Monday, March 30, 2009

buenos aires, domingo por la noche




On my way to meet Alu, Emily had texted me and told me to show up at a BBQ at 7PM. I told her that I wouldn't make it that early, given my plans, but I'd show up a bit later. After not meeting up with Alu, I wander around town a bit, and then finally go home. I planned to rest up a bit and then head over, but Emily texts me and says that the charcoal may not last, so I should show up soon.

OK, so I leave and try to find a carniceria. I go to 3 places, including one owned by Chinese people and the woman speaks to me in Mandarin. Good thing I understand Mandarin. She points me to a place, which sells chicken (but isn't a carniceria) that tells me that carnicerias are not open on Sundays. Gah!

So I head over to the hostel where the BBQ is being held (and where Kevin and Lacey are staying). I stop at the restaurant next door and order a bife de chorizo, thinking that I still need to bring something. This is where texting fails communications. I think I still need to bring something because otherwise, why would Emily tell me that the grill is dying? Emily thinks I'm being difficult by bringing my own food to a BBQ, especially given how much food there is. We get the situation cleared once she calls me while I'm waiting in the restaurant for my order. The restaurant originally won't sell me the beer to go. They get back ~AR$2 for each empty bottle. I promise them that I'd bring it back that night, and they finally relent. OK, now to the BBQ.

Wow is there a lot of food at the BBQ (pic above). I dig myself into a piece of grilled chicken leg. It's juicy and tender, and cooked perfectly, not burnt on the outside, nor raw inside. Props to the grillmaster-- Kevin. There's also plenty of chorizo, morcilla, and beef. What's an Argentine BBQ w/o the beef? We hang around a bit just eating, drinking and shooting the breeze. Raul, Veronique, and Anne eventually show up with a couple bottles of wine, and they load up on the food too. This is a successful BBQ.

After the BBQ, we decide to head to Torquato Tasso for a milonga. This was my first milonga, and befitting that it should be my last in Buenos Aires. I head back to shower first, because I had spilled some stuff on my pants. I am amazed once I arrive. It is so much more crowded than the previous week. And lots of good dancers too. Not many are native, and they are definitly more willing to dance with foreigners, given that they themselves are foreigners. Lacey comments that it's most similar to milongas in Los Angeles. I agree. We all have a pretty good time, and it ends at 2:15AM. There's talk of heading to La Viruta, but eventually no one really wants to go. Me, my head is pounding from all the drinks since 8PM, and I still have yet to pack for my flight in the morning. I say goodby to everyone, and head home.

That ends the last night in Buenos Aires for me.

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