So I have just put up a video we shot this weekend. Sundays in Buenos Aires are the one day that you CAN NOT miss. Between San Telmo, The Boca, Plaza Francia and soccer matches, there is seriously something for everyone. This weekend the group I was with decided to see San Telmo and The Boca. These two neighborhoods are probably more traditional for Buenos Aires than apple pie is American (actually I think pie was invented somewhere else, but you get the point). This duo tour is on my “5 must do’s” in the city.
This Sunday ended up being a Tango extravangza. There are also the occasional dancers (most really bad in reality) tangoing a few bucks out of tourists. It takes a true talent from one of them to ever impress or even entertain me. However, this Sunday all the stops were pulled as what seemed like the best dancers in the city came out to perform. Could it be that the 6th annual international festival of Tango had just ended and a ton of professional dancers had flooded the city? Possibly. All that I really cared about was that this week, there were 10 times more Tango dancers than normal, and they were REALLY good.
After wondering Defensa street, we hung out to watch the locals (who don’t dance for tips) strut their stuff in Plaza Dorrego. The old, young, good, bad, brunette, bald, all come out to dance a tango or two in the plaza. Make sure to make your way to the center of the plaza to see this group, it is a more authentic taste of Tango.
Next we headed over to the Boca. The Boca is really only fun (and safest) on weekends. The cafe’s pull tables into the streets, musicians on the patios, and dancers in the streets for passer-byers to enjoy. Sit at one of these cafe’s and order a Choripan (fresh baguette with chorizo) for about 4 pesos. This is equivalent to a tango and orchestra show with lunch for U$S 1.50. Not such a bad deal huh?
Later, (and my personal favorite part) is the return to San Telmo after dark. Plaza Dorrego only really comes alive on Sundays, so this must be done on a Sunday. If you head to the Plaza after dusk, you will find a local group of dancers, who are not dancing for tips, and who lack the shiny costumes of those dancing in the afternoon. They are noticeably less flashy, but probably 10 times the dancers! This week an aging, balding, inebriated woman enjoyed a dance with a more agile (and attractive hehe) young guy. They danced happily, enjoying the tradition and sheer pleasure of dancing. This was community!
Well, hope to see you all around one of these Sundays. Let us know when you will be in town and we will be sure to let you in on a few more Sunday secret spots.
Cheers
