Carole Edrich Weblog

energy, motivation, time...

Freelance writing is enormous fun but also very demanding, especially when your focus is on travel combined with adventure, wine, luxury and dance. Whilst travelling I ride high with the drive to: pack in as many experiences as possible, meet and interview people, do background research, get more ideas and take copious daily notes while juggling other aspects of a career that would more easily be served by staying in London.

Tango at the Crypt in Clerkenwell
(c) Carole Edrich, 2006

Now I’m back and the adrenaline surge of discovering new people and places has been replaced by the need to write well and to deadline. I’ve had to combine writing and pitching with meeting two friends who are visiting from Canada, going to see my friend in Cambridge, dancing in London and networking at the London Wine and Spirits Exhibition (essential for next year’s Argentine expedition).

I’m certainly tired. But am dancing tango in London and am looking forward to the Waldorf's Tango Tea. Will the dance shoes arrive in time? Who should I invite? What wonderful problems to have!

priorities

I've just about managed to finish and schedule (more accurately reschedule) everything vital, but today and tomorrow are going to be very busy indeed. Remaining “nice-to-haves” will wait till I’m back in the UK, when they'll be researched by email, internet and phone. Sadly that includes speculative work for pieces I know I could sell and the tango lessons I had been hoping to fit into spare time.

Fobs in the market
(c) Carole Edrich, 2006

I’ve thought hard about extending the stay here but it just wouldn’t work. Back in the UK is an appointment in Cambridge, a meeting Canadian friends (they're not in London for long), preparation for the London International Wine and Spirit Fair and meeting friends for at least the first part of Shoot London. To make up for the loss I’ve promised myself that next time I’ll devote several days to dancing tango irrespective of work, other commissions or ideas.

One thing that won't get dropped is the purchase of new tango shoes I need. I’m off to do that next.

tango tea dance surprise

I’m in Mendoza at the wonderful Cavas Wine Lodge and just read an press release announcing the resumption of the London Waldorf's Tango Tea Dances. They start on June 10th and are part of the hotel's 100th anniversary celebrations.

Years ago; well before I was writing for a living, a brunch trip at the Waldorf’s Palm Court was a regular treat. On leaving we’d often catch a glimpse of the tea dancers who lost no time in getting on the floor. We discussed staying on several different occasions but it seemed silly because no-one could conceive of being able to eat so soon after such enormous and satisfying Sunday Brunches.

Dancers at the Waldorf's Palm Court
(c) Carole Edrich, 2007

I made enquiries about the Waldorf Tea Dances in January this year as I thought it might make an interesting article. It was disappointing to hear that the events had stopped running several years ago when the Palm Court closed for renovation.

Their resumption is stunningly synchronistic. I’ll be back in London and looking for more London based stories less than two weeks before the event. The tango shoes I’ve ordered should have arrived and it will be a wonderful opportunity to dress up.

Ripening grape in the Cavas vineyards
(c) Carole Edrich, 2007

It’s great that the gorgeous Cavas has a good wifi connection. I’ll pitch Ballet.co and Dance Today tonight. If I won it, it would be another dream commission. The combination of two of my passions (dance and writing) with excellent food and the company of a friend would make a wonderful Sunday.

Watch this space…

Waldorf Tango Teas resume on June 10th.

serendipity

Club Tapiz is a lovely boutique hotel and spa with a very good restaurant and excellent wines. Held every day, the tasting was a wonderful way to get to know the other eight guests. Invited to dine with one guest and his partner (a laid back, intelligent and attractive wine expert) it became apparent that he is an enthusiastic tanguero and ex professional ballet dancer. Dinner was fascinating and has given me ideas for more dance pieces, some of which are based in New York.

