[Tango-L] New indoor smoking law in Buenos Aires

Sun Sep 3 19:17:10 EDT 2006

Hi Manuel,

Yes, you've hit the nail on the head!

On more than one occasion I've returned from BsAs with a respiratory infection. On one particular occasion a few years ago, I returned with some terrible infection that lasted about 8 months before it eventually cleared. Nothing seemed to help. Although I could talk - reasonably alright - there was an awful accumulation of mucus that affected my singing. My coach recommended an herbal medicine (absolutely foul stuff) which gradually and slowly helped, but it took eight months(!) to finally go.

There's a combination of causative factors:

i.     The long-haul flight;
ii.    The stress of travelling;
iii.   The changes of climate/atmosphere/temperature;
iv.   Any underlying dormant infection;
v.    A weakened immune system;
vi.   Humidity (depending on season);
vii.  The amount of traffic (including big, lumbering, smelly buses) all going down narrow sides streets between large buildings. The pollution simply accumulates to such a terrible (and long-term dangerous) level as there's just no ventilation due to the size of the buildings on either side.

Trouble is, Manuel, I can't stay away from the place... I keep going back for more!
I just love going to BsAs!

Dani

----- Original Message ----
From: WHITE 95 R <white95r at hotmail.com>
To: jantango at feedback.net.ar; TANGO-L at MIT.EDU
Sent: Sunday, 3 September, 2006 9:17:14 PM
Subject: Re: [Tango-L] New indoor smoking law in Buenos Aires

The only reason that I (and others) don't go to BsAs more often is the 
horrible air quality of the city. The smoking is too pervasive and out of 
control. As Dany said, the smokers don't give a damn about the people they 
injure with their filthy habit. The milongas, restaurants and other public 
places are often polluted with tobacco smoke. When one ads to that the heavy 
air pollution from the motor vehicles, the quality of life there is plain 
terrible. I have never been able to visit BsAs without getting sick with 
respiratory illnesses. Furthermore, I've found that I'm far from alone in 
this. Many friends who go to BsAs complain that they also get sick every 
time they go.

Buenos Aires is a great city. I love the character, the architecture, the 
people,  etc. It's not a perfect place, but that's not important. The only 
negative part of it that matters to me is the poor air quality and it's 
effects on my health. Unfortunately, the health hazards from the smoking/air 
pollution are so grave that in my estimation they override everything else. 
I hope with all my heart that these types of legislation take hold in BsAs 
(and all other parts of the world). I would be so happy to be able to go to 
Bs As and enjoy that beautiful city!!

Manuel

visit our webpage
www.tango-rio.com

>From: "Janis Kenyon" <jantango at feedback.net.ar>
>To: "Tango-L" <TANGO-L at MIT.EDU>
>Subject: [Tango-L] New indoor smoking law in Buenos Aires
>Date: Sun, 3 Sep 2006 01:29:33 -0300
>
>We returned to our tables after a tanda.  The woman at the table next to me
>commented on how much cigarrette smoke bothers her.  I looked around and
>didn't see anyone smoking within twelve feet of us, so I asked her how 
>she's
>able to go dancing since so many smoke in the milongas.  We were in Lo de
>Celia where there were only twenty people attending Emilio's milonga on a
>cold afternoon.  She told me that things will be changing on October 1st.
>The Congress debated the issue for a long time, but it finally passed both
>houses.  A law will be in effect as of October 1 prohibiting smoking in
>public places.  That is going to affect milongas.
>
>During a tanda, I mentioned the new law to my partner.  He replied, no one
>will come to the milongas.  The woman doesn't feel the new law will matter
>to most people.  Her comment was, the desire to go to the milonga is
>stronger than the desire to smoke.
>
>Only time will tell.  If the law keeps people away, the atmosphere of the
>milongas will change in more ways than one.  The foreigners will be happy 
>to
>dance in a smoke-free environment.  They may end up dancing only with other
>foreigners.  Dancers who need to smoke will have to go outside, while 
>others
>will wait for them to return for the next tanda.
>
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