I love BA

So, onto pastures new...in the mantime need to share a few highlights-mostly Argentine TV

Main talk show host pictured below-spent a lot of money on surgery! Kinda the Argentinian Cilla Black but not as classy.

Main talk show guest pictured below-again spent a lot of money and is not really una chica if you see what I mean

Argentine Dancing on Ice-legendary. Especially when they strip down to underwear in the final in order to win votes? ¿Por que? See a man with a fergie Bow below.

Secondly is what we have seen on mopeds-as you know we love them but would not ride them here. Reasons being.... seen a man texting while riding, a woman holding a new born baby on one, a heavily heavily preganant woman riding one and several with children sandwiched between parents. Oh and by the way no need for helmets here-so they tell us.

Couldn´t get any pics of them as goes without saying they zoom by too fast.

Offal and Palmitos at the DISCO

Offal

Palmitos (pal hearts)

Are you dancing? Are you asking?

Me, Nicky and Yetta (dutch girl from school) went to a milonga, or public dance, in the basement hall of an Armenian social club. It sounds random, and was in many ways, but all in all it was a brilliant night. There was 300 odd people in this quite sweaty hall. Only 10 pesos to get in, and went on from 9pm to 4am.

1st off there was general salsa dancing, then salsa lessons for everyone, and then some more salsa. Nic and Yetta were good, and I was poor but none of my dance partners complained. Prob coz they were all old girls in beginners class that I was in, and therfore their hips couldnt actually move hence matching my lack of samba sway.

After some fairly tragic 200 strong salsa line dancing to some story and a fisherman, with the dance moves trying to match the story, there was a Tango show with these world class dancers (or so we were told. It was pretty impressive so I´m not doubting it.) then tango free for all and then salsa again. It was incredible to see it in a natural environment, not one just for the tourists. We were very lucky to find it.

It made me feel sad that nobody dances in England. Seeing old and young mixing, and dancing together and enjoying themselves seemed do much better than people getting wasted and then dancing badly. It not being sleazy was the big thing. Nobody seemed to be on the pull, despite salsa and tango both being pretty sexy dances. The other thing was that the older the guys were the more in demand they were, because it´s such a difficult dance and the guy does all the hard work leading the girl.

We met a chap called Pancho. A top drawer comedy name, and a nice bloke too. He did some impressive salsa with the girls, and we had some good banter with him. Over a few beers and some pizza, he indulged us with our pigeon spanish and gave us the ins and outs of what was going on.

Boca Juniors vs Lanus at the Bombonera

Went to a Boca Juniors game yesterday. Absolutely crazy atmos. We were in terraced section with the proper ´hinchas´. We figured that some top boy must have been taking a cut of our fee for this group of tourists to be let in. Our guide had to ´clear it´ with somone before we ushered through the crowd to our spot. There was no way we should have been there really.

Loads of noise and jumping up and down. The floor was shaking. People climbing up the fences. Riot police. Bottles of piss being thrown at police and at players at the end when they were celebrating. A shower of spit from away fans above us (thankfully we were under the roof). Huge drum section opposite under the flags. loads and loads of banners. Alot of love for maradona (who was up in the corporate stand). There was a fella with massive tattoo of him on his back.

We were trying to work out what songs were being sung, but didnt get far. One was boca we love you, blah blah blah, and another was saying that Lanus is full of bitches. Much the same as at home really.... There were some cool ones to ´cumbia´ beats from the drum section.

It was last game of season and Boca had to win in order that Lanus didnt win the championship at the Bombonera. It was a draw in the end, so Boca werent too impressed.

The standard of footy was pretty good, from Lanus at least. Boca seemed to just stand still waiting for whover had the ball to do something special. Lanus had alot more movement and invention. Pretty aggressive too. Loads of niggly fouls and a Boca player got straight red in 2nd half for horrific scithing down of Lanus´ best player, Sand.

Argentine rap???????

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4ycR4YhpWg

Just a quick post today to send anyone who wants a good laugh the above link. Los Sultanes seem to be muchos populares in the land of rubbish music, oh yes it is bad.

Watch right to the end and you will be lucky enough to see 2 of their hits- the latter performed for Aids awareness day here today.

As for the gratuitous bum shots? That´s par for the course here.

And so it begins.....

Finally we have got on our way

The graffiti says it all about how we are feeling.

Highlights so far include:

Crazy drivers in clapped out Ford Cortinas or pick up trucks. Some held together with parcel tape. I dont think they have an MOT system here...

SUNSHINE!!!! ( that´s a given). Too hot for an el Gingibre

Palermo (the barrio we´re in) is a beautiful eclectic mix of architectural style - crumbling relics and modernist. Loads of cool bars and shops, very European with a New Yorkish twist.

The streets are paved with dog poo or are falling to pieces- no money to fix them anymore. The Latin Americanization of BA is in full flow, esp when you see the carteños rifling through the rubbish looking for stuff they can sell to for recycling.

Empanadas ( Cornish pasties latino style)- super cheap and super tasty.


Quilmes- nothing to say but good cheap beer

3.50 pesos, that is about 50p, for 1250mls of decent enough red wine in th supermarcado

Friendly porteños. It´s hard not to be shocked by people actually being helpful and nice. They would last 5 minutes in London.

Willem Defoe watching an amazing street Tango show in San Telmo yesterday evening.



And of course, mountains of beef washed down with Malbec.

Parrrrillllllaaaaaaaa!!!!!!

(Note how most of our highlights revolve around food and drink.....hhmmmm.......)

A week to go.......

Hey Wellard this is my blog too! Anyways Ed is right freedom is good. But would be better if it was not littered with idiots at Orange/Thames water/electric companies etc who cannot do their jobs properly- as in stop your accounts when you ask them to!
"Computer says no" basically!
So rant over ( what will I do when I have nothing to moan about??!!)

I am also amazed at spending £95 in Boots on diarrhoea tablets/rehydration sachets and immodium to name a few ( common theme there!) So am glad of the old advantage card!

So counting down a week today.......

1st day of freedom

The first day of feedom has been pretty grim. I woke up and spent the morning being sick and then swapping ends for bouts of diarrhoea, after drinking too much at my leaving drinks and then making the foolish decision to have some chicken wings from Chick Pizz on the way home.

Things can only get better I suppose....