Argentina
November 6-29, 2009
November 26: Gaucho Ranch and Tango Show: Dinner and a Tango Show
After the hot day at the estancia, we were pretty tired and considered trying to change the reservation for the tango show that evening. However, try as we might, we could not figure out how to place a call on Christine's cell phone. Talk about feeling like a bunch of luddites! It turned out that the plan had expired, which made us feel a bit better!
So we went to the tango show after all and it was amazing. Christine babysat the kids for us so we got to enjoy an amazing dinner followed by a tango show. A driver chauffeured us to the restaurant where we were brought up several floors (the dining areas became fancier with each floor!). The server with a bemused grin on his face served us our pepsis with as much flair as a vintage bottle of his finest.
After the dinner we were ushered to the building next door for the show... El Viejo Almacen: "Located in the historic district of San Telmo, El Viejo Almacen was there before the tango was born. Time passed, the tango became popular, the city was modernized, but the name of El Viejo Almacen transcended the world." (http://www.viejo-almacen.com.ar/)
El Viejo Almacen was founded in 1969 by Edmundo Rivero who wished to have a place where the values of the tango were kept intact. The most applauded tango show worldwide relives the old times of the tango and takes us back to the times of "malevos" and "arrabales" in the soil where the tango set its first roots… Buenos Aires.
Complete with a 6 part orchestra, 4 dancing couples, a female and male vocalist, a band doing more traditional music, and what we're sure was the oldest female tango dancer in the world, the show was absolutely amazing and far surpassed what we had expected of a tango show.
After the show Fernando was waiting to bring us back... I can't remember the last time we were out past midnight! Thanks again Christine for an amazing day!
We leave the kids to have dinner with Auntie Christine who is babysitting tonight.
A picture on the wall shows "El Viejo Almacen" across the street where the dance show will be.
To start... empanadas with chimichurri and salsa...
... and a plate of cold cuts.
The main courses.
Dessert.
The tiny cup and large spoon reminded us of a similar moment in Iceland,
so Rubby posed with the same puzzling expression he had back then.
[see the icelandic photo]
Some of the sitting spots have a less than ideal view of the stage!
The dancing begins with the men.
Then the ladies join in.
You get a whole new appreciation for the art of the tango when you watch one of these shows.
These blue and white costumes look very Argentine.
The hot and steamy portion starts now... ;-)
With some of the kicks and twirls we half expected someone in the audience to get a foot in the face.
There was also a music group performing with traditional instruments from the Andes.
Back to the tango.
There were also some vocalists in the show.
The orchestra.
One of our favourite parts of this show was the accordian player who seemed to feel every note with his entire body.
His expressions were priceless.
Owww.
A male vocalist who also played the accordian.
More legs a-flying!
Huge applause for the ancient playboy bunny tango dancer... that was... um... interesting to watch.
The orchestra takes a bow.
The dancers and singers take a bow.
- the end of this day -
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