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Published: August 9th 2007
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Futebol, BA
La Boca versus Cucuta... the final score 3-0... and the crowd was very happy about that! I love Buenos Aires!!!!!!!!! What a city, so much better than what I had hoped for. It feels like your back in the 1920´s in some wonderful European city. We decided that this was going to be the place where we learnt Spanish.
We were in Buenos Aires for almost 6 weeks, and in the end it was really hard to leave. It’s also hard to remember all the things that happened in that time. We rented an apartment in the centre of town (near the corner of 9 De Julio y Av. De Mayo) for only $400 US per month. The best part of renting an apartment was getting to know people in the building, the locals and practising our dodgy Spanish. We spent hours chatting to our doorman, Christian.... it was so funny at the time but the day we left, we were all sad to say goodbye.
We had been studying Spanish for 20 hours a week; it’s amazing how much time it takes out of your week. We had two awesome teachers, una chica (Nuria) y un hombre (Leo). They were hilarious because they are so different. Nuria is your typical 30 something single porteno,
Casa Rosa, Buenos Aires
My favourite builing in BA, in my favourite plaza, Plaza de Mayo. she’s crazy! Leo, on the other hand, is your typical school teacher type. Anyway the whole experience was awesome... and I would highly recommend the school I went to (ELE Baires) to anyone!
Apart from studying, eating the great food and drinking great cheap red wine, we managed to squeeze in a fair bit while we were there. One beautiful Saturday went to Tigre, which was a popular destination for the city dwellers of Buenos Aires, only 1 hour by train on the river delta. We had a traditional asada (barbeque) and had some beers with friends. Great day really.
While we were there we managed to try a tango class at an old cafe, called the Confeteria Ideal. It was hilarious, we were ushered upstairs, were the staff were setting up tables and chairs, like there was going to be a show on. Musicians were setting up; people were arriving and taking seats. We thought we were going to become the spectacle, the opening act for a tango show or something. There were a couple of English gals who were also there for a lesson who were wondering the same thing. Eventually, the teachers came and began
Tango Show at Cafe Tortoni
Taking in a tango show at the oldest cafe in town (literally). the lesson. The main teacher was a middle aged, smooth operator, who appeared to love embracing the women while he demonstrated the steps. It’s a lot harder than it looks, I’ll tell you that. Especially when your wearing sneakers and jeans and a dodgy jumper in front of a classy crowd, dressed in their best. Very embarrassing. But the best part was definitely watching Jeff be embraced by the teacher and shown the steps. Hilarious! After the lesson (and now with a mass of people seated and sipping their drinks), the music cranked up and the dance floor became fearfully crowded with couples as young as teens, to couples pushing the century, dancing the tango. It was great.
We managed to get to a soccer game, held in La Boca. What an atmosphere. The game was the semi final in the Liberatores Cup between La Boca Juniors (from Buenos Aires) and Cucuta (from Columbia). La Boca needed 2 goals to nil to get through to the finals. We had tickets to the game in "populares" which is standing room only, surrounded by crazy Argentines screaming, jumping etc. The crowd was wild, there were riot police everywhere and when La
Asado (Barbeque) at Tigre
Cooking up on a Beautiful Saturday in Tigre, on the river delta 1 hour from BA.
From left to right: Eric (Norweigan), the "Italian Stallion" Hermando, crazy Venezuelan Christian, Gil from Holland, me, and Janelle from the US. Boca finally scored, the game stopped and fireworks and the crowd went off. I have never seen anything like it; even our friends from Europe were amazed. The final result was 3 -0.... although rumour has it that the game was fixed.... who knows... this is South America!
Weekends were always busy for sightseeing (unless we were hungover), especially Sundays, where places like Recoleta and San Telmo (my personal favourite part of town) set up there market stalls and people soak up the sun in beautiful courtyards sipping café while watching tango in the streets. Our final weekend in Buenos Aires was spent in Uruguay. When we returned, we spent a couple of days catching up with people, buying some warm clothes and getting ready for Patagonia.
The last night in BA was the final in the (soccer) Liberatores Cup between the local contender La Boca and a team from Brazil (I have forgotten the name). La Boca won 2-0. After the game (at 1 in the morning on a Wednesday night) the streets filled up with people and cars, all yelling, screaming, and waving their teams flags. It was a crazy fiesta on the street 9 de
Coffee In Cafe Tortoni
Enjoying a good cuppa in the oldest and most famous cafe in Buenos Aires. Julio (which is the widest street in the world). The people in BA are fanatical about their football! What a way to say goodbye to BA (for now, at least).
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