From Bmore to BA

No, really.  A friend of mine (another blogger in BA, what’s more) introduced me to the spot and I must say – Dios Mio can this place cook up a chicken. Having lived here almost a year now I’ve not only had the pleasure of discovering places to eat and go out not listed in Time-Out or Lonely Planet, but I’ve also been able to serve as careful observer, dutifully noting the idiosyncrasies that make up and define – per recent Travel and Leisure Magazine ranking – the “best city in Latin America.” 

Hard to believe that this little foray to the other side of the planet comes to an abrupt close in just over a week. I could bore you now with the schmaltzy self-reflection that comes standard with any farewell, but I still have a week so there’s plenty of time left for that. At any rate, as my time in this fair land has been winding down I’ve been doing some reflecting. So without any further ado here are some reflections, thoughts, random musings, etc.     

• I think I’ve developed a nasty meat habit.                                                      
• While “cancha” and “concha” may sound almost harmlessly identical to an English speaker, they’re not.  It took me several months and many an uncomfortable situation to realize this.
• I’ve marched in political rallies and even paid income taxes. In short, I’m more Argentine than all of my Argentine friends.
• No matter how many beautiful girls there are in a club being forced to hear Dancing Queen, Love Shack and Grease Lightning in rapid succession does not make it worth it.
• Try as you might, no amount of frantic gesturing or persuasion at the barbershop will ever save you from The Mullet.   
• Staying out till sunup on consecutive nights isn’t sane.  Last call at 1:30 in the States isn’t either.
• About the bus: there’s always room for 5 more.
• President Bush: considered a real poopie-head in these parts.
• A dog’s right to shit on the sidewalk is not inalienable.
• Free tango class: good place to meet girls, especially 60 year old ones.
• “Mate elbow” is a rare medical condition known exclusively to Argentina and Uruguay. 
• The omnipresent sound of sucking face eventually fades into the background, like traffic noise
• A month or so ago I had the classically awkward experience of randomly seeing someone I used to date out at a party.  That really hammered home I’ve been here awhile. 
• For clarification purposes the profession is “delivery _____ boy/girl/dude” (or in local terms chico/chica/boludo), not just “delivery.”
• Hell hath no fury like my hatred of Jon Bon Jovi. Being interminably barraged by his whiny, emasculated voice that hasn’t evolved one iota since 1987 is something no man outside of New Jersey can ever get used to.  
• That the best steak you´ve ever had is under 3 dollars and a bottle of good red wine is under 4 is nice.

Anyway, these are just a few things I´ve been marinating over recently. I have 10 days left until the exodus so until that day I plan on working hard and playing harder, enjoying the city as best I can. More on this theme to come shortly…stay tuned.