a buenos aires feeling

Last night took on the theme 'That's so Buenos Aires'.

A friend met me at my apartment around 9:30 to go into 'Micro Centro' (business district) to see a free concert. Once we arrived in the city, via subte, we walked just one block to the concert. The city closed a major street to set up a stage for an orchestra that played tango music. On our one block walk, a bus approached us and slowed down so that the driver could blow us a kiss. (That's so Buenos Aires) (I still find these gestures endearing)

The music was beautiful and there was a decent size crowd. It was a warm evening. Older ladies were fanning themselves with their oriental fans and there was a couple that began tango dancing in the middle of the crowd. It really had a 'Buenos Aires' feel to it.

(photo below: taken on Avenida de Mayo)

(photo below: man selling fresh bread on his bike)


After the show we walked to get something for dinner (around 10:30, which is typical dinner time here). We chose a restaurant in front of the Obelisco (pronounced: Obo - lee - sco). The Obelisco is a major landmark in B.A. We ordered a bottle of white wine. We chose the one we wanted off the menu but the waiter brought us the most expensive bottle (36 pesos / $10.50) and said they were all out of the other kinds of white wine; which was very Buenos Aires of him to do to us 'tourist' looking girls.

I ordered a Waldorf salad for 22 pesos / $6.50. When it arrived, it was obvious to me that I didn't learn my lesson when ordering salads in B.A. Again, my salad did not have lettuce on it. It was just a bowl of celery, apples, nuts and a cream sauce. "Ok, lesson learned now... don't expect lettuce with your salad unless it's written within the description."

(photo below: the view from our table. (the obelisco))


We spent around 3 hours having dinner, enjoying the warm evening weather, the beautiful view and chatting. (3 hour dinners are also typical in B.A.) When it came time to leave (around 2:00am) we both pulled out our Guia "T"; which is the bus bible of B.A.

My friend found both the buses that we needed to take and the location of their stops. The Guia "T" takes some practice to be able to read it. I haven't mastered it yet.

She was very kind and walked me to my bus first and she waited with me. We waited for the 110 but she saw that just 50 feet away was the stop for the 152. She saw the 152 coming and she said "oh you can take that bus also". The driver passed the 152 stop, but I just ran towards him and put my hand up. He waved me on, so I quickly ran back to my friend to give her an Argentine typical cheek kiss good-bye an then ran back to the bus which was now in motion. Like an Argentine, I jumped on the bus while it was moving. What a rush.

When I arrived back to my barrio (around 2:30), there were still quite a few people on the street. There was a group of girls singing and carrying an open bottle of wine (my American eyes again...that's a no-no...oh wait, we're in Argentina)

Unlike an Argentine on the weekend, I went to bed at 3am. 6-7am is typical bedtime for the weekends.

It was a very wonderful Buenos Aires evening.