coronavirus

by

One Bar Notable Is Pressing On

There’s been news over recent weeks about several of the famous Bares Notables and other well established eating places saying they won’t be able to reopen after lockdown ends.

But today a friend sent me a link to a new-look website for online sales of products from El Gato Negro. I’ve written about this lovely cafe before, and it is certainly one to include in my book. It has a reputation for its wonderful selection of teas, coffees, herbs and spices, which are not only used in the food they serve in the cafe, but also for sale.

Here’s a page from the new site, describing the items for sale — this is just the top of the page, and scrolling down I could see there are many more.

And the great thing is that during lockdown they are delivering, so I think I’ll be placing an order soon!

Milongas in Trouble Too

Obviously, given the nature of tango with its close embrace, milongas were among the first places to close, way back in March. It’s pretty much accepted that it may be a year before they open again, but there’s evidence that, as with the cafes and restaurants, some may not make it.

One of my favourites, Sueño Porteño, held a crowdfunding event a couple of weeks ago to raise funds to continue paying their employees. I was glad to contribute, and I hope their efforts pay off.

Someone else sent me a YouTube video suggesting that El Beso, a Buenos Aires fixture for a very long time, may also be closed for good. I watched the video, and although it was challenging to follow the rapid Spanish of the report, I never actually heard them say they were closed for good, just that they were closed because of Covid-19. I’m holding on to that, although it may be wishful thinking on my part.

Some people are suggesting that tango may come back in a different form, more smaller gatherings in smaller venues or even people’s homes. That’s better than having it die off altogether, of course, but the milongas are such an integral part of Buenos Aires culture that I can’t even imagine the city without them.

In this as with all things coronavirus related, I’m trying to be positive.

by

This Is Not Normal!

For some time I’ve been feeling uncomfortable, even annoyed, at hearing constant references to “the new normal”. It usually comes in the conversation somewhere around the time when people are lamenting the social distancing and not being able to hug their friends or grandchildren.

Well, I’m here to say: that was not the old normal and it’s not the new normal!

It’s where we are right now, and have to be until we beat this virus, but the lockdowns and the masks and the social distancing WILL end, and hopefully in the not-too-distant future.

I read an article on the Internet the other day in which the author expressed this in a way that helped me clarify my opinion. He pointed out that we have had global crises before. We’ve gone through two world wars, when people had to cover their windows with black cloths at night to foil the air raids; they spent hours of their lives in underground shelters; they suffered through food shortages and rationing.

But did they see these things as the “new normal”? No! They knew they wouldn’t have to live like this forever, and they would get back to living in a normal human way at some point.

Yes, I know there will be societal changes after the pandemic is over, because we have discovered we can actually operate without face-to-face business contacts, among other things. But we are human beings, used to being in contact with other human beings, and we won’t let that go easily.

Someone on Facebook posed the question, “What’s the first thing you’re going to do when this is over?” One young woman replied, “I’m going to hug people till my arms ache!” Amen, sister!

A couple of months ago, people started producing cute novelty masks made out of patterned materials. I never went along with that, because I believed that as soon as we began seeing the mask as a fashion item it would become acceptable, even normal. And it’s not.

Masks are not normal. Walking along the street two metres from a friend is not normal. Going to the movies with someone and having to leave an empty seat between you is not normal. Flying in a half full plane with unoccupied seats in every row is not normal.

If we accept these things as the “new normal”, no wonder we’re depressed!

This too shall pass, and so shall these temporary, abnormal habits.

by

I’m Feeling Down

I haven’t posted for a week simply because there has been nothing much going on to write about. But today, I feel more down than any time since all this started on March 20.

Today, two iconic Buenos Aires eating places announced they would not be able to open again after the quarantine is over. One is La Biela, the famous cafe around the corner from me that I’ve talked about a lot in these posts. I can’t imagine the area without it, especially in the summer when so many of us spend so much time on its legendary patio.

Then, to make matters worse, the government is mulling the possibility of going back to phase one of lockdown. We have reached 1,000 deaths, most of them in Greater Buenos Aires, and the numbers are going up. But people are already losing patience, and there were huge pot-banging demonstrations on the weekend. Everyone has been patient and, for Argentines, remarkably obedient up till now, but that is changing.

As you may know, I have been working on a new book about the Bares Notables of Buenos Aires. La Biela is one of the most famous of them, and now it is gone. I can’t finish the book for now, because I’ll have to wait and see how many of the others will reopen.

I fear for my beloved Buenos Aires.

by

Worth Reading If You’d Like to Know More about Argentina

This morning the BA Times featured a very informative interview with Alberto Fernandez, President of Argentina.

Let me say that if I had had a vote, I would not have voted for this man or his party. However, like many others, I have been very impressed by his handling of the Coronavirus situation here in Argentina. We all bitch and moan about quarantine, but there’s no arguing with the numbers — we are doing much better than many other countries, probably largely due to quarantine.

In this interview he talks about a wide range of things, and in a very conversational tone. He talks about other politicians in Argentina’s past, but interestingly not much about his Vice-President, Cristina Kirchner Fernandez (no relation), who was President for eight years before the last government of Mauricio Macri. Cristina brought corruption to new levels and she should be in jail. Instead, she is Vice-President, and I think it’s fair to say it was largely due to her supporters that this government won. If she wasn’t in the picture, I would feel even more positive about this government. Ah yes, Argentina!

