It can be dangerous to entertain expectations. They is such a high probability of those expectations not being met. We went to a Tango show tonight in Buenos Aires. It was on Florida Avenue - if I had know that I never would have included myself in the group reservation. Florida Ave is the tourist hole of the city (in my opinion at least). I certainly will not recommend this travel agent to others. But then again, some people thoroughly enjoyed it. I guess I just expected too much.
There were a few really good dances. I think if I hadn`t been sitting so close, too, I would have enjoyed it more. Right up front showed the little things that took away from the charm - such as the theater eye make-up and the panty lines.
I am tired. Today has been long and a lot of hurry up and wait. We had to be up and on the bus by 6, after having gone to bed after 1. They it was a cold bus ride, with an early arrival at port, and then anxiety about not knowing it we could actually get on the next boat (there had been closures the night before due to fog).
However, we did get to see an old bull fighting arena. That was neat. But only 8 fights happened there - the gov`nt outlawed bullfighter two years after the guy built the arena. He had to shut down. This was 1910 (built) and 1912 (shut down). The arena is unstable and thus unsafe at this point, but they are talking of restoring it to hold concerts in. Good stuff.
Yesterday after visiting the headquarters of ALADI (a Latin American trade association) for class, I took a nap and then walked down the main street and through a few of the markets. The markets pretty much go everyday around this place! Then for dinner the program took us to La Casa Violeta (the purple house) for salad bar and meat bar. This meat deal is that they bring it all out on a skewer and you get to try lots of different cuts. They have about eight rounds, several with choices within the round, and then they also offer to repeat anything you desire. It was phenominal!!! And we all did our best to gorge ourselves, yet still have room for dessert :) YUM.
Also, some other interesting notes on Uruguay: there are no natural disasters; trees are not really native to the land; women can retire at age 60 but men not until age 65; there is a 23 percent sales tax; they have never had an income tax but it will start this July; oh! and, there is virtually zero percent indigenous blood remaining in their heritage (the Spanish and Portuguese exterminated the natives because they were too savage to `tame`).
Another positive experience: we visited the Recoleta cemetary in Bs As this afternoon. Eva Peron (Evita) is buried there. It is above ground tombs, though some do have like little basements in them and the caskets are actually below ground. It was a beautiful place! Wow. [We missed visited the cemetaries while in New Olreans for spring break; I imagine there must be something like this - absolutely astounding!!!] The statues were touching, some of the tombs had photographs and plants in them (windows and/or broken areas which we could see through). There were also cats roaming all about (apparently to control the rat population). All around it was quite an experience - I think partly because of the indicators that not all of these bodies stay dead...
