It usually is pretty hot at this time of year, but this week has felt hotter than usual. So much so that nobody has felt much like going out.

Last night I had planned to go with Venetia and Lina to the rooftop bar of a posh hotel near here, but it was just too darn hot to get dressed! I stayed home and cranked up the air conditioning instead. Too hot even to sit on the balcony.

When I got up this morning at 7 am, it was already 26 degrees, and it’s supposed to go up to 34 by this afternoon.

The plan is in place for our usual New Year’s Eve celebrations tomorrow — picnic in Puerto Madero down by the river. There may be fewer people there because of the rise in Covid numbers, but it is outdoors after all and most people here have been vaccinated at least twice, some with boosters. So I think we will go ahead with it. I hope so, as it’s one of the traditional Buenos Aires activities I always enjoy.

My friend Lina and I have taken this week away from tango, again because of the numbers. But I don’t think we’ll extend that to next week. We are both double-vaccinated. As of January 1, we will have to present our Covid Pass to get into the milongas — so far I haven’t been able to get it to work on my phone! Today I’m going to go up to the vaccination centre and see if they can help me, or give me an alternative way to show the pass.

What a world!