Friday morning I left sunny Montevideo on the Buquebus, with Francisco’s slower sister ship this time, that brought me over the Rio de la Plata in three hours.

Once arrived in BsAs, I took possession of my SERENA apartment again, changed some Dolares for más Pesos with a friend, got my little suitcase from Javo and went for an early dinner with Hector in Gout Café.

Great being back home.

For the night, Andrés had invited me over to see a Milonga, one of the traditional Tango dance evenings that happen all over town. This one was special, as La Marshall doesn’t care who dances with whom, so at this queer Tango you saw all possible combinations. girls with guys, guys with guys, girls with girls….

Andrés and I, both not able to dance a single step of Tango, sat in the second row of tables, safely behind those who wanted to dance, and watched the whole evening over numerous Cuba libre.

 

The Milonga is held right after an hour of classes, where a professional teacher gives courses to the willing and able. He stayed on during the night and continued to dance with everyone.

We saw and watched all different combinations and couples forming, some still in their learning stages, some really good at moving around in those complicated moves and steps, with their faces mostly serene, concentrating on the music.

I was most impressed how good everyone knows the songs. For example, they all stopped totally in sync in a nice pose at the end of each song, like clockwork.

The music reminded me of songs from the 30s and 40s, with their metallic sound and that characteristic style.

I has been really tired from what was a long day, but was captured immediately by it, forgetting time… We stayed until nearly three in the morning (I’m sure they danced on much longer…)

I had brought my camera, and it would have been ok to take pictures without the flash, but unfortunately the camera send out this bright beam ahead to measure the light and stuff, so I felt like I was intruding on something special… I used my iPhone instead and took some pics.