The Week in Review....

I am convinced the ability to connect is directly proportional to the ability to say good-bye. So what do I mean by that and why now do I process this human condition? The retreat has ended. All have returned to the states and I am reviewing the richness of the experience. Intimacy is scary and depending on another takes courage. In a foreign land with a group the intensity of this phenomenon is exacerbated. This group was smooth and the connections were fluid. So much of what I see in relationships is the dance of assessing trust. Is this person someone who will have my back? And the other side is will this person give me space? If both parts of the equation balance it works. The bottom line though is that we still have to say good-bye. Nothing lasts. It is a given there will be sadness in the ending. I remember the movie "The gods must be crazy" when the African said good-bye to the Brits it was simple....."we go together and now we stop." So at the end of a rich week I say the same.

But back to the highlights of Buenos Aires because I left you on Tuesday in the midst of indiviual exploration. On Wednesday we were moving as a group again and heading to Palermo. For me a walk on Libertador to Alcorta through the area of embassies and culminating at Parque Tres de Febrero is a must. The buildings and streets of this area are beautiful and the park is a welcome respite from the busyness of the city. This is the new Palermo. The happening place is Palermo Viejo divided into Palermo Soho and Palermo Hollywood. Pangs of hunger after the long walk took us to Osaka in Palermo Hollywood, one of my favorites. The ambience is enchanting and the flavors are sumptuous. Once revitalized a walk through Palermo Soho to the Botanic Gardens is a great way to see the area. For cat lovers the garden is a must! Not far from the gardens is the Museo de Eva Peron. If you want to learn more about this very powerful woman end the day here. An evening at the movies was a good finale. The group was heading to Colonia the next day so an early night was in order. If you haven't seen "Away from Her"...do!

Colonia, Uruaguay is a UNESCO site an hour trip on the buquebus from Buenos Aires. The museums capture the history of Uruguay which the Spaniards and Portugues fought over for about 70 years. The Spanish wone but the mix of both cultures with the Indigenous is visible in the history preserved in this small city. Since I have been there twice this was another day of separation. After the quiet of Colonia the music and dance were calling. This has become one of my favorite haunts this trip so we met in Monserat after the buquebus returned. And with the plus of a great mojito we danced the Son, the origin of salsa.

It is Friday and the retreat is ending but not without a walk to Abasto which I mentioned previously followed by a cab ride to La Boca. This was a long cab ride and somewhat like a tour. We traveled through Once, a barrio that is touted as the most dangerous. When I first visited Buenos Aires and lived in Almagro my host family was adamant that I had to go in colectivo or train to class because a walk would require passing through Once. Then in the years to follow though I lived in Recoleta if there was a destination that would take me close to Once the warning was repeated by many. So traveling through Once for me was traveling to the forbidden. La Boca is important for its history as the port of entry. The Museo de Bellas Artes there and the work of Benito Quinquela Martin is worth the trip. His art is powerful. The few blocks of painted buildings and artisans in La Boca is a bit of a carnival. If you dine even a couple of blocks away from this very small center you will be warned to go in taxi to the center. We walked... women armed with umbrellas!

There are many serendipitous experiences that take place in the midst of seeing the highlights and if you go with the attitude that all is changeable within the general outline you can say you have seen much in a week. For most though the pangs of saying goodbye are strong! There is just something about this city!