Reactionary

Have you ever heard the saying that you know you’re in heaven when the engineers are German and the cooks Italian, and you know you’re in hell if the opposite is true. Just that kind of splitting of work has occured here in Argentina. Buenos Aires is a city crafted by many hands. The architecture is French, the basics of modern life were laid by the British, and the food was crafted by the Spanish first and the Italians later. It could be heaven.

The only thing that’s missing is the great weight of history steeped in the skin of every stone, every pebble, every molecule that forms the backbone of every great European city. I guess the subway, which I have yet to ride, could be more comprehensive. Both these two things can be overcome by its sheer affordability (though I know this is a changeable perk). But it’s beautiful, the people are fantastic without being cloying, there is a raging art scene, football is life, the ice cream is tops, and cafe culture (though I wish it could be more casual) is so civilized. I have yet to have a trancendant meal. I can’t stop eating sweets for lunch. Coffee could be better and I wish margarine was not in pastry as much as it is. I guess the French influence stopped at the Haussman-like boulevards and building facades. I’ll make a point of eating out thus coming week. The harsh pavement pounding days are over. I have seen A LOT, though, and have acquired that all-important feel of a place impossible to get any other way.

Here’s to the three-day weekend being over. Maybe more things will be open now. I have to find out about that spa.

Posted on October 12th, 2009 under Travels •  Print •  Email • RSS 2.0 feed • Leave a response, or trackback