I wouldn't say that I have necessarily left you in the dust because the air in Buenos Aires doesn't stop long enough to collect. However, I realize that my blog has found a comfortable place chilling in the back of the fridge (I couldn't resist such a terrible pun). So, now that Mom and Dad are safely back in the US after a wonderful 2.5 week visit in Argentina, I am starting to get my routine (if that word even exists in the Argentine) back in order.
Here are some highlights from the last few weeks/month:
Mendoza: Mom and Dad came to visit and we headed to Mendoza which you could say is the Napa Valley of Argentina well known for its Malbec, most of which goes down very smoothly. We toured a winery, sat in the sun, drank wine, and enjoyed the countryside without the craziness of the city. They liked it so much that they changed their flights to stay an extra few days while I headed back for class. I was forced to actually do homework for six hours waiting for another flight after mine was cancelled. That was an experience. I showed up at the desk to check in after saying goodbye to Mom and Dad and watching them drive off back towards the Andes, and the attendants at the counter told me to come back in about 15 minutes, they weren't ready to check people in. I sit down and wait a few minutes and look up at the monitor to see "Flight Cancelled." I head back to the counter and there was absolutely no one, and I repeat no one. We all started calling the airline but no one answered because they were calling the desk at the airport, but no one was there to answer their calls. It was a big quilombo as we call it here. Eventually I made it home.
 |
| Oh hey wine. |
 |
| Aren't they adorable |
 |
| Lewis and Clarke |
The next weekend the three of us headed to an estancia or working ranch 2 hours Northeast of Buenos Aires. It has been my dream to get on a horse and take off riding in the open fields of the countryside, and aside from eating amazing food, that is exactly what we did that weekend. Wake up, eat, ride, eat, ride, eat, sleep. Quite the schedule.
 |
| Oscar the gaucho |
 |
| We got some good mate drinking in. |
The last night before they left, we headed to La Viruta a Milonga where porteños unite to dance the tango. The tennis shoe wearing foreigners stick to their beginner group while those who actually know what they are doing move with ease across the dance floor. I plan to return soon.
The weekend after they left I headed with my study abroad program to Rosario where the Monument of the Flag stands and the city where Che Guevara took his first breath of life. Apart from exploring the monument and enjoying the nice view from atop, we went to El Museo de la Memoria, a museum dedicated to remembrance of the 30,000 people who were kidnapped from their houses never to be seen again during the 1976-1983 military dictatorship.
 |
| The names of los desaparecidos are etched on the copper cilinders. |
This last weekend I went to Jazmín's house in the country. She grew up in a tiny little down about two hours outside of Buenos Aires and graciously called up a gaucho friend asking if I could ride one of his horses since she would be riding her yegua or mare. Within a few hours I found myself atop a retired polo horse that loved to run and whose breaks could use some WD-40, but it was an absolute blast. Jazmín and I rode in the fields for almost two hours until the sun started to go down and we all, two gauchos included, headed back to her house for some facturas (pastries) and lots of mate. It was surreal. Later that night we met up with one of Jazmín's friends, Eugenia and went dancing until 7 in the morning. Once again, a blast. The next afternoon when we finally woke up, it was parilla or BBQ time and we ate some amazing meat topped off with some good ol' estadounidense s'mores.
