[font=Arial']Wow, the things that some of you say about how a person can come to love a particular city rock me with your insight and wisdom. Especially from people who I think are way younger than me! You guys are deep! I'm a 'she' btw and have travelled all my life and lived in different countries sometimes with very little money but have had plenty of good experiences. [/font]
[font=Arial']I didn't answer Jam-Jam's question. My sense was, wrong or right, that he/she seemed to want a list of tangible 'things'- with measurements and precise angles - ready to be dissembled, examined, approved or rejected one by one as he saw fit. I've no time for negativity nor the desire or need to defend my choices. They're just mine and have nothing to do with what 'should' or 'shouldn't' appeal to me. What is 'should' when that's defined differently by wherever you're living or you feel more aligned with? [/font]
[font=Arial']In the next 3-week period, my husband and I face big challenges. We’ll receive all our belongings and furniture from Canada not knowing where to put anything; renovate a 2BR apartment we've hardly seen- scrub, empty, repair, learn to lay new wood floors and finish them in 3 days (ha-ha!); rebuild a kitchen from scratch and redesign all rooms' decor according to our hearts, tastes, dreams and shrinking wallets. And fulfil bureaucratic procedures that at first overwhelmed us but increasingly made sense; and start our first of 2 language semesters at university where we'll be the oldest students, we bet. I've got a language test next week so Jam-Jam's request to prove if my liking BA merited my letting it shape my next move IHO put me off. Maybe if he'd said something about himself or expressed a touch of warmth.........? How's one supposed to respond to basically "how could anyone think that blah-blah is like blah-blah?" after you've said that's how it is for you? Thanks for picking up on that! The challenges I'm about to face will feel easier on account of your understanding. . [/font]
[font=Arial']A city just grabs you, or grows on you or doesn't or you hate it. What each person likes is the result of his 2-way interaction with it. Something that pleased you previously may not now. [/font]
[font=Arial']My "Buenos Aires of the North" would be anywhere in Europe. I never meant my twisting of that steamer ad to relate to Paris whose beauty and art set a standard a century and more ago and although Paris is still drop-dead gorgeous. Instead, I was saying that Buenos Aires set a new standard of its own by which I can see how I feel about other cities, how THEY might suit my current needs and dreams in comparison with what delights me and makes me feel good in BA. [/font]
[font=Arial']I think those of you who said BA is more 'alive' hit the nail on the head! That is the difference between the parts of Europe I know and BA. My husband and I lived in Europe a long time ago for 13 years and again a decade ago. We discovered BA after all that and over 5 years we spent our travel funds only there for a period of 6 months altogether. We do so much there. We're very happy to have chosen a new city that suits us on the basis of what we loved in BA. But no doubt when we return to BA on holiday next year, we'll head to a bar before sunset, then the usual late night dinner-yeah!, then a drink before turn[/font][font=Arial']ing up late at a milonga and then talk to the cabby on the way home about whatever. Europe doesn't have that zing. BA spoiled us. But maybe we'll check out Berlin while it's still hot if we can find the money.We’ve never been there. [/font]
Sockhopper, on 24 January 2013 - 12:21 PM, said:[/background]