It’s a long interview and you may not want to read it all, but skimming the headings will give you an idea which parts you might want to read. I hope many people outside Argentina will read it, because the rest of the world knows little or nothing about my adopted country. Here’s the link.

And if you have any questions, feel free to leave them in the comments and I’ll try to answer them in a future post.

 

by

Well This Is a Bummer

I’m not one to complain much about the physical isolation, being quite content to do some work, read a lot and chat with my friends on WhatsApp and Zoom. But this morning’s news was definitely not welcome.

As of this Monday, all those over 70 in Buenos Aires will require a permit to go out of their homes. The only exception is going to the doctor or to get medicine. Nothing else. No grocery shopping. No dog walking. Nothing.

The good news is that there are lots of mechanisms in place to help — volunteers doing shopping and walking dogs etc. And even under normal circumstances, in Buenos Aires you can get pretty much everything delivered, and the delivery services are all working. So it’s not the end of the world, and I’m not worried about the practical side of it. But psychologically… well, that’s a different story.

When I read the report this morning I was still in bed. I stayed where I was and cried for a bit. But then I decided to snap out of it, do my meditation and exercises and get on with it.

After all, I can still do my work — and am fortunate to have work, I love my apartment and don’t feel at all cooped up in it, and one of these days I’ll get back to my art. As someone posted on FaceBook, “Our forefathers were called to war. We are being called to sit our the couch. We can do this.”

I hope the seniors lockdown won’t last too long — but you won’t hear me bitching about it any more.

 

by

A Kind and Practical Gesture

Yesterday there was a knock at my apartment door — very unusual if I haven’t let anyone in downstairs. Looking through the peephole I saw the portero (our word for the superintendent of the building).

I opened up and he presented me with this mask. I think his wife made them, although I didn’t quite understand that part. He explained that I should fold up a tissue and put it over my mouth first and then the mask. I don’t know if he was giving them to everyone, or just folks of my vintage. In any case, I was very grateful.

Masks have now been made mandatory in Buenos Aires (not sure about the rest of the country) any time we go outside. The government has also asked us to make our own, leaving the real ones for medical and emergency people. I’m all in with that.

I posted a picture a couple of weeks ago of me in my black “terrorist” face mask. I won’t feel as conspicuous going into the supermarket wearing this one, thanks to my lovely, generous portero.

by

I Didn’t Know This Was a Thing

Have you ever heard some sort of “new” disease, syndrome or condition, read the symptoms and realized you had it? That happened to me this week when I read about productivity shame! I definitely have that, and so do many of my friends. Maybe you do too.

When the pandemic first started and we were just beginning to spend more time at home, although maybe not yet actually locked down, I thought this would be a perfect opportunity to do all those things I wanted to do but never normally had the time. Cleaning out cupboards — maybe finding those three favourite winter sweaters I haven’t seen for months and which I suspect I threw out inadvertently, getting back to my painting and sketching, maybe even ripping out that top I knitted and never liked so that I could knit something else. (Why don’t I keep a supply of yarn on hand for when a pandemic happens to strike?)

Not to mention, of course, the things related to my business — that ever growing list of shoulds.

But somehow this free time hasn’t translated into getting things done. Quite the opposite, in fact. I can’t count the times I’ve sat on my couch thinking, “I could get out my painting things now, and then they will be ready for me to do something tonight,” — and then carrying on watching old Stephen Fry programs on YouTube.

My writing projects are not much further ahead than before, and my good ideas to try one day are still in the same file, buried deep in my computer where I’m unlikely to ever find them.

Do I feel bad about this? Sometimes. I try to cut myself some slack, but I do feel guilty — and kind of stupid. Some of my friends admit to the same feelings.

Well, lo and behold, this condition has a name: productivity shame! Apparently so many of us suffer from it that it threatens to become a pandemic all on its its own! I don’t know about you, but when I know other people are suffering similar problems to my own, it doesn’t worry me so much. So now, whenever I feel bad about not getting it all done, I’ll just comfort myself by saying it’s just productivity shame — and this too shall pass.

What I Actually Did Do

  1. Made some yummy desserts, including a fantastic dried fruit and nut loaf. If you want to try it, or even see the picture that seduced me into making it, here’s the link: https://www.joyofbaking.com/DriedFruitandNutLoaf.html  The woman on YouTube said it’s better if you wait a couple of days before eating it. Is she nuts? I ate a quarter of mine the day I made it!
  2. Recorded about a third of my audiobook of Rare Steak, Red Wine, Hot Tango. Not as much as I had planned, but at least it’s started.
  3. Prepared the second edition of Rare Steak, Red Wine, Hot Tango for publication. Can’t complete the process yet because I haven’t been able to contact my cover designer for an update, but I’ll do that as soon as I can.
  4. Bought a basil plant at the supermarket and it’s thriving in the sun on my balcony.

Well, I guess I did more than I thought. I’ll remember that next time I feel a wave of productivity shame coming on.