A four-day weekend is a good reason for a road trip. Plenty of other people had the same idea, but thankfully the long line of cars on the highway was headed into Wales instead of out of it. We had a smooth drive down to Eton, to spend the holiday dancing and eating.
Between Friday and Monday, we danced about 22 hours. We started almost as soon as we arrived on Friday night, and we danced until we absolutely had to get back on the road on Monday night. And it was worth the drive. The milongas were full but not overcrowded, and the floorcraft was some of the best I’ve seen at special events. Kudos to the organizers, DJs, and locals who helped set the tone for the weekend.
I had a bit of a slow start on Friday with quite a bit of sitting and watching (not surprising since we arrived not knowing anyone) but by Saturday night I was dancing quite a bit — and by Monday I was making promises to see other dancers at upcoming events. Everyone was incredibly friendly and welcoming. My only concern is being able to make it to all of these new places!
The town itself was charming, too. I have to admit that we didn’t spend too much time sightseeing, but we enjoyed some good meals. My favorites were a French restaurant that turned out to be a chain (but really didn’t feel like one) and a local North African restaurant with lovely decoration, good music, and very yummy food. The only bad thing about eating during a tango festival is that I have to avoid garlic (unless I want the leaders to avoid me).
After brunch on our last day in Eton, we also took a stroll along the River Thames. There is a beautiful riverside walkway, so we enjoyed the sunshine and the swans before heading to the afternoon milonga. All in all, a perfect holiday weekend.
Expat Linguist 