tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53734713116572901042011-04-21T20:21:48.357+02:00There are many dangerous triangles in this world... and there is one I deeply got sucked into in early 2007. It was big, unpredictable and it was fun! C.A.N. - the Cuba.Argentina.Norway triangle! Everything C.A.N happen, everything C.A.N go wrong, everything C.A.N be read right on this blog. Enjoy!Matznoreply@blogger.comBlogger421100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5373471311657290104.post-74367281354590068132007-02-25T23:30:00.000+01:002007-02-25T23:44:49.850+01:00

One of my musical discoveries in BA: Narcotango2 (and 1)- Narcotango - danced to...- And one more ...Other e-tango CD's I bought were: Terminal Tango, Astor Piazzolla Remixed, Ultratango - trash noche. And I just had to get a chacarera CD, too - La Chacarerata Santiagueña - Bailando en la salsamanca.

Matznoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5373471311657290104.post-76329428480411096342007-02-24T21:06:00.000+01:002007-02-25T00:21:21.921+01:00

First of all a video with a tango performance by Analia and Marcelo, recorded at Salón Canning, February 16th 2007.And here is a little selection of pictures, taken by Diana and myself during my stay in Buenos Aires.Too hot in Buenos Aires? Take a look at this!

Matznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5373471311657290104.post-77239976579049954362007-02-23T05:10:00.000+01:002007-02-25T00:15:49.810+01:00

Since it was difficult to upload videos while being in Cuba, here a video special for you:Sick driving in Cuba - a 720 on the Cuban highwayCigars rolled the farmer way - not as classy as the factory results, but just as tasty!Conga crash course in Havana - now you got the chance to learn it, too! Just do it.Cuban Salsa in our favourite bar 'Monserate' in Havana, Cuba!I also will post pictures of

Matznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5373471311657290104.post-65291360351775070782007-02-21T14:14:00.000+01:002007-03-01T15:17:39.070+01:00

It's tuesday, february 20th, Trondheim airport, 22.45 h. Two Brazillians and I step down the stairs of the noisy plane. The wind is blowing like hell, small hills of frozen snow are building a small border around the run-way. It's MINUS 10 degrees Celcius or worse.It's roughly a 100 meters to the terminal building. At first, we can hardly breath in the cold air. We shiver in our thin sorry

Matznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5373471311657290104.post-89456450960779994572007-02-21T14:07:00.000+01:002007-02-21T16:34:22.041+01:00

1. Buenos Aires was worth it - both in terms of mileage and pesos!2. Buenos Aires has a boomerang effect on me - I will come back - for a longer period of time. Oh yes, my boss will love it!3. BA has just sooo much to offer - the architecture, the food, the music and life-style etc. etc. etc. Just a pity I only had 2 weeks there. Next time I'll be a better tourist, picture-taker, and tanguero (

Matznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5373471311657290104.post-65145239993342722092007-02-21T14:00:00.000+01:002007-02-23T23:55:11.209+01:00

Top Music:1. El aire en mis manos (Album: Narcotango 2), Carlos Libedinsky2. No te mueras nunca (Album: Terminal Tango), Buschini3. Volver al sur (Album: Ultratango), Ultratango (composers: Piazzolla, Solanas)4. Gente que sí (Album: Narcotango 2), Carlos LibedinskyTop Restaurants1. La Cabrera, Cabrera y Thames2. Meridian 58, El Salvador y Borges3. Rave, Gorriti y ThamesCerveza - Scheider

Matznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5373471311657290104.post-16330846980795128432007-02-21T12:39:00.000+01:002007-02-21T12:49:48.008+01:00

The last day of the holidays is always dominated of hectic and stress. In my case i was mostly my overweight - of the luggage, I mean. Somehow I had the feeling that I had at least 10 kilo too much weight. Who could possibly travel to Latin-America with only 20 kilo? Hello Air France!!!Anyway, I decided to go to the post office. After waiting patiently for 35 minutes, it was my turn. I weighed my

Matznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5373471311657290104.post-34956271718217491272007-02-18T00:22:00.000+01:002007-02-18T00:46:31.773+01:00

After an amazing show of the DNI instructors and their friends it became quite a long night at Salón Canning (6 a.m.) - getting up today was difficult! Actually, many things are rather difficult today... I have to start packing and thinking of going home to Norway again. I have to attend my last classes today, buy some last cositas - and worst - say good-bye to all the marvellous people I met

Matznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5373471311657290104.post-29565374140817332612007-02-18T00:21:00.000+01:002007-03-03T01:34:39.142+01:00

Sebastián and I had a private lesson just few hours before this incredible performance. I'm glad he picked up some important things just in time ;-) I enjoyed Eugenia's and Sebastián´s classes a lot. It´s a fun couple to learn from - always good for a joke, a smile, encouragement, cool moves and you can feel their genuine interest to teach tango to the world. Muchas gracias amigos!A bit more info

Matznoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5373471311657290104.post-50138726612291112512007-02-18T00:20:00.000+01:002007-02-21T17:15:59.897+01:00

Saving the best for last... On my last friday I in BA I had the pleasure to witness the stunning performance of Pablo Villarraza & Dana Frigoli, the brains behind the school DNI, which became my second home in BA, where you are included in the family in no time. It was a pleasure being there, learning there - especially with teachers like that!Check it you yourself: The DNI web page link

Matznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5373471311657290104.post-33785530210829418052007-02-17T01:50:00.000+01:002007-02-21T16:37:27.195+01:00

What a day... Not only managed I to pick up my sexy shoes; I even made it to one must-see here in BA - the Cemetery of Recoleta - where Eva 'Evita' Perón was buried in 1952. Actually, the tombstone of Evita was one of the rather boring ones, but there are other scary and amazing ones! The rainy weather added a certain flavour to the ambiente today, and it sure scared the sh*t out of a lot of

Matznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5373471311657290104.post-13075730615168907762007-02-17T01:30:00.000+01:002007-02-21T16:37:57.352+01:00

I waited for 11 days - on Friday they finally were ready to get picked up; designed by 'el niño bien' himself (well, I selected the model and chose the leather, at least)! Sadly I have been told they won't dance tango all by themselves... So I gotta go to class today, too. But aren´t they pretty!!?

Matznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5373471311657290104.post-70611801346037061522007-02-17T01:16:00.000+01:002007-02-21T16:39:20.385+01:00

It's Thursday, I´ve just received my second massage, and am now on my way to the a tango waltz class. I am in trance - the whole trip. The shiatsu is doing something rather strange with my body. Arriving at the school, I hardly make it up the stairs. The class with Hector 'Negro' Corona and Silvina passes by in a flash. Right after half-time, my mind transcends to outer space. From there on the

Matznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5373471311657290104.post-78822640961814091392007-02-15T01:16:00.000+01:002007-02-21T16:40:10.829+01:00

I guess, you think it's all fun and vacation here. Well, it's not! It's hard work learning new moves and not forgetting the old ones, doing the logistics - (washing clothes, buying shoes, writing blog, classes, eating, classes, testing wine and local beer, buying more shoes) - and milongas until 6 0'clock in the morning like this Monday.Life brings you down if you don't rest in time, here in BA.

Matznoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5373471311657290104.post-4412057861948907642007-02-13T19:07:00.000+01:002007-02-21T16:40:37.020+01:00

Rather relaxed I walk into Comme Il Faut, the place for buying high-heeled and funky shoes. By my side a female shoe fanatic - as an extra expertise. I wonder how it's going to go, buying my first pair of female shoes ever. Life as a bachelor is tough again!To my surprise, this is fun. I dive into the white boxes and have a foot model shoe show me the art pieces on the cat walk. I get excited -

Matznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5373471311657290104.post-87545939315507449502007-02-13T02:37:00.000+01:002007-02-21T16:42:12.216+01:00

