All packed and about to check out of our apartment.  It's been a great place to stay--conveniently located close to the subway and major avenue with lots of taxis, and close to the botanical gardens.  And we've loved awakening to the sunshine on the buildings of BsAs.

Spent our last day visiting some places we hadn't been to this time.  So, just played tourist--Plaza Mayo, Casa Rosada, Cafe Tortoni, etc.  In the afternoon we went to El Arranque, wonderful old matinee milonga where both danced 3 hours.  Then we returned to the apartment, had a quick dinner, and grabbed a taxi to return to Canning for a lesson with Julio and Corina then milonga there till 2:30.  We were both dragging so left before the dance performance.  Collapsed and slept for a few short hours then up to pack and straighten up.  We'll check out, leave our luggage here, then go out for a coffee before going to the airport.  We fly to Santiago then Houston then home.  Leave here at 3:30 p.m. today, arrive 11 a.m. tomorrow.

Goodbye, Buenos Aires!!  Many thanks to all the wonderful people who made us feel so welcome, especially our friend Julio Corazza!

 

Tuesday morning

Our last full day in Buenos Aires.  Haven't decided what to do but have another beautiful day to fill!  We do have plans for the evening--a late afternoon milonga then a different evening milonga.  Yesterday we spent the afternoon in San Telmo, went back to the Mercado, had coffee at Dorrego Square, and a late lunch at a parilla.  It was a beautiful sunny day so great fun just walking around the cobblestoned streets and visiting little shops.  In the evening, we returned to the beautiful Grisel for a lesson with Gloria and Eduardo then a milonga.  Only stayed till midnight.  I think we're ready to make a transition back to Cleveland time though we may stay out pretty late tonight. Tomorrow we pack in the morning then leave for the airport at noon.

Sunday folk festival

Lovely day at the Feria de Matedoros, a folklore fair in the the neighborhood of the slaughterhouses, the very western section of the city.  It had music, dancing, booths with crafts and food, and gaucho skills.  The music and dancing were beautiful great fun--tango, chacarera, chame', and zamba.  We danced a little tango, Chuck did chacarera with a local, and I danced a chame' with Julio.  Perhaps the most fascinating and compelling was the horse dancing rings.  The rider rides at breakneck speed down the road and, while moving at that speed, tried to put a pencil like stylus through a ring, which is about one inch in diameter, hanging from a strap.  There are two rings about 12 feet from each other and the object is to get both.  Just amazing to watch.