Buenos Aires - December 28, 2005

Balbina Lightowler is an artist who shares a studio down the block from us with Sylvia Flichman. Balbina, formerly an architect, and her husband, Leo, an architect, took us to the Boedo barrio, near their home, and treated us to a memorable evening at Pan y Teatro, an ancient restaurant. Excellent wine and food accompanied conversation and laughter late into the night. A man playing the piano added incredibly to an ambiance that was already soaked with charm, character and history.

A few days later, on New Year's Eve, Carolyn and I left the restaurant we were at early (Club de Vino) and hurried home to watch the fireworks from our terrace. We walked about a mile, amazed to see the streets entirely empty of traffic; not even one cab. The fireworks went on for a solid hour.