Tangoneta in Barcelona, April 2008

This was an easy holiday for me as Lesley did all the arrangements; booking flights from Newcastle, 2 bedroom apartment near Sagrada Familial (Arago 565 - highly recommended) and the tango festival itself.
The apartment was a little too far out to walk each day as we found out on the first day by walking there and back! The festival was in Barceloneta which adds 15 minutes walking from Columbus’ statue, but the walk just to Catalunya Square would be very manageable.
The weather was glorious for the 5 days of the festival. Temperatures in the 20’s, blue skies and not a hint of rain - such a contrast to fly back into snowy Newcastle. We did have a little excitement on the flight out, as the captain informed us that the flaps were stuck and we would have a faster landing than normal. I am sure the fire engines following us down the runway were because there was nothing else useful for them to do!
The overall experience was great, good friendly teachers, lovely people on the course from 15 different nations. We danced lots of tango, some at La Valencia, the top tango club in Barcelona, but we weren’t taught any steps! Lots of exercises to illustrate lead and follow and communication and circulation, but I so want to have steps to try to put all this into practice. However I am sure we are both better tango dancers for the experience.
We managed some sight seeing (mostly Gaudi stuff) and had some great lunches eating Serrano ham (the festival was vegetarian) in the sun, in the park.
Oh, and most important, Lesley was a great companion.