Searching for the Heartbeat of Buenos Aires

They always warn you to be very careful were you go and to be especially careful with your camera.

A few days ago (I hesitated to say anything); pick-pockets relieved me of about $160 cash and one credit card).  They were “very compassionate though”, and return my wallet to my pocket (minus the cash and card).

I was able to cancel the card within an hour, but not before they made four transactions for over $200 (Visa has since voided the transactions and restored the cash).

Since that incident I’ve purchased a small backpack to keep camera my out of the sight of would be thieves and I guard my remaining credit card with extra precaution.

In an effort to experience the Buenos Aires, I found myself in the shopping district of Puerto Madero; setting at a bar conversing (as best I could in my “Swahili-like” Spanish) with a documentary filmmaker named Sebastian.  We exchanged emails, he advised me of where to go in Argentina and even invited me to stay sometime at his home with him and his girl-friend (at least that’s what I heard!).

During the course of the conversation, he recommended that I visit San Telmo in an effort to get a taste of Argentina’s legendary night life.      The music was great, but other a little impromptu dancing in the street there were no rollicking dance halls.  I left at 3:00 AM with the music still going and feeling as if I was yet to experience the “heartbeat” of Buenos Aires.

One final note of explanation regarding the Pink House is generally regarded to be the executive mansion although it is not and the current president, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner is seldom there.