No Milongas!

Wow, it’s been a while since we went to a milonga. Not much traveling or tango either.

Why no milongas?

There’s a reason for this.

My health went downhill in September, and at the moment, I’m on the mend. Wahoo. The last few months were pretty intense, but now things are much better.

For the time being, the only issue is the weather. It’s about 45 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit. With the onset of winter, many colds and flu cases are circulating here in Barcelona. There’s the H3N2 virus, and now a stronger mutation called the K Subclade of Influenza A. The flu season began with a roar and continues to gather strength. In Barcelona, the rate of infections is rising, and in certain public places, wearing a mask is mandatory. Stay healthy wherever you live.

As a woman with a compromised immune system, my experience tells me that I can’t get a flu or cold, as it will take me three times longer to get over it. The whole process is quite intrusive, which is why I wear a mask on the bus, subway, and in any setting with more than two people present.

Deciding to live simply!

With our decision to live simply and solitarily, we will not mingle with others, we will not attend concerts or any events with large crowds for the next few months, and we definitely won’t go to any milongas until spring either.

Now is the time for quietness, as I strive to learn more meditative skills by sitting in silence and cultivating calmness. These are new skills for me, as I have always been accustomed to acting quickly in the past. My partner, Maximo, is fantastic at doing things slowly, and I am trying to follow his lead. But it’s frustrating for me. Slowly, I am learning this as it’s necessary for my healing.

The need for doing everything quickly no longer exists, as I am no longer working in my business. As a retired individual, my agenda is entirely under my control.

Learning to savor life

Learning to savor life is a fantastic present, as life is filled with many travails but is mostly awesome.

Since I retired from running an art gallery, I have enjoyed nurturing myself as an artist. After 40 years of watching others’ careers, I have chosen an artistic life for myself. It’s all about my sense of style and ethos in my writing and photography.

Since its inception five years ago, travelingtango.com has endeavored to present tango and our travels in a different light through my writings and photos. The objective is to explore different perspectives on tango and travel, while presenting the viewpoint of an older woman with a few quirks.

Discovering new things

In Barcelona, we are discovering a whole new world of non-tango experiences. As we live in a 2-bedroom apartment, we have space for projects. 
My initial question was, what would we do if we didn’t dance tango when it’s cold outside?

The answer was a bit easier than I expected, as I discovered that I had the patience to read again. I am reading in English and trying in Spanish. A bookstore is needed. This led us to investigate the bookstores that sell English-language books, new or used. The bookstore experience is different in Barcelona than when we lived in Buenos Aires. Newly published books are available in Barcelona, whereas in BsAs it was impossible to get a book newer than a couple of years old. The differences I imagine are in the governments and import rules.

It’s been a fun investigation so far, finding bookstores, as they are scattered all over the city. We found a great used book store, Hibernian, close by. After finishing a book, the store offers a trade-in option, issuing a store credit.

The other bookstore we discovered is dedicated to science fiction and fantasy. Yes, I am a big fan. As I was reading Robert Heinlein and Ursula Le Guin at the age of 12, I loved how they expanded my imagination.  The bookstore we found is called Libreria Gilgamesh. It’s stocked with books in English and Spanish, demonstrating the diversity of the genres.

Another skillset

Another skillset that we enjoy is cooking. The apartment we live in, unfortunately, has an electric cooktop, range, and microwave. The pots and pans work on the stovetop, but I’m having trouble getting the device to turn on.  Maximo has the magic touch. The oven is different; to use it, one must turn on the timer. I am learning centigrade too. 200 is about 400 Fahrenheit. 

We are learning to cook a variety of dishes from Indian, Thai, Vietnamese, and Spanish cuisines. 

When researching recipes, the search for ingredients can sometimes be challenging. I love the flavor of jasmine rice, as it’s a long-grain rice with a clean, sweet flavor that pairs well with a variety of dishes. I was finally located at an Asian market yesterday, after having casually looked since September.

Favorite pastimes

One of my favorite pastimes is shopping at the local farmers’ markets, which are scattered throughout the city. The produce is primarily organic, and the variety of cheeses is wide, but finding a good butcher has been a challenge.

After living in Argentina for five years, we have become accustomed to the quality of meat and prefer the taste of free-range, grass-fed meat. The meat in Spain is definitely not as good, but we continue to look for a butcher.

We’re also buying spices and sauces, and have mostly acquired the typical Himalayan sea salt, curry powder, cumin, basil, and oregano. We now need to purchase rosemary, tarragon, and herbs de francia. We have found a good fish sauce and sriracha, too. The local olive oil is delicious for cooking and salads.

These are just a couple of interests that we pursue instead of going to milongas. However, I will admit that it is very strange not to be dancing tango and socializing at Milongas.

Playing bandoneon

My partner, Maximo, has been playing the bandoneon for many years, and now he returns to practicing every day. Yes, we listen to a lot of tango music, especially some of the older orchestras and singers.

Nowadays, we have established a habit of walking daily in an unfamiliar section of town. It’s been a great way to explore the city and indulge in my favorite afternoon activity, having a beverage at a cafe.

Having fallen in love with this relaxed lifestyle, it’s essential to practice this skill by  sitting around and chatting for a few hours about life or any other topic you wish to discuss.

In these cafes, groups of grandmothers chat while the younger generation smokes their cigarettes and drinks their coffee. People are not inhibited about conversation, and this is evident in the volume of their talk.

Living in Barcelona

Living in Barcelona unhurriedly presents a learning curve for me, as my past culture was one of rushing and working. Here, work is secondary to family and socialization.  Life is so much more relaxed. Time and tracking time are irrelevant.

We are hopeful that in the spring, we will return to dancing at milingas and festivals in Europe. Now we practice dancing tango in our living room on wooden floors, and I am pleased to say I can still dance tango.

In the meantime

In the meantime, it is my hope that you, my reader, will enjoy my stories of the experiences we have residing in this remarkable place that we call home.

Wishing all a very happy healthy holiday season and the best for the upcoming New Year.

Stay strong, be greatful and may you find what makes you happy!

Abbraccio

Ruth y Maximo