Argentina

We are seriously considering the idea of returning to Buenos Aires for the last month of our retirement in order to put Tango back into our bodies. Actually, we aren't really considering it any more - it's considered a done deal. Many of you may be wondering why we'd go back to Buenos Aires, a city we've said we really don't like. To answer this, let us begin by summing up the six months we spent there.

We are easy going people. Therefore as expected, Buenos Aires ended up feeling like home. We liked our “hood”, we found comfort in certain foods (mostly and especially Korean and Chinese :o), we loved the weather and almost daily blue skies, we met some wonderful people (both foreign and local), and most importantly, Tango turned out to be perfect.

Regarding Tango, the overall experience was terrific. Although we were often frustrated by the experience of dancing in the super crowded milongas, we eventually found our way back to some of the ones that generally had more room to dance (rather than shuffle). As for learning Tango, our last two months were focused on two teachers who taught us more than we ever expected or could have hoped for.

All that said, Buenos Aires is still a stinky, noisy, ugly city. It is also, we repeat, not super safe. When the locals are warning you to not walk on the side streets at night (no, we don't mean the dingy ones, but rather anything that is NOT a main street) and they themselves look at the taxi and its driver and wave them by for looking sketchy, you can bet we're not making it up. Keep in mind, if you visit Buenos Aires and stay in hotels, take taxis door to door (instead of the bus), and eat only in restaurants, you probably won’t experience many or any problems (except for the possible screw-overs by taxi drivers and waiters). However, you also won’t experience (however slightly) what it’s like to live there either.

Regardless of all this, the Tango was sublime. We should enjoy our last month of retirement in a city we have become comfortable with, doing the thing we love most.

Let’s see how much this bright idea will cost us!

We haven't forgotten and we will eventually get around to it. Our trips to Salta and Iguazu Falls will be documented here with photos, but we just haven't been in the mood to do so. Instead, we'll tell you why we avoid stepping in any liquid puddles found on the streets.

We have always done our best to avoid stepping in liquid on the streets. After viewing (and smelling) man after man pissing outdoors in broad daylight, along with the dogs, we've known better. However, a couple months ago, we witnessed the fine art of passing on this behaviour. While waiting to cross the street at a very busy corner with many other people, a young set of parents pulled down their 3 or 4-year old boy's pants and made him urinate right there!? People actually had to sidestep the pee rolling down the sidewalk while waiting for the light to change. Gross!!!

And yet, we have an even grosser story. Picture yourself eating pizza and empanadas in a restaurant on a very busy street while looking outdoors. Picture a large, late-40's woman wearing a mid-calf length skirt with her friend. Picture said woman planting her feet should-width apart. Now picture a yellow shower appearing in between her legs and creating a LIQUID PUDDLE on the sidewalk. Aaaagh!!! So disturbing!

This woman did not have an accident folks. This was no amature. She purposely decided to urinate right there (pee was not trickling down her legs - a dam had been opened!). Her friend was shooing her away in mild embarrassment. There was no reason this had to happen. She could have walked into the restaurant we were in and used their bathrooms (that restaurant isn't as strict about customers-only using the facilities).

The cherry on top of this crap sundae was when said women "bounced" up and down two times to get rid of any remaining drops!?

Sweet Dreams :o)