San Juan and Radio Tango

Last night was Saint John's eve, a celebration of the birthday of Saint John the Baptist. (Scheduled conveniently close to the summer solstice by early Christians eager to recruit all those solstice loving pagans? Why yes, it was, now that you mention it.) Last year I visited bonfires along the river, where young revelers were tossing folded paper wishes into the flames. The local paper tells me I can thank Salamanca's vigilent firemen for the scarcity of fires this year.

I spent this Saint John's evening strolling from string quartet to tango ensemble to Japanese summer festival (where I did hang a wish on a tired looking bamboo tree) to traditional music to flamenco: Last night was Salamanca's second Noche Blanca , a free way to make the most out of one of the year's shortest nights. Expositions and galleries were open til the wee hours, cafe keepers rolled up their terrazas deep in the madrugada, and Salamanca's plazas and palaces hosted nonstop live performances from about 10 pm til 4 am. Add good company, a cool evening breeze, and appropriately timed pincho, beer and sidra (Asturian hard cider) stops, and you have a delightful Salamanca evening.

My highlight? Tango Zero, I think, whose website then led me to a great online radio find: La 2x4, Radio Tango from Buenos Aires.

If you are in a mood to transform wherever you are into a milonga in Buenos Aires for a naughty little while, I highly recommend it.