No, really, I’m not messing about. Leeds is like Buenos Aires, it really is. OK, so the summers might not be as hot but the temperament is, in my experience, just as fiery and dramatic. If you don’t believe me, allow me to compare the two cities to prove my point.
1 First and foremost in common are the bloody ludicrous accents that both cities have. In Leeds we speak English, right? In Buenos Aires they speak Spanish, yes? Hahaha (or ‘jajaja’, as they say here). Just as Leeds has its own linguistic foibles (‘Got owt to bring on’t bus to Kippax?’ etc), so does Buenos Aires. Here local people, Porteños, speak a form of Spanish that’s exclusive not to Latin America nor even to Argentina. It’s specific to the confines of the city of Buenos Aires. Or, to put it another way, just as in Leeds, people are awkward buggers (I don’t know how to say that in Spanish, which is probably a good thing).
2 Both cities are crazy-friendly (in each case, emphasis on the latter. Usually). We’ve been to gigs with people we only just met, as well as to parties, clubs, dinner etc. When people say ‘Let’s do something’, they call, they email and really, really do stuff to make you feel welcome. This happens a lot in small cities like Leeds but is much rarer in a huge city like this. Hats off to Buenos Aires for managing to give a big city a small-city warmth.
3 There’s a thriving live music scene in both cities. Buenos Aires gets all the Northern biggies here (including in the past few weeks the Artic Monkeys and, perhaps somewhat unexpectedly, Sisters of Mercy). Leeds would benefit from importing something like La Bomba, an all-night drumming club with guest artists (singers, guitarists etc) who shape the beats (NB I can’t stand drums and even I enjoyed it).
It’s also common to chance upon people making music in parks (which are rammed when the sun shines). I came across these two young lovers singing together in a little city square. People of Leeds please note: more random public singing would be a good thing (except in the city centre where there is already far too much).
I’m not sure how much tango there is in Leeds – am thinking not much. Yet. But maybe we can arrange a few flashmobs and see if it catches on. I imagine there’ll be a banner in the railway station soon: ‘Welcome to Leeds, the Home of Yorkshire Tango’.
4 People here love dogs. As in, they are absolutely mental about them. I thought England was a nation of dog lovers until I came here. It’s not unusual to see people walking dogs ten at a time like the guy in the photo. But the puppies of Leeds are one step ahead of those in Buenos Aires; Yorkshire pups have cleverly trained their owners to clean up after them. Next time I come here, I’ll bring a genius Yorkshire Terrier with me to show the Argentine doggies how it’s done.
So, I hope that my detailed scientific analysis has convinced you beyond reasonable doubt that Leeds is indeed very much like Buenos Aires. If not, perhaps when you see someone like the guy below sunbathing in a Leeds park this summer, you’ll realize I was right after all…
My Buenos Aires daily photos are on Pinterest and my attempts to make sense of it all can be found on Twitter.
You may have baffled me with science but I’m totally convinced, Buenos Aires is like Leeds.
Ah, Mick McCann, nice to hear your voice – it’s been a LONG time since we baffled each other with science!
I’ve never read anything more scientific in my life, and like Mick, I am now convinced. From henceforth, we shall be known as T’Buenos Aires of Britain.
Perfecto y excellente! ‘T’Buenos Aires of Britain’ can appear on the banner at Leeds station instead.
Ja ja ja ja ja!!!
that would be well cool wouldn’t it!? 🙂
I’ve just written ‘From henceforth’. I should be taken outside and shot by the grammar police. Apologies.
It is a long time Jane, I’ve missed it. Although I’ve got this extremely masculine exterior, I’m still a bit of a wuss.
Anyway, never mind Leeds train station. Jane your mission, should you accept it, is to get ‘Buenos Aires, it’s a bit like Leeds’ up in Buenos Aires train station. Just tell them you thought the city was named after our river anyway….that should work.
David, if you hadn’t said anything you’d’ve got away with it, we’d have thought you were in character. As it is, what y’having for y’last meal?
Mmm. Good question. Think I’ll have what any right minded person would have: Sunday roast and a pint of frothing nut brown ale.
Hmm, surely you mean an empanada (aka an Argentinian pasty) and a large glass of Malbec, which costs more or less the same as water here…?
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This is undoubtedly not going to go down well but I’ve never thought of Leeds as a particularly friendly city. That trademark Yorkshire brusqueness is an acquired taste, at the very least.