Buenos Aires 1930

Eighty Three years have past since Argentina looked like depicted in the video at the bottom of the post - rich, elaborate, romantic, grand - 2 Million inhabitants.

Although somewhat faded, vestiges of her former glory remain. One walks through the avenues, city streets and parks today, and almost all the historic buildings, monuments, fountains and parks are still around. No more horse and carriages (except near the zoo), no more curb side milk distribution fresh from the cows. Horse racing, although still an almost daily event, has lost popularity to soccer and polo. But the imposing race course grand stand is still there.

 

'Por una Cabeza' - 'By a Head' - Carlos Gardel

Carlos Gardel in the movie Tango Bar, where he sings about losing his entire fortune betting on a horse, which of course loses 'by a head'.

 

Taking a dip in the Rio Plata, a vast shallow muddy body of water, is not longer recommended - modern day pollution has taken its toll.

Elegance still prevails, literature and music are the life breath of the Argentines, and politics are still astonishingly volatile. Now there are 13 Million inhabitants.

Back to the 'old lady' again in a couple of weeks. And this time around, I will be present during the 'Dia de Tradicion' in San Antonio de Areco, an hour bus ride away from the Metropolis. The largest traditional gaucho festival in the Pampas of Argentina takes place on the first weekend of November. Many of the dances shown in this video, such as the Chacarera and Chamame, are still popular - more so than the iconic tango of the City of Buenos Aires.

And here it is....1930 travel log by Metro Goldwyn Mayer

 

 

Romantic Buenos Aires 1930

 

 

 

Tango in Crofton with Luciano Brigante y Alejandra Orozco

Luciano y Alejandra dancing a Valse and a Tango....

Intensive Tango workshops right here on Vancouver Island. Maestro Luciano, a native of Buenos Aires, and his partner Alejandra, citizens of Mexico, gave twelve lessons on Vancouver Island. Luciano is a 'sub-campeon', meaning: second place in the World Championship of Tango in 2004, held in Buenos Aires August every year.
Of course, a Milonga with a Special Performance of the teachers, is a fitting finale to studying and studying and studying more. On 8th September, right here in little Crofton (a small village and ferry stop to Saltspring Island) dancers from Vancouver Island congregated for the last work shop and then danced the evening away...yes, evening, being Canucks, the idea of dancing until the small hours of the morning is somewhat strange to us. By ten at night the Islanders drifted back to their abodes.


 

Tango Workshop in Nanaimo and Doggieworkshop in Koksilah

Luciano Brigante, professional Tango teacher, born in Buenos Aires and living in Mexico City, demonstrating technique to a student. The weather Gods were friendly for this outdoor event in a sea side park in Nanaimo, Vancouver Island - sunshine, great view of the sea, temperatures 'just right'.
About thirty dancers from up and down Vancouver Island, as well as Saltspring Island,  learned and practiced for almost four hours on the concrete floor of the park's gazebo, nick-named 'Glorieta North' after a well known venue in Belgrano, Buenos Aires, where each Saturday Tango aficionados dance in their gazebo named Glorieta.

 

 

 

Look Ma, no hands. Leading the female partner with body language and a 'state of mind', versus heavy duty arm wrestling. Luciano's partner in teaching - and life - is Alejandra Orozco, a Mexican National.

A little socializing with a light dinner bridges the time between classes and the Milonga at the Globe Hotel, a historic building on Nanaimo's water front.

Alejandra Orozco

Oh, to be young and beautiful...

Another workshop - different teachers, different couples, different pupils, different venue in Koksila near Duncan, Vancouver Island.
Here is young Harry, rescued from death row in a dog rescue centre in New York, actively studying 'obedience and acceptable social behavior', which he obviously - despite being definitely cute - had no reason to learn in his earlier dog teenage years.

Look Ma - no hands. A successful moment, where surrounding distractions did not keep Harry from staying put.

The usual suspects, bipeds and quadrupeds - all in a row - concentrating on obedience lessons.

"I am not sure about this - paying attention towards my handler is really an inconvenience to my free range disposition, I'd rather bark at anything that moves and sink my little sharp canines into unsuspecting wild rabbits."

Well, maybe Harry rather studies how to Tango....