#pablo cassulo

I went to Buenos Aires this weekend to renew my visa and had a wonderful time. This was my fourth time in this city but the first time I decided to take pictures! The first night we went to this wonderful Thai place, Phuket, where Elizabeth and I pretty much ate the largest portions of Pad Thai and Panang curry in under 6-7 minutes. It's been a while since we had spices of any kind since the Uruguayan palate is not equipped to handle anything picante.

Of course I forgot my camera in La Catedral, my ABSOLUTE favorite place in Baires. La Catedral is one of the most famous places to dance and watch tango. The whole night is a mix of milonga, classes, shows and bands. The venue is a large warehouse with incredibly high ceilings and independent art covering almost every surface of the walls. The tables are each lit by a single candle and of the three hundred chairs, I'm pretty sure that no two match. The milieu is anything but sumptuous and that feeling comes across as the night goes on and you begin to feel engulfed by the warmth of the tango that leads you to a trance-like state wondering how anything so marvelous could exist and even further, how you came across such a wondrous place. 

The biggest honor of the night was that I was asked to dance tango...three times! I danced at La Catedral!!!!! I can sleep soundly and smile wildly all week replaying my steps over and over. So lovely.

Of course I went to my favorite barrio, Palermo, and people watched, drank horchata at La fabrica del taco and shopped the feria. I also finally bought a mate. I resisted for almost eight months because drinking mate is so Uruguayan that I never thought I was worthy enough to do it. Argentines drink mate but for Uruguayans the mate is an extension of the body. Furthermore, there is an onda or an energy that accompanies the act of drinking and sharing a mate. One cannot drink mate unless he or she is absolutely in a state of a complete tranquility that almost borderlines boredom. Drama is the antithesis of mate. That said, I am finally ready to partake. Finally.

On Sunday, we ended the trip with a walk through the feria in San Telmo. Two years later and my favorite artist, Pablo Cassulo, was still there selling his drawings. Pablo is fantastic and only draws what he loves: fish, cars and women. Smart man, very smart man.