Greens in Argentina - Part 5
Monday and the celebrations from yesterday's win in the Plate Final at the tandil Sevens hadn't taken too much of a toll with players and the support crew reporting on schedule for the bus pick-up.
The mornings activites were optional - either return to the scene of last nights celebrations at the 'Sede Social Los 50' (the Los 50 Rugby Club's social headquarters) for a swim and other recovery related duties or go into town for sh opping and sightseeing. The players opted for the recovery whilst most of the support crew took on the town.
The town crew rejoined the playing group at the Sede Social Los 50 at 1.15pm where the touring party was treated to a magnificent BBQ and hydrated from a selection of wines and the obligatory local brew. It was evident that the Sede Social Los 50 truly valued our club's efforts in participating in the Tandil Sevens and spending time with them - their hospitality was overwhelming. A few presentations were made, beer was consumed by all from our newly won Plate Final cup trophy and some reluctant and heart-felt farewells were made.
We must come back some day.
The touring party then climbed aboard the bus for the long trek back to Buenos Aires some two hours late - but who cares about time in Argentina?
The bus seating arrangements have taken on their own Disney-esque dynamic. Directly adjacent to the front door 'Barry' watches over the entries and exits to the vehicle in a manner akin to how the Sphinx guards the Pyramids at Giza. One seat back is Alexjandro - the Top Sports Tour Guide and 'go to' man for any necessity on tour - there is seemingly nothing he can't arrange or fix. This area of the bus is known as 'Tomorrow Land' - it's where all the plans are made and executed and fines are levied and paid - "that'll be 100 pesos" is the common demand.
The next third of the bus is filled with supporters - not surprisingly it is termed 'Fantasy Land' - a place where 'tall tales and true from the legendary past' abound. Tomorrow's trip to a Gaucho Ranch spawned a debate between 'Espresso Grande' and 'Julius Marlow' about the origins of the theme from the spaghetti western movie 'The Good, The Bad and The Ugly' - Julius insists it was a Hugo Montenegro composition - 'Espresso Grande' disagrees. 'Espresso Grandes' resistance proves to be well founded with Ennio Morricone later identified as the composer of film score. 'Perry White' is seated next to 'Julius' and is usually a solid sounding post for any question that needs to be answered - just a pity that his knowledge didn't extend to Italian music makers with any precision on this occasion.
The 'Good Doctor' was seen jotting down notes in a small diary whilst 'Abdullah' was seated near Rafa Carracas who frequently crosses the border from Fantasy Land into Tomorrow Land and back again - nothing new there. One seat further forward 'Fred MacMurray - Minus One' is sleeping - touring is such hard yakka.
'The Real Woolf' and 'Ali Baba' are seated next to each other whilst across the isle 'Manuel' and 'Irwin Shaw' are teamed up.
At the rear of the bus you'll find 'Adventure Land', (or 'Adventure Island' as it is sarcastically called by those more matured soles in 'Fantasy Land'). It is the sole domain of the playing group and the source of a constant cacophany of poorly performed songs and noise that ususally encourages those in the adjoining 'Land' to don their .mp3 earphones and turn the volume up to 11. Even Rafa doesn't venture in there despite his seat being situated closest to the 'demilitarised zone'.
The evening is free time - the "Island" dwellers will no doubt go clubbing, the more wise amongst us will elect to do dinner and try to retire by 1.30am - we have to report to the bus some eight hours later for the trip to the Gaucho Ranch and more BBQ's.
Correspondent d'Internationale