Tangri-lá wrote a sweet post today Introducing Pugliese. I can not think of any other orchestra who can make an entire milonga gasp collectively in excitement, as I once experienced at the magical milonga formerly held in Club Español.
My friend C is in town and as our text messages were rapidly flying back and forth last night she ran out of credit on her cellphone.
She asked if I could help her add credit, by getting a new tarjeta and helping enter the magic numbers. Recrediting your cellphone in a foreign language can be a wee bit of a challenge, but when you are hearing impared and do not speak the local language fluently, this small task that most of us take for granted can be a little intimidating. I was happy to oblige, but could not help her out until tomorrow, but then I remembered Recarga Facil!
Located at most Pago Facil locations*, you can recharge the credit on your cellphone without the hassel of finding a kiosko that has the tarjetas to recredit. PLUS! You can add the whatever amount you need. Which is fantastic, when you only want 10 pesos versus being forced to buy a 20 peso card. Infact, you do not even need the cellphone with you! Just the number of the cellphone you want to put credit on.
If you are hearing impared or castellano challenged, just write the name of the service provider and your cellphone number down to give to the attendant. Along with the amount you want to pay. Check it against the receipt they will give you back and ¡listo! you are done!**
So now I am feeling smug, that I was such a smarty pants today, and I saved myself 30 minutes out of tomorrows to do list!
*sometimes the systems are down, and you have to wait an hour or so before they are up and running again.
** When paying a bill after writing this post, you can also get a tarjeta to keep your information handy at Pago Facil and make it easier for recharging your credit.
I often receive emails from readers who are planning their trips to Buenos Aires, and often want information on various Tango teachers, which restaurants to eat in etc...etc...
I do love to share information especially about places I love and have often taken the time to write back. Funny thing is, 89% of these information seekers never say "Thank you".
So perhaps I will just send them a standard link, from now on. What do you think?
But one recent reader asked for some info, and she seemed like a fun and crazy gal after perusing her blog, and if I were her and wanted to see some non-tourist touristy places they would be:
Bar 12 de octubre , Bulnes 331. In this teeny tiny bar located in Almagro, it is often standing room only, but most of the patrons are very friendly and will offer you a seat, if there is a spare one about. The decor hasn´t changed much since the 30´s, although the clientele sporting body art and piercings may have. Go late in the evening around midnight or so and enjoy the live Tango music, often with the patrons singing along.
Clasica y Moderna ,Callao 892 - Buenos Aires - 4812-8707 / 4811-3670. I had walked past this café/library numerous times in the evening and it looked as though they put on marvelous shows, so finally when my friend Tracey came for a visit we went (yay for expense accounts). We had not made a reservation, but decided to sit at the bar, which if it is a party of one or two I would highly recommend, as you can flirt with the gorgeous man behind the bar. They also carry a excellent selection of wines.
La Catedral, Sarmiento 4006 y Medrano. I can´t say I have really had the best mind blowing tandas here, but have had lots of fun just hanging out and socializing. By the Time Out link, it appears as though La Catedral must be open on a regular basis then it was a few years ago, when you never knew if it was or if it wasn´t, which can be kind of fun as well, except for the wasted cab fare. A word of caution, if it is raining outside, it is also raining inside. Do not leave wearing heels, or risk death descending stairs.
Las Violetas corner of Medrano y Rividavía is a must, especially for the indulgent. This beautifully restored building offers some of the city´s most amazing selection of cakes and facturas. Casual dress is fine, but going for the glamour makes the experience even more exciting. Don´t forget to order some champagne!
The best mode of transportation is your feet! Get out and walk, walk and walk some more. And inbetween walk and walk, stop in at a café that catches your fancy and take a Gancia or a Martini Rosso, sit and observe while this magical city moves to its own inner Tango beat.
Gorda is one of my favourite Tangos. I first discovered the song through La Chicana interpretation on their CD AYER HOY ERA MAÑANA. I was hoping to find a version on Youtube for you either by La Chicana or award winning Argentine actress Rita Cortese, who sings a powerful rendition, but for you today I post for you the one below. What is so special about this song? It´s timelessness. Written in 1928, it is a song about the humiliations a woman puts herself through dieting, after being dumped by her lover. Not much has changed today almost 100 years later.
Gorda
(1928)
Letra: Camilo Darthes
Música: Luis Martino
Flaca linda... ¡que ironia!
era en la confiteria,
yo tomaba un copetin...
"Negrita, que bien formada,
estas hecha una monada
sos una papa, un budin!"
me diiste de pasada
hoy me dejas amurada
porque la lineaperdi;
¡nunca pude imaginarme
que despues de enemorarme
llegase a ponerme asi!
Che, gorda!
lo decis de una manera,
sin mirarme tan siquiera,
¡me dan ganas de llorar!
Che, gorda!
pensa un poco y se buenito;
¿que culpa tengo negrito;
si no puedo adelgazar...?
Lo que he llorado y reido,
lo que he penado y sufrido
en lo fisico y moral...
una faja me he comprado
y dos litros me he tomado
de vinagre artificial,
gimnasia sueca y flexiones,
baños turcos y fricciones.
masajes del esternon...
¡un mes que no como nada;
tengo la sangre arruinada
de tomar te con limon!
I saw this meme on a blog today, and it is interesting to see where I am now, who I was and where I want to go.
15 years ago today I would have been:
* just moved back to Vancouver
* started working at the Best Spa in the city (little did I know)
* played the Cranberries at least 3 times a day
* despite working for a crazy making flake, loved my job!
10 years ago today I would have been:
* still living in Vancouver
* preparing for my first backpacking trip to Europe
* terribly broken hearted
* smoking way too much herb
* listening to the Verve 5 times a day
5 years ago today I would have been:
* still living in Vancouver
* starting to learn Tango
* been self employed for 5 years
* finally stopped feeling suicidal
* took up pottery, until Tango got in the way
1 year ago today I would have been:
* living in Buenos Aires
* at home with a 5 month old baby girl
* very stressed out yet happy
This year I am:
* quite content
* applying my pottery skills towards dough
* researching educating the kids at home
* enjoying my time being a stay at home mum
Today I:
* served the family breakfast in bed, pancakes
* did a 3 loads of laundry
* finger painted with Isa
* spent too much time on the internet
Next year I hope:
* to return to work
* find a yoga community
* tango at least once a month
* create more
* get out and socialize on a regular basis
In five years I hope:
* purchase our own home
* that we will travel outside of Argentina
* learn how to steam distill essential oils
* cultivate bees if possible
* plant a tree
What have you done and what do you want to be doing?
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