Welcome to Tangopolis
Buenos Aires and Beyond
9 days – November 6-14 2010
Astor Piazzolla’s song writing sidekick and tango poet par excellence Horacio Ferrer has called Buenos Aires ‘el tangopolis’. The Argentinian capital lives and breathes tango, from the taxis radios, to the way people walk and talk, to the old streetlamps and cobbled streets of San Telmo and Monserrat.
Tango came to prominence in Buenos Aires at the beginning of the 20th century, when the beef exporting economy was booming and the Creole middle-classes were finding their cultural identity. As French architects were flown in to give the expanding city its grand parks and châteaux, so the first orchestras were catching steamers to Paris to show off the new sound. To understand Buenos Aires and its uniquely Latino-European feel, you have to understand tango.
On a tour of this tangopolis, with our Songlines Travel Leader, you will see the diversity: a live orquesta típica at the Torquato Tasso, with virtuoso players performing classic and contemporary tango; at the neighbourhood milongas you will see young and old dancers take to the floor and compete for attention; walking through La Boca, Palermo Viejo and El Bajo you will trace the footsteps of tango’s ghosts and legends.
Tango’s origins were on the edge of the city, where country meets city. Out in San Antonio de Areco – the national capital of gaucho culture – you will hear the indigenous folk music that informed the early tangos.
All Songlines Music Travellers will receive an information sheet about the local music plus recommended recordings and DVDs.
Buenos Aires Itinerary
Day 1 Sat
Some flights from the UK won’t arrive until early Sunday morning, but those who arrive Saturday evening will meet our Songlines Travel Leader and get a first taste of the city.
Day 2 Sun
The morning is left free for you to either have a lie-in or to take a stroll along the streets of the city. In the afternoon we have arranged an orientation tour to show you what is where in the capital. After dinner we start delving into the music of Buenos Aires.
Day 3 Mon
A day in Buenos Aires gives us a chance to mix some sightseeing with an in-depth look at the music of the city. Sightseeing will certainly include a visit to the cemeteries of the capital – the architectural gems which are the last resting places of some of the rich and famous are quite amazing. In the afternoons and evenings we’ll catch some of the best tango events in the city.
Day 4 Tues
Today we leave the city behind and drive out across the plains – the pampas – that stretch for miles to a distant horizon. Our destination is San Antonio de Areco, regarded as the home of Argentinian folk music and home to all things connected to the gaucho life. It is only a short drive to San Antonio but we are now in a world very different to the bustle and sophistication of Buenos Aires. After checking into our accommodation we will visit the Gaucho Museum to learn about this traditional way of life, still a part of the country’s musical heritage.
Day 5 Wed
A free day to explore San Antonio. We hope to coincide our visit with the Día del Tradicíon, a festival celebrating all things gaucho. Barbecues, horse-riding events and local music will all contribute to an unforgettable day. (Please note that we are still awaiting the dates of the Día del Tradición so the precise itinerary may be subject to change).
Day 6 Thurs
Today we drive back across the pampas to the bustle of Buenos Aires. Checking in again to our hotel we head out for dinner and then resume our visits to the tango clubs of the city.
Days 7 & 8 Fri-Sat
A weekend in BA. Friday and Saturday are left free for you to explore the city at our pace, but with some full-on tango activity during the day and the evening.
Day 9 Sun
After breakfast, our tour draws to a close. If your flight is not until the evening, today offers the chance to visit the Tigre Delta, with its waterside restaurants a favourite Sunday day out for ‘porteno’ families, before heading for the airport.
Pricing Details
Tour price (excl. flights) £1,045 per person
For information and reservations, call Songlines Music Travel on 020 8505 2582
