Coca

First 'Tommy' went missing ( see previous post http://simoninargentina.blogspot.com/2010/07/has-anyone-seen-tommy.html), now 'Coca' - what is the world coming to with all these pet kidnappings?
Kirsty told me to go easy on the stray animal photos on my blog this time, but I hope she forgives me for the 'Lost Pet' shouts :)

The right mix

Not much time for updates as the days just seem to disappear.
We are still trying to juggle the days and the nights and to get the right mix of milongas and taking lessons and training. There are just not enough hours in the day.
Each time I come to Buenos Aires my favourite nights and favourite milongas change as new milongas start and people change the places they go to. But some, of course, remain constant favourites like Canning. Wednesdays and Thursdays are my least favourite evenings at the moment as there is no clear favourite place for me to head to. For example, on Thursday there is one place I like which has a lot of people but the music leaves a lot to be desired and the dance flow is non-existent and scrappy to say the least, last night it made me feel that I should have stayed home and rested for the next day of lessons.

The training is going well with private lessons and training almost every day. As Ney Melo says ‎"There will never be a step, sequence, or trick in tango that will come close to matching the power of the embrace." So as always I have gone back to basics to improve the embrace, walk and the lead and to make adjustments and improvements to the existing dance. Another element I am working on is training to see options and possibilities in every step, to be able to see the different alternatives at each step, which is essentially a crossroads that leads to a new route. This is a mathematical approach designed to implement more variety into the dance, I was never any good at maths at school so I wonder how this is going to progress.

Trying to get the right mix of day and night is tricky, as you can't burn the candles at both ends, at least not for a month. I am still hoping to get to Carlos and Rosa's practica at Sunderland, which I have heard so much about, and from next week we will introduce a new teacher into the mix, so maybe one of the evenings will have to be sacrificed? Looks like Wednesday or Thursday at the moment, but who knows a week is a long time in Buenos Aires anything can happen.

Other news
Shoes bought: Simon 2 Karolina 2
LMDC condoms have now been placed stategically at milongas in Buenos Aires
Everybody is missing La Bambi

Sunny Winter

The weather gods have been on our side so far. For the most part we have had sunny days and blue skies it sure beats the winter in Sweden. It may pnly be 17 or 18 degrees, which pales in comparison to Europe at the moment but it is a pleasant and welcome surprise. But from past experience I am not holding my breath, it is liable to change at any moment.

Barrio Chino

If you get tired of the empanadas, media lunas, pasta, pizza and parillas head of down to Belgrano and visit Barrio Chino - which is actually just 2 small streets. It is one of the smallest China towns I have seen but it still has all the most essential items. Soya milk, tofu, quinoa, miso, tahini, peanut butter, nuts, seeds, obscure vegetables, and off the shelf sushi - basically all the items you won't find in a normal Argentinian supermarket.
You can find Barrio Chino in front of La Glorietas outdoor milonga just on the other side of the rail tracks.

Has anyone seen Tommy?

Something missing

The last time I was at El Beso was on Monday, 22 June 2009. I posted the event on my blog. I mentioned one of my favourite milongueros who I called T and described how he magically weaved his way like a snake through the mass of dancers on the floor.
On my previous visits he has always been a joy to watch a larger than life characer becoming more and more eccentric as the years went by. Unfortunately he danced for the last time on 7 January 2010.
El Beso was not quite the same yesterday, something, someone was missing.
El Beso is a much emptier place without Tete.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCqBW9wv3RE&feature=player_embedded

Veggie Paradise

Even if Argentina is reknowned for its meat and parrillas it is also a haven for vegetarians with more and more dedicated veggie restaurants popping up all the time especially in Palermo where there is even a raw food bar. Even the parrillas can offer great alternatives if you order from the side dishes. Spring vegetarian is a must with over 120 vegetarian dishes on their buffet to choose from, you can easily get dazzled by the vast choice. But the best so far has to be the 'tenedor libre' Marini Gourmet at sante fe 3666 near to scalabrini ortiz. It is not exclusively vegetarian but has more than enough for us herbivores, with different food stations where they individually prepare your own dish as you wait. Just make sure you are hungry when you arrive. A dedicated list of veggie eateries will be posted later.

Football Fever

All roads were closed at avenida 9 de Julio as huge crowds gathered to watch the giant screen. Football fever. But the clinical tactical Germans spoiled the party as they put out the fire of the passionate Argentinians. The city is officially in mourning.

Nightmare journey

Finally arrived after 2½ days travelling. Left home 1415 Tuesday Arrived at apartment in Buenos Aires 2200 local time Thursday - 55 hours door-to-door, is that a world record? But our baggage is missing.
A very eventful start to our trip with missed connections and having to wait 24 hours for the next flight - detour to rio de janiro due to fog - lost baggage - lost mobile phone and wallet
On the plane I was reading the Alchemist with the message of listening to omens and I watched the film Deja Vu... maybe that was the omen of things to come.