It's 9:30pm and we're going to see a flamenco show. The street is nearly deserted here, only a small sign over the door. We walk down some stairs and the restaurant is almost empty – our kids at a table, another couple or two, many of the tables are not even set. I’d checked this place out on the internet and was a bit worried that it was a hostel/dance studio place that would be very amateur and small-time. It looked like I was right. But the lady who had answered the phone when Sue booked the place came to our table and introduced herself and gave us a bit of history. Seemed friendly enough. We ordered Warsteiner beers – so that was good. Then other people began to drift in. Even a group – about 8 old people. Then the plates of food began arriving – calamari, cheese and sausage, breads, chicken, etc. And then the nice manager lady goes up on the stage (we’re sitting RIGHT NEXT TO IT) and begins a long Spanish talk presumably about the history of this place and of flamenco in Buenos Aires. While she’s talking I notice the girl at the next table is busy ‘texting’ with her cellphone. And I notice a guy with a guitar case walking in. And a few more people who are obviously ‘at home’ here walk in. Then the lady introduces the band, and three guys get up right beside me on stage. There are 2 mikes, 5 chairs, and a box. They sit down. The guitar guy starts tuning – couldn’t he have done this before he went up? He starts to play. Hey, this guy is good. Lots of crazy rhythm. The middle guy, looks like he’s part Indian, starts singing. The guy nearest me starts tapping his fingers on the edge of the box he’s sitting on. Rhythm is getting a bit more frantic. KABAAM! BANG! BANG! BANG! He’s just whacked the sides of that box a few times. It’s like a couple of gunshots – but in time to the music. CARAMBA! And just when you hope he’ll do it again so that you can get in sync with the rhythm, he doesn’t! That would be way too easy. This is not easy music. These guys are speaking a language that I can appreciate like crazy but could only begin to understand. It’s hard to believe that 3 guys sitting right next to me could be this good.