I wonder how I am doing all this dancing? I am running on fumes. I slept 4 hours again last night and now I must get ready to go to La Boca. I have no idea what to wear. In the last few months I have lost 6 kilos. (About 15 lbs) Friends are teasing me that I am becoming an anorexic Argentinian. Not true, at least I hope not.
I dress in all black. A new skirt that is low cut and hugs my curves, a skimpy black top. OK, I know that I am not 25, but for my age I can still look "tan sexy" but elegant. I pick a pair of heels that are 10cm to wear. I head for La Boca with two friends from California - Anne and Ann.
We take the bus to Boca. This time we are on the 29. Usually I take the 152. Boca will be a mess today because of the big game. The 29 takes us around the back of Boca. We are able to avoid any traffic messes this way.
Boca is dead. There are more police than tourists. Boca has the reputation for craziness after a big game. The game between Boca and River is the playoffs. In the past the crowds went crazy and the police were unable to constrain them. This time they decided that everyone should just leave the area. It is weird to see no tourists, tables, or hear much music on a Sunday. It is like a weekday with all the police being the exception.
We make our way to Guillermo's studio. He is happy to see us, although he had no idea that he was going to be a poster boy today. Diego never called him. I tell him it was their idea not mine. He introduces me to a woman in his studio. She is from LA. She looks like she had a bad accident with a wallpaper store.
She tells us she is a fashion designer. I don't know what is scarier - this or her eyelashes. They look like spider legs hanging off of her eyes. Add bright pink lipstick and overdyed hair. Of course she sees herself as a world expert on tango. Goes with her fashion sense. Vogue magazine would probably not even accept her as a fashion don't.
Because Iam tired, I am having a difficult time keeping my mouth shut. She is trying to tell Jack that LA has a huge tango community. Oh please...why is it that every person in the U.S. tries to vie for "most tango dancers in the U.S" title? I tell her that San Francisco and NYC have the most dancers. She goes on this long jag about how LA has milongas every night that are packed...yeah with 40 people..(Sorry Kevin..)
I wander outside. I can't take listening to her anymore. I am so glad that I live here and not there. I am talking to Anne and Ann about the wallpaper fashion mistake. A waiter from one of the restaurants comes up to the metal grille against the building. I realize that he is trying to pose himself to look like he is dancing with me. I walk over and do a lean. The other mozos (waiters) cheer. They start snapping pictures of me with their cell phones. They are delighted that I am willing to pose.
Guillermo is ready. He comes out with Jack and Diego. I tell them I have already done my photo shoot with the mozos. They dont get it. We walk over to a building that has a narrow balcony. I almost die when I find out THIS is where Guillermo wants to dance with me.
It is funny, Diego the other day tells me to stop hiding my face. That I need to look at the camera. Guillermo is telling me not to look at the camera. MEN!! We dance slowly across this treacherous balcony. I am dying. Tourists are coming and snapping fotos. I must concentrate because the floor is this icky rubber and I hate being up so high on a narrow balcony. Ahhh the things one must do for stardom....
We are done. Wallpaper Woman is insisting that Guillermo now pose with her. I am always amazed at how women who are either beginners or not good dancers insist on posing in a leg wrap. I did this too when I was a beginner until I saw how bad it looks. This is a pose that demands excellent posture.
As we walk back to the studio, one of the mozos a handsome young guy stops me. He wants his picture taken with me. He asks me to do a leg wrap. As I start to wrap my leg, he starts giving me advice. I ask him if he dances, he says more or less. I tell him I dance too. He is surprised. The other mozos laugh at him and tell him he is an idiot. Poor guy. They all start snapping their cameras at me with him.
Diego comes out and he too takes a shot of us. My new friend thanks me and tells me we must dance sometime. Just as I am ready to go in and change my shoes, a German couple comes up and asks me if they can take my picture. They want me to do a leg wrap with the husband. I tell them sure. I do several poses. When they are done, they thank me.
The man extends his hand. I go to take it and instead he gives me 10 pesos. I am shocked. "No, please." I tell him. They smile and wave me off. They will not take it back. And so ends my 3 days of fame.
Hilarious as always...
Posted by: Alex | April 19, 2008 at 06:28 AM
Now you just need to get a book deal!
Posted by: Holly | March 29, 2006 at 02:18 PM