Hola, everyone! Tonight, instead of a blog post–because I don’t have the mental fortitude to craft an engaging narrative (how’s THAT for an excuse)–I’m going to do my first few days in Buenos Aires by the numbers.
Electronic items I’ve fried: 2
Electronic items I fried within an hour of arrival: 1
New phones purchased: 2
Phones purchased because I fried the one from the States: 1
Cell phones I can’t figure out: 1
Times used my new cell phone: 0 (see above)
Taxis taken: 1
Hours spent walking the city: 15+
Hours spent on the subte (subway): 2
Hours spent on the bus: .25
Hours spent lost: 4
Hours spent trying not to look lost: 4
Performances attended of El Fantasma de la Opera: 2
Days passed between performances: 2
Times I plan to see it again: at least 1
Cost of ticket: 90 pesos ($23.50)
Theater ushers that could pass for male models: 6
Times I mispronounced “Pringles” in Spanish: 4
Times I’ve tried to order Pringles: 1
Minutes spent supressing giggles because Pringles are pronounced “Pring-lays” in Spanish: 5
Meals cooked in apartment kitchen: 2
Scrambled eggs: 1
Pasta: 1
Failed pasta dishes: 1
Bags of dulce de leche cookies consumed because I can’t cook: 5
Pears consumed because they don’t require cooking: 4
Rolls dipped in olive oil consumed as a last resort: 4
Times I’ve considered ordering pizza from the corner place: 5
Times I’ve been scared away by people in restaurant who will overhear my Spanish: 5
Empanadas eaten: 2
Empanadas enjoyed : 0 (too doughy)
Minutes spent building the courage to order empanadas in Spanish: 15
Pats on the back for remembering to pronounce “pollo” with an Argentine accent: 1
Restaurants I’ve visited: 1
Restaurants I’ve avoided because they look terrifying: countless
Machismo male comments on the street: 500+
Rude machismo male comments: 1
Times I’ve avoided looking anywhere near men to avoid encouraging: 498
Times I slipped up: 1
Times followed by an encouraged Argentine man: 1
Times shut down said Argentine man: 1
Moments I’ve felt unsafe in the city: 0
Moments I’ve felt unsafe walking alone after dark: 0
Cheek kisses required upon meeting someone new: 1
Strangers I’ve cheek-kissed: 4
Group size that requires you kiss every person upon entry: 10
Viewings of Evita: 1
Hours spent singing “Watch out, Buenos Aires” as I walk around: 2
Walks past La Casa Rosada: 15
Times I’ve loved walking past La Casa Rosada: 15
Pathetic pictures taken 200+
Great pictures taken: 0
New cameras purchased: 1
Hours spent learning to use new camera: 0
Visits to tango dance clubs: 0
Visits to tango dance clubs come Friday: 1
Minutes spent in a panic at being asked to dance at tango dance club: 100
Moments spent thinking about how much I love Buenos Aires: 1000000