Evening reflections on the outer wall of the Club Tapiz reception
(c) Carole Edrich, 2007

It’s still cold, it’s very late and I’ve more work to do before I sleep. In the future Travis plans to set up and run a troupe of tangueros. If his choreography is a fraction as good as his ideas or as strong as his opinions they’ll result in an excellent show.

cold Mendocino autumn

I’m at the exclusive Club Tapiz in Mendoza. It’s cold. The area is all desert, irrigated with water from melted snow brought down from the Andes. Although it warms up around lunchtime, it's so cold at the moment that it was an effort to go out and explore. A four day trip doesn't justify more than hand luggage. Thank goodness I decided that gloves and a scarf were worth the space they occupied.

View of pool from the reception of Club Tapiz
(c) Carole Edrich, 2007

The seasonal colours here are picture postcard perfect. Vines range from green through all the autumn colours including a lovely rich orange and improbably bright yellow. Dry earth contrasts wonderfully with steely grey sky and bright leaves. The olive harvesters provide great photo opportunities but it's a dull, grey day and the shots I've taken are all dull, cold colours.

It's nearly seven now. There’s a tasting at Eight which leaves just enough time for a snooze. Although I know there is tango in Mendoza and have several contacts I’ve not used them. It's going to be difficult to fit everything in as it is.

running to time

I should have remembered that little runs to time here. Well, nearly nothing. The show at Esquina Carlos Gardel didn't but the Metropolitan Championships heat did.

Atmospheric performance at Esquina Carlos Gardel
(c) Carole Edrich, 2007

Since the first show ended late the competition venue was full by the time I arrived.

It's quite a relief as it means marginally less work. I don't think I'd be feeling very well if I had stayed out till tomorrow morning again.

assisted writing?

I have just transferred to the Sheraton Park Towers. It smells divine (apparently a secret trademark fragrance designed for the hotel). It is huge, high and squeaky clean, has a nice spa, two gyms and excellent service. It is situated in Puerto Madero which is a different, newer and trendier part of town. It's a pleasant place to stroll even though the buildings could be from anywhere in the world. It’s not far from Madero Tango (on my list to review if there’s enough time) but tonight I’m covering the show at Esquina Carlos Gardel and then at midnight a round of the National Metropolitan Tango Championships. This must be the only country in the world where the government organises heats for a nationally important competition after midnight. What fun!

They've given me a bottle of Malbec from the Terrazas vineyards. The Faena Tango feature is almost writing itself.

View of the docks at Puerto Madero in Buenos Aires
(c) Carole Edrich, 2007

surreal faena

Thanks to help from the Argentine Tourism secretariat and their colleagues I have a few tango shows to review. Last night was the first. A sensation seeker's dream, it was quite surreal. Rojo Tango is a specially created tango experience performed at the Faena Hotel in Buenos Aires. For a while it transported me out of the 21st century into an alternate reality of gothic illusion and fin de siècle romance.

Dancers performing La Cumparsita at Rojo Tango
(c) Faena Hotel and Universe, 2007

One of those special evenings that burn bright in the memory, it should have been shared.

bliss

That I can stay in the same place is a fantastic feeling and such a relief. Even better because I'm now at the Hotel PanAmericano. This hotel has excellent facilities, a gym with stunningly inspiring views, wifi, lovely rooms and a special place in my heart resulting from the hospitality and great memories they provided last year. It’s central, near the Obelisk and an easy walk to some great tango schools such as the Ideal and Escuela Argentina de Tango at Gallerias Pacifico. It’s also close to popular shopping areas, Suipacha (where I plan to buy tango shoes) and Teatro Colón, It is a wonderfully baroque theatre from 1908 that hosts regular opera.

View from Hotel Panamericano including Obelisc
(c) Carole Edrich, 2007

I've not had time to relax but really don't need to. I'm training regularly, working hard and am so far happy with the results. The culture here forces me to go more slowly than I would in the UK. While I found this frustrating at first, it's probably better in the long term.

My only regret is that sadly, after more than a week in Buenos Aires, even though I have visited most of the better tango schools and interviewed their teachers for research, there has been no time for lessons.