Skip to content
Tangofolly Argentine Tango Community Logo
  • Events
    • ALL tango events
    • Tango events map
    • List an event
  • Stories
    • ALL tango stories
    • History of tango
    • Learning tango
    • Post a story
  • Directory
    • ALL tango pages
    • Create a page
  • Login
    • Login Signup Get help
    • EnglishFrenchItalianSpanish
  • Search
Tango To Die For III
Promoting Tango Tango stories | Essays & Opinions | Posted 22/06/2019 | Comments 0 | Views 1174
Tango To Die For III

Cultural anthropology in the black hourglass shape of Roxanne swam through his thoughts as he consulted once more his map of Beirut. The mid-afternoon heat induced soporific quiet in the streets and alleyways around him. He set off for the Pigeon Rocks on the western edge of the city. The sun was riding high and cast few shadows. Squinting into the glare, he tugged down his cap visor and strode on. He was hot and weary when he reached the seafront and leaned into the temperate onshore breeze. At that moment, his phone, poised on high alert since morning but hitherto mute, pinged as a text came in: “Tabouli Café. Roxanne.” All was well with the world, after all. He looked around. A woman cloaked in an all-encompassing black burka, her gold ankle bracelets intermittently flashing as the breeze lifted her hem, gripped the cliff-top railings and gazed at white-spumed waves crashing and roiling explosively against the Pigeon Rocks.

A few yards away, two soldiers in battle fatigues, rifles slung casually over their shoulders, killed time under a palm tree. One, a little younger, smiled shyly at a passing girl; the other, more menacing, scanned the street through mirror shades. Max set the camera zoom and shot them both, silhouetted against the Rocks, the forested coastal ranges and the distant horizon. The older one stiffened, turned, and gestured peremptorily at Max. He took hold of the camera and asked for identification. He scrutinized the U.S. driver’s license and shook his head. Max explained in broken French that his passport was back at the Gefinor Rotana. The officer deftly erased the latest photo and then glanced in surprise at Roxanne spinning in a molinete. Taking off his shades, he studied Max’s shots of the previous night’s milonga. At last he grinned, returned the camera and waved his hand dismissively.

“Tango!” he said. “Enjoy Beirut.”

At the intersection of Rue Iskander and Paris Avenue, Max found the Tabouli Café, a stylish chrome-and-glass patisserie with sidewalk tables well-shaded under a cypress green awning. Roxanne, whose beauty and reserve reminded Max of Thutmose’s limestone bust of Nefertiti, greeted him politely. They ordered iced water and coffee, and asked to see the pastries arrayed on a filigreed silver tray by the door. Roxanne pointed to a glistening wedge of Persian baklava. They conversed inconsequentially while Max considered the perfect symmetry of her eyes and repressed an urge to caress her face. The baklava, chopped almonds and pistachios spiced with cardamom and rose water-scented syrup, went well with black Lebanese coffee. Roxanne raised an eyebrow as Max brought Carlos di Sarli’s “Ojoz Negros” to life on his phone and took her hand. They danced, weaving between the tables, their minds and their physical immediacy following every musical nuance. Max remembered Ignatio Quiroga once saying: “Slow down; listen carefully; let Tango tell your story.”

Posted by

Adam Smolka

Writer from Charleston in USA

Share this

Comments (0)

Post a new comment on the story: Tango To Die For III



Submit

Login

Reset password | Recover account

Create an account

Recent stories

Share news or videos. Write reviews, interviews and essays. Blog about anything and everything ‘tango’. Find the ‘Stories’ tab in the main menu and choose ‘Post a story’ to start.

Explore stories
Story
Event News

Welcome August!

Dear Amigos, As we approach the finish line for registrations online (August 25 is the closing date)…
Posted by Sofia 01/08/22
Story
Event News

Learn from the best!

A los Amigos vol. 10 Pure fun & joy combined with serious work! Our maestros are here to teach y…
Posted by Sofia 22/07/22
Story
Essays & Opinions

Volcada

When Yeshim and I brought our thinking about yoga and tango together we expected to improve each oth…
Posted by lorenzo 17/07/22
Post navigation
← Previous Story
Next Story →
Tangofolly Cabeceo

Keep in touch

Get a periodical roundup of all the events, stories and other news straight to your email inbox. You don’t have to be a member to stay in the loop and you can unsubscribe at any time.


Shoot

Feature a photo

Shoot! competition

Featured photographers

Support

Contact us

Guide and FAQ

Sponsored options

Read

History of tango

About Tangofolly

Tango for beginners

Legal

Privacy policy

Cookies policy

Terms of membership


Tangofolly Twitter Page Tangofolly Tumblr Page Tangofolly Facebook Page
Copyright © 2022 Tangofolly Ltd | A Follyfox Design