Last Tango in Buenos Aires

For the last hurrah, we headed to a tango show. Part of the package included a beginner group tango class. Sadly/fortunately, there is no video, but we might be available for your next wedding, bar mitzvah, or other celebration.

Our instructors & principal dancers

Beaux Art ballroom for the class

Before the professional show

One area we had only briefly visited was Plaza San Martin. It's a little less than 1.5 miles from our hotel. Since the temperatures were slightly less stifling and we have 15+ hours of travel tomorrow, we decided to walk.

To get there, we went through a major tourist area. If we heard "cambio! cambio!" once, we heard it a thousand times. Everyone wants U.S. Dollars. The street rate is a bit better (not as much difference since the sudden devaluation two weeks ago), but it seems inherently risky. We had read about this. However, until now, we had not been so accosted. That is an advantage to staying outside the real touristy part of torn.

I love all the dogs in this city. They seem well cared for and very happy. In fact, the park has a wonderful canine agility area.

No one informed them this is the agility area.

This man is walking TEN dogs!

At one end of the park is the memorial to the war in the Malvinas. From the U.S. perspective, this is the Falkland War. We have seen the British memorial in St. Paul's Cathedral where it is referred to as the "South Atlantic War."

Some people note the similarities with the Vietnam Memorial on the National Mall -- curved and set into a hill. However, what is most striking is this memorial is surrounded by an iron fence and locked. By contrast, the U.S. memorials are open and, especially in the case of the Vietnam Memorial, touching and leaving items is encouraged.

John and I wondered when the gate is opened and under what circumstances.

My sister has sat on the City Parks Board and is now on the Austin Parks Foundation board (Go Sara!). They are always looking for grants and other fundraising to improve our parks. Perhaps they should think about "selling" corporate sponsorships to various pieces of infrastructure. If American Express pays for stairs in Buenos Aires, surely they might be open to something in Austin.

Corporate sponsorship occurs everywhere

Mafalda is a character from a comic strip than ran in the 1960's to early 70's. We thought she looked like a cross between Little Orphan Annie and Lucy from "Peanuts." That's accurate. She was conceived as a blend of "Peanuts" and "Blondie." These statues are in our neighborhood, outside the old home of the creator, and a popular place to get a picture.