Just a quick health warning. It will not have escaped regular readers that these are not normal blog-style, bite-sized posts. They are more like little short stories, typically 6-9 pages in length (were each to be printed out as a Word doc.) It is strongly recommended therefore that even those who enjoy… Read More Health Warning
I’ve been in Buenos Aires a few weeks already but at last realization has dawned. I must, simply must learn the tango. It seems inevitable, after my first Sunday evening, witnessing the couples at the Glorietta de Belgrano. Better late than never, I now launch myself into the world of Tango. Oaky, perhaps “Launch” is too strong a word.… Read More Enter the Tango.
My classes continue at la escuela: Mundo Español. My other life continues as well, my life of shopping and cooking and trips to the market, of casual friendly meetings with Argentines and ex-patriots and other students and other tourists. In San Telmo, I take a special pleasure in my trips to my local shops and… Read More 2 weeks of school, life and La Bar Poesia. Monday 13th – Thursday 24th.
Monday 13th. I attend my first Spanish classes, at a local school I find on the Internet- Mundo Español. For me, there is a sense of backstory here, of unfinished business. Since the Barcelona of my youth, it’s been a source of shame and regret that, while my vocabulary (picked up by osmosis and driven… Read More My first Spanish classes. Arran the teacher, as student.
Thank you very much to Mark and Anthony for sending “Are you okay?” messages. Just want to reassure everyone I am fine. I was nowhere near the station, luckily for me, and in fact- to be completely honest – wasn’t even aware of the crash until Mark texted me about it. I am fine… Read More Train crash sounds horrific but I am fine and well.
Oh dear, where are my pictures? This is, has, taken hours, and nothing to see yet. Dashing to a tango lesson. Will try again soon.
Saturday 11th. Ireland are playing France away in the Six Nations. The stand-out fixture in the tournament. Even better, it has been scheduled, this year unusually late, 8pm Paris Time. This is very considerate of the French. Because it’s several hours earlier here, a 12.30 or even 2.30 o’clock kick-off would mean a heniously early… Read More Rugby and late nights.
Friday. 10th February. I am invited to what I think is a small dinner party at Nadia’s father’s apartment. This in a huge Art Deco mansionete block, in up-market Bario Norté. Her father will be present. Visions of a rigid and terrifying Latin American patriarch, complete with moustache, white linen suit and panama hat, almost… Read More A supper party in Bario Norté.
Dawn breaks on my first full day in Buenos Aires. I return to Palermo, and spend the afternoon searching for the Museum Xul Soler, dedicated to the sigular genius of that name. The heat remains oppressive, the pavements bake. Sweat runs everywhere, covering everything and everybody. I never get to the museum. Because I… Read More Cosas bonitas, y las porteñas guapas.
A mugging in San Telmo. It’s 3.30 at night, my end of my first day in Buenos Aires. It’s been a very long day on the plane, in the airports, banks, taxis, cafes, hotels, apartments and casinos. We are finishing our last beers, in Placa Dorrego. This is a charming leafy square in the heart… Read More A mugging in San Telmo.
Arran Q Henderson 