"The people look Italian, speak Spanish, and live in a city modeled after the French."
Context: Most of the immigrants who populated Argentina were Italian and German, and when the city was being engineered Paris was further establishing itself as the gem of Europe.
Going through customs, I was able first-hand to witness the commentary of these writings. The complexion, body-type and personal style of all the people is very much Italian, but the words coming out of their mouths is a bohemian Spanish that is neither Castillano nor the Latin Spanish with which I am familiar. The soft "zchjey" on double-els and y's (LL=Y) is odd to hear at first, but over time I have adjusted my own pronunciation.
After settling in the hotel and knocking back work for a few hours, I took shower and went into the city on this warm, breezy summer day. With the temperatures reaching the high 70s, I knew I had to have a plan. Equipped with turn by turn directions from hand-copied directions from my book (I mean, I don't want to look like a tourist!), I walked the streets.
Not once was I approached in English, whereas the German, English and other American tourists were bombarded with "Hello Miss, can I interest you in...?". I just got the "Por favor, Senor, dame un beso." Well, it could have been Peso too, but she was pretty. Arriving at my destination, I had 3 empanadas, which are small meat turnovers that are baked, unlike their fried Hispanic-American cousins in the US. On the walk back, I took notes of shopping patterns and IT usage (for work), before getting into political conversations over coffee at the corner cafe. Satisfied with the day, food and ability to discuss Cristina Kirchner's probable re-election, I returned to the hotel and knocked out more work until about 11.
Curious to see how late the portenos (name of the locals) eat, I did another walk-about knowing that room service is 24/7. I found a decent parrilo (steakhouse with wood-fired grills) and had the skirt steak and a caprese salad. Fat and happy, I plopped back into the breezy summer evening and walked along the water, one eye on the local architecture and the other on the portenos walking by. Looks like I will be sleeping well tonight!
Abrazos y besitos,
Be Well, Do Good
BG