Day 20: Buenos Aires, Argentina

A great expanse of cargo containers were on the dock on both sides of the Serenity in the Buenos Aires port. Shuttle busses transporting passengers from the ship to the terminal drove past mountains of containers perfectly stacked 5 and 6 high.

Virtuoso On-Site Mai 10 provided an expert tour guide, Flavio, and a driver for a private tour of the city this morning. I have not seen Buenos Aires in many years, and was happy to see many familiar sights as well as new developments and renovations of older buildings throughout the city.

We stopped for coffee in the Gran Café Tortoni, the oldest café in Buenos Aires dating to 1858.

A site of special interest for me was the polo fields. Perhaps the next time I visit Buenos Aires it will be during the polo season, today, however, I was content to simply look out across the fields.

I enjoyed a very pleasant lunch in the oldest tennis club in Buenos Aires as the special guests of Jose and Marita of Mai 10. For dessert I tried a local favorite, ice cream made from dulce de leche. Jose and Marita drove us back to the ship in time to rest and change before the party scheduled for early evening.

And what a party it was! Billed as the gala celebration dinner of the 20th anniversary of Virtuoso Voyager Club and set against the backdrop of the original tango club, the dinner and tango show had already captured our imaginations. However, none of us could have imagined the delights that awaited us thanks to the expert planning and attention to every detail by Mai 10. As we arrived by coach, we could see a street party coming to life with characters of the romantic bygone era of the early 1900’s when tango was at its zenith.



Tango music filled the air as we watched a couple dance, oblivious to the commotion being made by the other characters, including a very “friendly” young lady. The street had actually been closed off by special arrangement for our event. Two period automobiles marked the far end of the street.

The party moved inside El Viejo Almacen where we enjoyed a delicious meal in the quaint historic club. Following our final sips of espresso, the lights dimmed and the magic began. We were treated to every aspect of the tango – the dance, the costumes, the music, and the singing. It was nothing short of spectacular! We returned to Serenity in a buzz of excitement, recalling the events of the evening with great delight. It was a truly unforgettable celebration of life, Virtuoso and Voyager Club style.

Serenity departed Buenos Aires at midnight to begin our 8-day crossing to Cape Town.

Tomorrow: at sea.