political commentary on Argentina's and the artists past, exploring violence, suicide and death in a fascinating series of self portraits .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T45AJbSaKOA

Happy Chinese New Year!

Bubble Tea in B.A.

I never expected to find myself in a Chinese grocery in the middle of the Chinese New Year celebration in Palermo with a bouncing dragon coming through the door! The streets were jammed packed as were the woks full of sizzling oil and frying spring rolls. Nadia and Regina had their fill of bubble tea, as we watched the festivities that seemed to consist mainly of people cramming the streets and food into their mouths...oh yeah, and that dragon.

Buenos Aires

I'm sitting in the terrace bistro by the pool, barely remembering how cold -30 c. can be, wishing all my frozen friends were here with me. The Cariboo seems far far away...
I bought the best tango shoes ever today, not toooo high, all leather, and comfortable! (all my women friends will appreciate the miracle of a comfy high heel). Then I had my first private tango lesson , after a few group ones at the "Confiteria Ideal", a wonderfully historic tango hall (http://confiteriaideal.com/). Dancing with 'Luis' was worth the price of the class alone, not to mention the excellent teaching from Valeria. It's such an elegant, interpretive dance...I'll be practicing everyday just to master the basics!
Buenos Aires is a city that gradually gets under you skin and into your heart. Everyday I get lost and turned around and discover new corners while I explore my way home. This is a city and culture that has never heard of 'take out' coffee, so you'll see waiters walking down the street with trays of espresso and water , and tiny hidden doors open onto the street from the back walls of restaurants, so the servers can go deliver elsewhere . The food and restaurants are abundant and cheap, and the wine & champagne...let's just say we're finding lots of reasons to celebrate.
We've been working our way through the best of the Lonely planets guide to Argentina ( an Xmas gift from my son David), and Nadia's birthday a few days ago was a hilarious excercise in opening champagne bottles!
There's an incredible antique fair in San Telmo every sunday, full of exquisite remnants of a bygone era., and the Recoleta Cemetary, haunted by feral cats, is renowned for incredible mausoleums and Eva Peron's grave. My feet are sore from walking & dancing, and my head tired from writing, so buenos noches a todos...