This was such a special moment that I have to write about this, Carlos of Biker Street Tours had sent us a link to some great eating places, we were tired so we decided on the closest to our hotel. We walked to San Telmo district only 5 minute walk, his recommendation was closed, we hadn't realised it was only a lunch place. Our nose lead us to an entrance way and what attracted us was the growing wall, it was downstairs, we looked at each other and said why not. Downstairs it opened into and wonderful setting. A stage with an intimate setting, little tables all set up, so we decided yes show & dinner, I hadn't been keen to experience the big big performances so this seemed just right.  

For dinner we chose Empanades to start, steak and then desert. Food seemed secondary, an interruption as the Tango performance captivated us both. 

This history of Tango (Dance of the Heart), in the 1800s millions of European immigrants arrived in two ports, Montevideo, Urguay & Buenos Aires, Argentina. Most of them were Italian & Spanish, and the vast majority were single young men looking to make their fortunes in America. The brought their music, the sweet sounds of the violin, the driving flamenco guitar, the strange mournful wail of the bandoneon and their dances; the waltz, the mazurka, the polka and mixed them with the Argentine folk music and dance, with the Cuban habanera, with the African candombe rhythms from the freed slaves' street parties. With very few woman around, many of these young men found themselves looking for excitement in the bordello districts. The tango dance arose in these seedy waterfront areas from this turbulent mix, becoming a "mating dance" between barmaids and their customers in shady nightclubs. 

 Shunned by the upper and middle classes in Argentina, it became a sleazy fixture of urban nightlife in Buenos Aires. Young men in neighborhood gangs would practice the steps with each other in order to become skilled enough to win the attentions of a woman. A beginner would often dance the followers part for 6 months to a year before being shown how to lead - Fascinating how this dance came about.

Rod & I walked back to our hotel on a high, this restaurant had only been open 3 weeks and they had had a group cancellation that night - but the show must go one so we were treated to a private show - a beautiful memory for us and we felt very lucky.