My thoughts and emotions on leaving Europe are very mixed.
What an adventure the last 5 months have been. Many kilometers on planes, trains, buses, cars, electric scooter, and ferries.
It’s no small feat to remember leaving BsAs in late April.
We have traveled to Spain, Turkey, Greece, France, Andorra, Jordan and back to Spain.
Different cities with many types of lodgings and the vastness of the flavors of the foods eaten. The lamb, tomatoes, and eggplant in Turkey. The feta, fish, and yogurt in Greece. Beduin tea in Wadi Rum. The wines, croissants and breads in France and the Spanish omlettes, Iberaian ham, and tapas in Spain.
Each country has a unique blend of colors and flavors. Sometimes, an idiosyncrasy or two stands out.
We have danced tango in countries and cities, almost to many to list, but if I did it would make a very long list.
At these milongas, we have been welcomed and ignored. We have danced on most nights of the week, but I think Saturday is the most popular and the floors most crowded.
We have attended marathons, milongas, practicas, and a workshop camp.
From the first tanda at the Calliente Tango Festival, Antalya, Turkey to dancing the last night before leaving in Casa de Valencia, Barcelona, this experience has been insightful and a delightful time of exploration.
I still practice my Milonga habits I learned from my first Tango Momma, Christine, many years ago.[thank you momma!!!]
This is my standard practice that I apply to any milongas I go to.
When you arrive at the Milonga, put on your shoes, order your beverage, and then observe the floor and smile.
Then at the milongas the following questions of looking and listening arise.
How is that man embracing his partner? With respect and care?
Is he totally moving around on the floor without a concern for the surrounding dancers?
Is he listening to the music and leading?
Is he pushing her around, or are they equally moving together?
This is why, when we arrive at a milonga, Maximo and I sit out for a few tandas to get a feel for the crowd and the room.
Then we decide? Is the music what we want to dance to?
Disarli? Pugliese? Vargas? Miguel Calo?
Then we dance. We have gotten very comfortable dancing with each other but continue to try out new steps and remember older learned patterns. But we always have fun and enjoy laughing.
For me, tango is always a bit of drama, too, especially at the end of the tanda in which we usually end with a kiss.
After dancing in many spaces and places from very large ballroom floors to small bar rooms, in my observation, it’s the place, the people, and the music that make a successful friendly event.
I have wonderful memories of many embraces, cities, and their spaces, I truly can not say which was the best, but I can say this.
We will keep on dancing!!!
We will keep on traveling.
We will continue this journey of living and Tango.
These are the experiences that make us happy, enriching our lives and touching other lives. It’s always the people.
So yes, I will miss Europe and all it offers, the antiquities and culture but other adventures await us here in the USA.
Miami, maybe a road trip or two. Atlanta, Chicago?
And we return to Europe next year!!! Mashallah!!!
Abrazo y Besitos, Ruth
