Keeping it REAL in Buenos Aires

I am a city girl. I love the amenities, the vitality, the speed, the glitz that city life brings. I just feed on the "rat race". I do not work that hard - which is probably why I like the City so much.

I live in a place that is hip and happening. I see a lot of things and I love it. I am after all a certified people watcher. There is something to be said about voyuerism - that is good. I call it neighborhood watch - it is perfectly legal.

Well, after saying that about me, I find ( and "R" agrees with me on this) that people in the country - anywhere past the City Limits and on the other side of Gen. Paz, people are REAL.

People in the country - smile more, happier and more into authentic service. They really do want to help you, make your stay more positively memorable. And in the process, you do not care much for the experience per se but the wonderful people that you meet. The bread girl in the panaderia, the gentleman who sold me my 2 pots of flowers, the pasta ladies - all these wonderful, sweet people - this is what Argentina is all about. It makes me happy to think that I have found the REAL people of Argentina, not in the city but outside of it. People who come to Argentina flock to the proverbial tourist traps and miss the real deal - the PEOPLE.

I know great people in the city, that is true "R" and "T" are from the city - true portenos ; their family and friends are in the the city of Buenos Aires, but for an outsider like me - the REAL people of Argentina - the one with no biases, no prejudice, with purity in their hearts and they wear their smiles so readily for you are outside of the city. It makes my spirit dance to know that in the "rat race" that I like so much - I can find refuge when we go out of the city to interact with the real Argentina - wonderful for the soul. A very good experience indeed.

I think I am learning to love this country everyday. And for a DIVA that can only be a very good thing.

I do not know about you, but REAL is better than pretend anyday of the week. In a life time we try to be REAL and keeping it REAL is what true meaning of joy is and I like the sound of joy in my life.

Ciao for now.