March 21 - Elisabeth's Birtday

Saturday March 21 was Elisabeth’s birthday! I am now younger again!!! :) Our day was quiet but we did celebrate for lunch with Georg and Antje at the Restaurant Munich. Yes – Munich – but I cannot reproduce how they pronounce it in Buenos Aires!! This restaurant has been in Buenos Aires for many years. Entering Munich is like walking into a bistro in Paris – in fact it reminded me of Balzar on the Rue des Ecoles in the 5th arrondisement in Pairs. Even the waiters are interchangeable! The difference – the absolute best steak I have EVER eaten. Their creamed spinach is also fabulous. The steak was a chateaubriand – cooked perfectly – red in the middle and juicy! All for less than $15 – yes BA is inexpensive. 442 out of 444 on the most expensive cities in the WORLD! I’ve got to find 443 and 444 – or maybe I do not want to know??? Check out the before and after pictures!!

Since it was Saturday we walked around the weekend craft market near the Recoleta Cemetery and then rested at home until the evening. We then went to the Café Tortoni for their Tango Show. Café Tortoni is a Buenos Aires institution – now a bit of a tourist attraction. Café Tortoni is to Buenos Aires what Les Deux Maggots and Café Flor are to Paris. Anyone and everyone in Argentine history and literary society made this their “home.” The reason it is so French is that it was established by an immigrant from France in 1858 who named it after his favorite café on the Boulevard des Italiens in Paris.

We had been to a Las Vegas style Tango Show in Buenos Aries in 2006 so this time we were looking for something a little more authentic. We found it. The room only held 60+ people and we were at a table in the second row from the stage in the middle – only three tables wide in the room. A Tango Show is somewhat of a misnomer. They include singing, music, and dancing. In fact, a whole show of nothing but Tango would probably drive me crazy. I love the mix. The singer was obviously someone known to the residents. Many locals were in the audience and sang along when prompted. I watched one young woman – lip synch every word of the songs. The singer, Carlos Rossi, was excellent. The band was incredible – especially the pianist and the bandoneón player. This instrument is from the concertina family and differs from the accordion.

We had a great day and evening!!!