It's Sunday afternoon. What else would you do as a true milonguero than having a coffee at a milonga. Diana, still not sick of me stepping on her toes, meets me outside the Confiteria Ideal. The people at the entrance look a bit funny at us, but take our money anyway. Maybe it's because we are among the 10 people under 50 years of age at the Ideal... We get our table advised - in the back row -

Matznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5373471311657290104.post-14385260986312334662007-02-12T17:03:00.000+01:002007-02-12T17:06:04.052+01:00

Things are easily forgotten - so you got to get the new stuff on tape - in the coolest locations you can find! Lady Di and me...It should have looked like that... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPrHbGbfNAI

Matznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5373471311657290104.post-83390773745424671842007-02-12T16:52:00.000+01:002007-02-12T17:08:25.276+01:00

"Don´t mention the war (or the Tango) - zee Germans are here!" It´s unbelivable, but you really meet my fellow countrymen everywhere - especially here in BA!!! Maybe it has to do with the population/squarekilometers in Germany with about 231/sq. km (Norway has about 12-15/sq. km). It seems almost like the German government allows grants to BA emmigrants - so it gets less crowed in the good old

Matznoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5373471311657290104.post-68451466229679368572007-02-10T22:32:00.000+01:002007-02-15T01:15:40.478+01:00

Neo-Jugenstil artwork at DNI.

Matznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5373471311657290104.post-64763524624978921992007-02-10T21:54:00.000+01:002007-02-10T02:31:14.823+01:00

The tango world is pequeño - indeed very little! Three days ago I met two Swedish milongueros from Östersund (just a little to the right on the map of Trondheim). An after a little chat we found out that we had been to the same tangofestival i the past fall of 2006. Not enough with this - today, I met the first Norwegian couple, living in Fredrikstad. They just arrived, so there was lots to talk

Matznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5373471311657290104.post-31603733736755114912007-02-10T02:28:00.000+01:002007-02-10T02:27:59.987+01:00

Jugendstil, jugendstil, jugendstil... Jugendstil, jugendstil, jugendstil... Jugendstil, jugendstil, jugendstil... Jugendstil, jugendstil, jugendstil...Jugendstil, jugendstil, jugendstil... Jugendstil, jugendstil, jugendstil...Jugendstil, jugendstil, jugendstil... Jugendstil, jugendstil, jugendstil...Jugendstil, jugendstil, jugendstil... Jugendstil, jugendstil, jugendstil... Jugendstil, jugendstil

Matznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5373471311657290104.post-14576889358339877402007-02-10T01:52:00.000+01:002007-02-10T02:16:47.273+01:00

"Marriage is Russian Roulette..." says my taxi driver, with a smile. He is old, his face marked of the good old times. He must know. And somehow, marriage must have something in common with tango lessons. Every time I join a new class, every time I learn from a different teacher - I got to do it differently. Taking classes is Russian roulette, too. You never know what´s gonna happen! I wonder

Matznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5373471311657290104.post-43764890852349002592007-02-10T01:49:00.000+01:002007-02-07T17:37:37.026+01:00

This is the nice little palace I was talking about earlier... Mi Buenos Aires Querido...

Matznoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5373471311657290104.post-35526739457347139482007-02-07T16:17:00.000+01:002007-02-07T17:23:32.934+01:00

Still owning only a pair of shorts for the playa - today is the day to buy some more comfortable pants or shorts. The only problem my big fat ass. In lot's of stores my size seems to be sold out, or more probable, they never thought of ordering this size in the first place. Off course some shops sell "tents" but they either look horrible, or do not fit the purpose...Without pantalon-success, I

Matznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5373471311657290104.post-82252041573977994692007-02-07T16:13:00.000+01:002007-02-07T16:16:24.852+01:00

BA is addictive - many come back several times. Some even for several month.Tango is addictive - many don't have any other hobbies, don't talk about other things, practise day in and day out. Some only talk to tango-ed people. And - they buy shoes! Many pairs of them. I always laughed at them for having so many pairs. Well, not anymore, I don't... At least I don't have the right to anymore.It's

Matznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5373471311657290104.post-43161909757492137602007-02-06T16:10:00.000+01:002007-02-06T16:59:57.774+01:00

