As the sun comes out...so do the perverts!

FINALLY we are having glorious sunshine here in BA!  The temperature is still nowhere near the tropical climes I was hoping for, but I can at least now leave my hoodie at home.  The unfortunate downside of the sun luring masses of Argentinans into the streets is that my daily harrassment quota from men has increased ten-fold.  It's the one time I'm glad my Spanish is limited, as I would probably rather not know what the assorted taxi drivers/street cleaners/random passers-by are shouting at me.  'Amor' I can work out.  'Guappa' I have been reliably informed is complementary.  I was somewhat confused as to why many men have been shouting 'Arriba' at me.  Quizzing my Spanish teacher in class this morning, she was momentarily perplexed, before exclaimaing, "ah, rubia, si.  No es 'arriba' - rubia'.  'Rubia' means blonde - as in 'to have blonde hair' rather than the more derogatory UK usage of 'blonde' as a noun (as per my Dad when I have locked my car keys inside the car.  Again.)  So men have literally been shouting "you have blonde hair" at me in the street.  Their imagination knows no bounds!

Despite being conservatively dressed (my total packing fail with regards the weather means I have had to layer up my clothes, and consequently almost every item I own is now in the laundrette...I had to make do with leggings and a long top) my walk to school this morning was particularly fraught with catcalls, wolfwhistles (and any other animal alliterations you can think of).  One particularly fat and greasy hombre (resplendent with handlebar moustache...I swear all he was missing was the sombrero!) actually turned back to continue our ´conversation´.  In my haste to cross to the other side of the road, I (unknowling) stood on the back of my own sandal, then as I moved to swerve him, I ripped out the toe post of the left shoe.  Already late, and halfway there, I had to continue my journey in a bizarre half limp/half shuffle.  On the plus side, walking in this manner reduced the number of obscene (or rather blatantly obvious) comments shouted at me by at least half!

My Spanish is coming along ok, and I have signed up for another week of lessons, to consolidate this week's efforts.  Being in school all day, however, means I have no cultural news to report.  In alcohol news...English Emma (all about the alliterations today!) and I went for a vino tinto in BA's poshest cocktail bar on Monday, which was most enjoyable.  The experience was tarnished only by the small joke played on us by the staff.  Without a phone, I am relying on the old school method of arranging plans, namely 'I´ll be in this place, at this time'.  The place was 'Milion', the time was 8pm.  I was early, and as I went to the bar, I mentioned to the doorman that 'una amiga inglesa' was on her way.  I then set up position at the bar, ordered a bottle of malbec, and waited.  When Emma arrived at 8:05pm, she also said to the doorman she was waiting for 'una amiga inglesa y rubia'...but was shown to the opposite end of the darkly lit bar.  Much to the hilarity of the bartender, it was 45 minutes, 3/4 of a bottle of wine, and a trip to the toilet later that I passed the table where Emma was sat alone, before we both realised neither of us had been stood up.  Brilliant.

Hasta luega amigos.