The old man date?

View from the terrace of our apartment.

Finding friends in Buenos Aires has been a little difficult, especially Argentine ones.

Meeting cute old Argentine men, however, has not been so difficult. Today I was asked out on my second date with a man who clearly fits into the 60-and-older crowd, I'm not sure whether to be charmed or creeped out. Or perhaps I should be asking myself why I am attracting this crowd. 

Anyway, today's encounter occurred during my lunch break, while I was lounging in a park near the congressional building. I had spread out my jacket, bag and lunch across my bench, and when I saw an older individual amble toward me, I thought it might be rude if I didn't make some space for him. He, however, misinterpreted my scooching as an invitation for a chat. He told me that "of course" he would sit with me for "un ratito."

When I declined to head to the nearest bar with him (this sounds like a weird invitation, especially at 2 p.m., but it's actually not that strange here), Juan Carlos and I sat and chatted for a bit. After 10 minutes he promptly asked me for my phone number, which I gave to him because I was too surprised not to. Or perhaps I'm just that desperate for Spanish speaking partners. Just kidding. Kind of.

I've also struck up quite a friendship with my doorman, whose name is Jose, but who I have called Jorge and Juan on several occasions. I don't feel too bad about that, because despite the fact that we see each other five or six times a day, he asks me at least once a week to repeat my name for him.

Anyway, Jose, who is older and quite portly, likes to give me advice on everything from the best LavaRap (laundromat) to the cheapest gym to the best way to hold your purse on the Subte. This week he had just finished telling me something about our plumbing system (long story), when he called me back downstairs. "Escuchame" (listen up) he said, "If you ever want to go to the movies but you don't have someone to go with, I'll take you. We can go to Belgrano, or wherever you want." 

I was flattered. I think?