The Day I Walked Buenos Aires

Me after a long day. Pancho NOT purchased in BA, but at Kohl's. Thanks for asking.

This is an apartment building near where I stayed.

My before picture.

A big statue.

Street Tango. Men who play instruments.

Cafe Tortoni-- and Diego

the most fantastic shop on earth.

We are everywhere.

Buenos Aires-- The Walking Tour

Also known as the day I walked BA.

My friend Diego showed up this morning after ditching me last night (rat bastard). We walked everywhere. Unlike Mexico city, the poverty here is not in your face, although we were chased by some gypsies into a church, but its all the same, right?

I tangoed in the street with an old old man. I didn't speak his language nor he mine, but for one song it was worth the memory. My tango is about as good as my Spanish. I want to be led but don't know how not to be uncomfortable being led. Fiercely independent puts me at odds for dancing partners.

After hours and hours we ended up at dinner on the river, wine, conversation and time to catch up. I did a quick reading of him, but he is not one to be read, and so let it go. Seven hours later he dropped me at my hotel and I took a much deserved swim.

I was conscience of my ear issues in the pool. I floated and then had a complete flash to being young, maybe 7 or 8 and always taking a bath after dinner. I would stay in the water for hours and one time fell asleep in the tub. I loved hearing the water full up my ears because it would block out everything else. I let myself do the same thing in the pool, just let the schoomp, schoomp sound take everything away. Next time you ask me about the happy place, its in the pool. Or the bathtub. Or any water that I can float in.

My feet hurt. My head hurts from trying to speak in Spanish all day. I prayed in a couple of cathedrals. I want to come back here and experience it with someone I love. Its too beautiful to be alone. Life is too beautiful to fill with solitary moments. Someday.

Until tomorrow. Be safe, be well. Hope you are doing well, you are too precious for chaos.

Buenos Aires

I smile as I write that because I want to write "as promised".

11 hours in coach wasn't as bad as it could have been. I shared a row with a girl that could have been me 10 years ago- wide eyed to the world, wanting to teach, moving back to her folks to save money. We have all been there.

It was interesting to be on the other side of me, someone who is super friendly, loud, loving life and a bit of a free spirit. It was refreshing. I get why folks are attracted to me, I'm funny and am easy to get along with. Everything's an adventure. Everything.

Landing in BA - well it looks like north Carolina. The leaves are changing because it is fall, which I knew but forgot.

My driver doesn't speak much English, and my Spanish is terrible, so we are getting along with him speaking in Spanish and me saying Ahh a lot.

My hotel is nice. Now I am in the bar waiting for my friends to show up for dinner (its almost 10 but that's how they do it here). Across from me is a banker from south Africa that keeps trying to engage in small talk. He seems skeevey and keeps taking his ring off and on. Eew, no. I've done "married but dating" and it is just not worth the price of admission. Tomorrow I will see some city.

I did watch a rugby match on espn between cuba and paraguay that was interesting. Although, I was trying to fall asleep, so really anthing would have done.

the bar in the hotel-- the "Library" so civilized.