Beef and Tango

Clown in San Telmo

Let's face it. Most of us are not cool enough for Buenos Aires. We don't have fashionable scarves, our jeans do not taper like sno-cones, our monochromatic hair styles are still based on a Friends character, and like Dan, you walk around scaring children with a scraggly, frightening beard.

Not only are they fashionable, they've got gusto. The Italian influence mixed with the Latino flavor has generated a physically beautiful population with pumped-up personalities. I don't know what it is like when they watch Rocky down here, but I wouldn't want to be standing on the curb when the theater empties. They talk loud and fast and the gesticulate wildly. They don't think they're the best city in world, the know it.

There is much to do it Buenos Aires, but most of it comes down to eating beef. The best beef in the world arguably comes from Argentina, and it comes in large quantities. The Argentinians have found a way to cook it to a level of tender, peppery perfection that many mortals never realized was possible. Dan, scoffing at his internal herbivore, ate filet mignon, mashed potatoes and a glass of the house Malbec three days in a row. For those financially inclined, the cost per meal could be compared to three Chipotle soft tacos and an iced tea.

Art, dancing, shouting, clapping... this happens everywhere in Buenos Aires. In the subway cars, performers will shout and sing until half the car is clapping and stomping their feet until a climactic back-slapping crescendo. When the hat goes around, all hands dig for change and shake hands with the performer, wishing him luck with the next car.

Dan stayed in a fun-loving youth hostel in Palermo, the arty-hipster neighborhood of Buenos Aires. From there, he haunted the trendy coffee shops and restaurants with WiFi access. While in Argentina, he produced a fun website for ADOBE, promoting an upcoming conference called ADIM@MAX.

Next adventures: Iguazu Falls!

Ciao for now!
Love
Dan(berly)

jen wood. posted on 2008-08-16 at 8:42 am

hello dan! (and hi, kim, i'm jen! what is the proper way to introduce yourself in a comment?) i was looking around the internet - as i haven't done for quite some time - and wrote a message to chris taylor demanding baby photos when i saw dan's face. as it turns out, nicole was visiting me a few weeks ago (i currently live in denver with someone i love and three dogs, by the way) and joining nicole was tom, her boyfriend, and a nice guy named julian who reminded me exactly of dan in many ways. (you know when you can pick up on a little something before you even get to know someone?) anyway, when julian told me he was about to embark on a however-many-months long adventure to thailand, i couldn't believe it. and so here i am. i must say that your stories are sweet, fascinating, and well-written (you know how i appreciate that) and as such, i've been absolutely glued to the computer screen. i'm so glad you are both enjoying life with each other and i hope you don't mind if i keep reading! take care. sincerely, jen wood.

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nona and poppi/grandmaand grandpa posted on 2008-08-10 at 2:24 pm

We finished looking at all of the pictures and their explanations and we came to the conclusion that you have to be young to be doing all these things,because we're exausted just being here looking at all of this!!...enjoy your trip to Idaho and Kim...love nona and poppi

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nona and poppi posted on 2008-08-10 at 2:14 pm

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mo - the other beard posted on 2008-08-10 at 7:12 am

yea mon!!! have fun and buen proveche

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Lisa Glattman posted on 2008-08-09 at 3:08 pm

Daniel - I was there two years ago and you're right - it is an amazing place! However, you forgot to mention the street kids...Wait until you see the falls - it will take your breath away - one of the most incredible things I have ever seen. Be safe. Love and miss you.

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