Random Thoughts

Wednesday night I walked over to Palermo Hollywood for supper. I have managed to get a place to sit at decent restaurants because I am going out at the unfashionably early hour of 10PM. By 11PM there are long lines for almost every restaurant. Unfortunately it’s not all that much fun to go to a nice place to eat by yourself. One of my restaurant criteria is – is there enough light for me to read my book? Right now I am reading Absurdistan by Gary Shteynyngart and enjoying it immensely.

On my way home, there were incredible fireworks over the Rio Plata. I have no idea what was going on but - if you know those big chrysanthemum golden fireworks - there were maybe 50 in the air at one time. I didn’t bring my camera so I went home and got it and of course they stopped as soon as I got back to a place where I could see them. There were lots of other remarkable sights that night with no camera but perhaps that’s good.


A Funny Story – I swear it’s true.

On Monday, I was sitting at La Biela, a beautiful outdoor café in Recoleta. Behind me and to the right were seated a group of the most exquisite Argentines. They all had perfect hair, teeth, clothes. The men were in their forties or fifties and the women looked ten to twenty years younger or had had enough quality work that they appeared so. Many people walking by in front of La Biela stopped to point and look at them or to wave to them. They were obviously some of Buenos Aires beautiful people. They were TV perfection itself.

I, however do not do well in the heat and humidity – I get red faced and sweaty – I didn’t feel worthy of being in their presence. However, since I didn’t have Kelly, I had to take up the slack by snorkel-necking and making up scenarios for them – I was trying to decide if they were TV personalities from the news or an Argentine soap opera or perhaps famous sports figures; race car drivers or soccer stars from the last several decades. After a while I went back to Absurdistan and drifted off.

Then I felt a tap on my shoulder. One of the men from the table of beautiful people had come up to me and asked in English, “Excuse me – Your name is Kris Kristofferson?” With all the savoir faire I could muster I said, “No...Kevin”. He said “I’m sorry” and went back to his table. Over the next twenty minutes or so I could feel them staring at me. They finally left and all smiled and said goodbye as they went past. They stopped at the corner and looked back, shaking their heads, clearly not believing me.

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One of the nice things about moving to the apartment close to the hospital is that I no longer have to take cabs - I can walk. Taking cabs all the time was making me a nervous wreck. I really looked forward to riding in the Subte – the BA subway. It’s a far more civilized way to travel. I do have to say though that BA cabbies are the most remarkable drivers. You are never more than a micron away from other vehicles on all sides regardless of the speed. I am always expecting an imminent crash but it hasn't happened. The whole time I have been here I haven't seen a single fender bender.

Chau