Posts tagged Argentina
Tackling the Tango in Argentina
So… you think you can dance? Well try the Argentinian tango and let me know how that goes.
We took a quick bus ride with our group of fellow GAP Adventurers to our big Tango dance class. I have enjoyed dancing with my friends before (in more of a free-form, embarrassing way) so to go to an official class was a wholly new experience for me.
When Natalie and I arrived we were asked to be seated around the edge of the dance classroom. We shook hands with other fellow Tango classmates and waited for our teacher’s arrival.
After a few minutes, our confident, bilingual dance instructor strutted into the classroom. He simultaneously put me at ease and made me feel quite anxious.
“Tonight we will be learning the basic Tango dancing steps,” he told us. “Afterward, we will all watch a real Tango show so you can appreciate how incredible the dance truly is.”
We did a few warm up exercises (walking around the room, positioning our arms appropriately, awkwardly laughing at how foreign it felt to move so methodically) and got into the groove of things.
Men and women were split up as we were shown our gender specific steps and movements. From there we were mixed and prepped on how to do the full dance together. It was funny and embarrassing to attempt to move so gracefully with a complete stranger, but it made for a jovial atmosphere.
After about an hour of these movements, we dined on an incredible Argentinian meal and were then treated to a spectacular Tango performance. Lights. Colors. Singing. Incredibly coordinated dancing and fancy footwork. It was a real delight and a chance to truly appreciate how powerful and difficult the Tango can be.
This Is Where Rainbows Are Made
Have you ever wondered where the Lucky Charms leprechauns live?
Well Casey and I found them today. Right at the intersection of Paraguay, Argentina and Brazil.
After seeing over 14 rainbows in one sighting of the massive Iguazú waterfalls, I am convinced that this is where those leprechauns call home. I wish someone had let me in on this secret when my eight-year-old self savored the rainbow marshmallow cereal, contemplating the whereabouts of these little men.
I can truly say that seeing Mother Nature shine in all her powerful splendor today through these roaring falls proved to be one of the most soul-shaking experiences I have had to date.
I first caught a glimpse of the beautiful expanse of water through a helicopter ride from the Argentinian side. I love heights and had never ridden in a chopper before, so I guess you could say this was a big moment for me. When I hopped in the co-pilot seat with my touristy HD cam in hand, I gave my pilot an excited pat on the shoulder “hello.” Apparently this enthusiasm did not go over too well because he sneered at me with disgust and did not speak the entire flight. Maybe the shoulder pat is more offensive in this country than America. Who knows.
So up, up, and away we went, and my eyes poured over the sea of lush greenery. About five minutes after take-off, I spotted the magnificent falls. If you’ve seen Avatar and remember those floating Hallelujah Mountains with the waterfalls, that’s about what this felt like… minus the floating part.
Then we took a high-speed boat ride up to the base of the Falls and we came face-to-face with the immense beauty. We were speechless. We had never seen anything like it. As we ended the day on a walking tour through the vistas, I could have sworn I saw a short green figure dart away into the forrest out of the corner of my eye. That’s when I knew that experiencing this natural wonder will forever be more valuable to me than 14 pots of gold at the end of rainbows.
Dancing In Buenos Aires
Okay, there’s nothing as stressful as running across the street — when it’s eighteen lanes wide. You guessed it! During my South American stay, I have been chilling near the Obelisk of Buenos Aires on the busy Avenida 9 de julio, meeting a slew of crazy characters. I actually walked down the street the other day and ran into a tango dancer who taught me some sick dance moves. Victory!
I love B.A. (because it is, indeed, B.A.). When you come to check out this city, stop by La Boca. That’s where you’ll get your paintings, portraits, and tango memorabilia. And everything has the class of a Parisian shop with the prices you’ll learn to love in South America. Again, I went crazy and filled my suitcase with things — much to the dismay of all my clothes that got left behind (or their delight? Eternal vacation does sound nice…).
But the real highlight of my South American adventure was the Galapagos! I have been in classes with a suave Senorita who has told me all about the breath-taking scenery that these enchanted islands capture. (So trust me when I say that I understand how magical this place is…) Being there in person is unreal. In the first five minutes, we saw blue-footed boobies flying above a sea lion lounging on a bench. (All the while red crabs are scuttling about your feet).
Okay, not to mention we were hooked me up with an amazing boat. All fifteen of my ‘crewmates’ are enjoying the sun, surf, and snorkeling. (Just the other day I came face-to-face with a sea lion and fin-to-floor with a white-tipped reef shark! Eep!) If being a marine biologist means playing with animals in the Galapagos for the rest of my life, sign me up! Take care dudes! Catch ya soon.
