My Negracha
January: ticket purchased and blog born
February: a farewell UK tango
and a trip to Milan to thank Chuka for speaking the word 'tango'
March: the goodbyes are tough
but I'm on my way to Buenos Aires
where it was raining HARD
First tango shoes
First new friend and so too, first laughter
First group tango lessons
first orchestra
first Canning
New friends in Palermo
and in La Boca
Late nights
in favourite haunts
Mad early tangos
Street orchestras
Milonga orchestras
Personal orchestras
I dance my first tanda with Carlos in La Glorieta
First English visitor
and happy times in Club Gricel
First shy photo of my Argentine
I discover the Chacarera
April: I leave the hostel for a rented apartment... heaven
in Recoleta
where love finds me
By now there are three pairs of tango shoes
and a 'novio'
who takes me to a 'telo'
and the Tigre Delta
for a romantic boat ride to an island
He teaches me to prepare the 'mate'
and relax
and laugh
June: I get used to the Argentine queues
in this case for tango 'El Metropolitano'
I've got a great friend as well as a tango teacher
and on Fridays we dance
in this beautiful room
but Gabriella is getting ready to leave
July: Feria de Mataderos
is where we spend our last Sunday together
before our last 'folkloric' lesson
and our last mad night out
I start searching for a home
and find one on the day it snows in Buenos Aires
Spring begins slowly
and I need to replace the laces in my practice shoes
I manage to find a bank who will receive my money
to buy this view
New 'Blog' friends arrive and support me through the anxious moments
August: the final deal is done
and the workmen move in to paint the flat
September: I get the electricity and gas connected
My little family has a home in Argentina
and my sky is clear once more
I relax in my new 'barrio'
enjoy spring walks in the parks
and get to see the final of 'El Mundial'
which of course involves a queue
September: 'Los Reyes', my kings, play in the spring
at La Baldosa in Flores
and I keep enjoying the coffee
and my Thursday afternoon tangos with strangers
I explore new venues... this one, Club Sunderland
Six months and time for a new visa
so I head to Uruguay
with 'mi gran amor'
for smiles
and kisses
By now it's summer
and I'm learning many 'tango lessons'
as well as how to dance tango
I have grown to love 'Zamba'
Oh and now there are five pairs of tango shoes...
October: The English start to arrive in force and become our new 'family'
Together we search for bargains in the markets
The election comes and goes
November: We show 'our family' our city
and I turn tour guide and tourist all over again
I am happy in life
and tango
We journey with new mates
and laugh A LOT
But shopping with the English is dangerous
Five pairs become six...
And I remember the paper flowers...
The tango lessons continue (this one makes me laugh!)
My body starts to relax
dance for joy
and have fun
Me and Ariel laugh more and more
and he even likes my $15 peso trousers
December: Carlos and me face up to the passport situation, and keep smiling
into our first Christmas
and I decide to stay and wait for him
and keep fighting for joy...
Happy 2008 everyone!
