Buenos Aires: Tango

BA is tango city. Second night in we all went and saw a tango show in the basement of a famous tango café, Café Tortoni. Not knowing what to expect, it started setting the scene of a bar with ladies of the night and charismatic men. Dancing, singing and music followed and it was brilliant. Especially the drummers, with their dark long hair and Argentinean good looks!

Afterwards we went to another steak restaurant with live tango dancing and again the biggest pile of meat described as a portion for one I've ever seen - Ollie had meat sweats. I ate the free bread.

So time to burn off the steaks we headed for tango lessons. Ollie having done salsa thought he was a natural, all wiggly hips - shame tango is about keeping clean lines. I got made redundant as Ollie's partner, as he said I wouldn't stop leading, I think he wanted a chance to dance with all the other women (who tried to avoid Ollie in the non air con room - sweaty!). The dance teacher, a 6ft dark skinned long haired lothario, grabbed me and told me to 'dance'. I was held so strongly if I wanted to lead I had no chance, I didn't stand on his feet and felt like Mrs Tango, after he left me with a sultry 'muy bien', mmm, - ollie scowled.

However looking back at the photos I've got the grace of Charlie Chaplin in a dress - my tango dreams are crushed.