Being a dance writer (and a dancer about 1000 years ago) I understand this debate. I wanted to see authentic Argentinean tango on my last visit, and made a date with a friend down there to go to a milonga, but alas, she had flu and it did not happen. I may try again on this trip, but I don't think I would go to a milonga alone, because the primary purpose as I understand it is not to watch but to participate. Is that right, nyctango?

I went at the last moment to the Tango Piazzola show. The dancing was decent, theatricalized tango and I was lucky enough to be with a table of Argentineans (travel professionals who were being brought there to sample the place so they could speak about it to clients) Meeting them made it worthwhile - otherwise it probably would have been all tourists. The food was not brilliant, but acceptable and while it was expensive for Argentina, it wasn't by US standards - in '05 about $55 for the evening.