I felt stupid in many places - but I can't recall such a concentration of "feeling stupid" i one place, ever!The language... it seems like the people understand my Spanish more or less - the other way around it's a clear "less". It must be the Italian twist in the accent here - which gets me totally confused. For example, in a shop my simple reply "Si" to the lady at the register, caused her to

Matznoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5373471311657290104.post-49867229065584782722007-02-06T15:50:00.000+01:002007-02-06T16:10:26.478+01:00

In the Lonely Planet, one can read: An Argentinean asks a Spaniard: "Which country is closest to Heaven?" The Spaniard replies a bit pissed off: "Argentina, I suppose...". "No", goes the Argentinean, "It's Uruguay!" *As told, I followed the orders of my tango instructors L&L to find myself a place to live in Palermo. And now I know why! Palermo must be the gate to Heaven. Here you'll find

Matznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5373471311657290104.post-74962935125680564382007-02-03T18:57:00.000+01:002007-02-03T19:38:39.296+01:00

One the plane from Panama City to Buenos Aires (BA) I wonder how the whole show will go down in the big mentrople in the South of this Great Continent. In order not to get ripped off in the very beginning (maybe movies like Nine Queens aren´t the best thing to watch before you go to BA) I start a converstion with a young lady from Panama, studying in BA. Jovana assures me she´d help me when we´d

Matznoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5373471311657290104.post-51357763473994812072007-02-03T16:38:00.000+01:002007-02-03T18:57:04.017+01:00

is over... And it´s time for a Cuba-Conclusion: Wow, this is hard! It´s been to weeks in hell and back - as well as in paradise. First of all and conclusion 1: I won a friend - no doubt about that. We didn´t know each other much - about 30 hours in total - spread over about a 16-month time. Well, it´s been a blast with the Tomy! Seems like the more the oppresion of the Cuban system got to us -

Matznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5373471311657290104.post-82945987310947930162007-01-31T23:07:00.000+01:002007-01-31T23:22:03.041+01:00

We have passed the 'last 24 hours' mark. On our to do list we have wiped out: the Museo de la Revolucion, a cigar factory, another shopping tour at our favorite fair, a baseball game, a bongo course for the up and coming musician Matzito de Santiago and a little trip to Shakira's Laundry Shop, where there is nothing 'underneath' our clothes.Still to go tonight: Getting laundry, a last mojito, a

Matznoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5373471311657290104.post-73779410516922884042007-01-31T00:10:00.000+01:002007-01-31T23:05:23.223+01:00

A Beautyful Day - our first glimpse at the beach of Cayo Lavisa.Wild Honey - Cuba as a whole!Bad - stomach.Stuck in the Moment - or in Vinales without a visa!!!Misterious Ways - but somehow everything works out...In God's Country - in the valley of Vinales.All I want is you - Diet Coke, Robins water of life.Zoo Station - there you can rent a bed, too!Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For - the

Matznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5373471311657290104.post-33890748561058803612007-01-30T23:59:00.001+01:002007-01-31T00:10:44.470+01:00

We find the best paladar ever in Cuba - el jefe - Uhvaldo, who is to find in the Lonely Planet Cuba. He also has a casa. What ever you'll eat there - you'll love it!!!We take a little hiking tour through the valley, tabaco farm, eat freshly harvested bananas and I have to watch some dudes climb in the Cuban climing Eldorado - I almost puke, not beeing able to take part. Though, I manage a boulder

Matznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5373471311657290104.post-32046662858815628912007-01-30T23:36:00.000+01:002007-01-30T23:58:57.754+01:00

We arrive at the bus station 1,5 minutes before the bus to Vinales leaves. Todo bien! Of course, on the bus, one has to speak to foreigners and again, four languanges come in handy (especially speaking German with a Peruvian, who speaks Swedish as well...?...).Finally in Vinales, we meet a Danish couple and hook up to find a casa. We follow a skinny guy to his house. His wife uses all of her 5

Matznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5373471311657290104.post-11924134263076158932007-01-27T20:41:00.000+01:002007-01-27T20:55:25.959+01:00

We are a bit worried not to find the autopista to Havana - but somehow - there are more signs toward Havana then from... We drive into the mountains (very jungle-like) and get a good view over the southern coast. On the peak I meet a man of the mountains, who fights the bush (like all Cubans) to keep the road open. He gives me vital informations which I understand at least 50 % of. I leave some

Matznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5373471311657290104.post-22139953315618543262007-01-27T20:12:00.000+01:002007-01-27T20:41:41.555+01:00

We leave St. Clara on the the autopista heading for Trinidad. Too bad we can't find the right exit and drive an extra 100 km. We start to wonder if it's only us or all the turists having these problems...? But we get there eventually - and find a casa in La Boca (the mouth), a nice village by the sea on the southern coast of Cuba. No wonder Mr. Hemmingway was hanging around on this island - no

Matznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5373471311657290104.post-1629887269628187552007-01-24T16:49:00.000+01:002007-01-24T17:00:59.961+01:00

"The night life in Havana is dead!" says the waiter at "Julia", a paladar with the best roasted chicken so far. And it's true. Meeting Cubans in Havana is impossible at bars - at least if you not going to pay for everything and everybody. Cubans just don't have the income. It's sad and one just doesn't get the real Cuban sabor. But we got an ace in our sleeve. On the plane to La Havana, I met an

Matznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5373471311657290104.post-32032676802311532482007-01-24T03:26:00.000+01:002007-01-24T03:37:59.263+01:00

Arriving late for the tour at one of the cigar factories - meet yet another amigo. "Hola, where you from? I work at the factory! You want to buy Cohibas, Montecristo - everything, I got..." We are brave this time, and follow the guy I call for "Juan". A 5 minutes walk (nothing in this city) up to stories, through 3 buildings, a bed room, a living room and saying "hi" to Juan´s wife, we get to a

Matznoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5373471311657290104.post-25196945218988407972007-01-24T03:16:00.000+01:002007-01-24T03:25:54.476+01:00

Blogging in Cuba is still more than just going to an internet cafè, sitting down and - GO... I assume there is about 1 terminal per 1000 turists - and it goes like this: You buy an hour time, you wait between 30 min and 1 hour, then you are able to check about 10 mails, write 3 and when just finnishing another blog item - and time is up! But at least the it´s nice and cool at the hotels and you

Matznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5373471311657290104.post-87409555999636530542007-01-22T00:41:00.000+01:002007-01-22T00:58:11.759+01:00

Arrived late on the 18th and after my first communist passport control and an hour of waiting for the luggage - I got a lift to the center by a Norwegian travel agency. When I got there, my hotel wasn't really awaiting me... They actally didn't have any clue I was coming. Thanks APOLLO, I surely will recommend you after this episode ...Robin waited at the lobby bar - connecting well with the

Matznoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5373471311657290104.post-42516085720831186742007-01-16T11:22:00.000+01:002007-01-16T11:46:24.161+01:00

During earlier vacations I climbed rock and ice, got altitude sickness, went wind surfing in Italy or did other "extreme sports". In a way, this CU/BA trip seemed a bit strange i the beginning, almost boring, since the "death potential" of salsa/tango dancing, eating, photography and visiting Cuban rum- and cigar factories is close to zero.But faith takes funny turns... Today Norwegian TV

Matznoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5373471311657290104.post-59518365357878974302007-01-12T02:50:00.001+01:002007-01-12T02:50:57.935+01:00

The tickets were booked in June 2006. The Cuban map is hanging at the office door. Three Lonely-Planet-type books on Cuba and tango dancing in Buenos Aires have been moved around the apartment for months now; without too much reading done... It's less than a week to go, my English 'play mate' got his visa just in time - and is X-ited! To make my tango adventure a perfect one, I got a 2 1/2 hours

Matznoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5373471311657290104.post-2132790320982116352007-01-12T02:44:00.000+01:002007-01-12T02:45:45.037+01:00

Matznoreply@blogger.com3