Argentina

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Thank you for participating with us!

Thanks for sharing our experience with us and all your comments, emails, calls, and encouragement. it really meant a lot to each of us and helped to drive the adventure spirit.

The blog metrics captured an average of 250 visitors each month with a peak of 400 in July. You can see from what part of the world in the audience map above. It has been a life changing experience, the Two Kids are now fluent in Spanish so don't let them get away with English on you ;-). We have to practice to maintain their beautiful vocabulary and accents!

I have to say--it's great to be back in the U.S.A!

Here's to a 2011 that is full of health, happiness and may none of you be too busy to enjoy each day! Worth a try, right?

Monday, January 3, 2011

The Finale

Well Dusan may not be able to come home since he's busy holding up the Obelisk.

We had an interesting civics discussion watching the grafitti artist in the neighborhood on New Year's day. There were a number of folks observing pleasantly enough trying to guess what he's making - like I say interesting civics lesson including "Why is he wearing a mask?"

Our little park in Canitas- bye park

We really enjoyed mingling with the Dakar racers. Poland definitely gets our cheering. This racer was so sweet and reached out to the Two Kids amidst the throngs of people to let them inspect his truck and wear his helmet. We voted him the nicest guy out of 430 entrants of the two week race.

The racers and their vehicles were at Le Rural and all along Plaza Italia. We went to say good bye to Alex and his family and the sweetest cab driver got up right in the middle of the action even after the roads were closed.

Thanks Buenos Aires! It's been very cool!

While in BA treat yourself to a Great Hair day by Javier Aranda

View of Recoleta Cemetery from Javier's private salon. Just so you know, the BA cemetery is on the do not miss tourist list. It's considered one of the most interesting in the world. Everyone that came to visit us went to see it and get the guided tour. This is a more cheerful and unique view.

Getting the private hair salon treatment from Javier is a Latin American treat you must allow for yourself. Javier is the sweetest and a very talented hair stylist. I found a referral to him on the BAexpat site and it was definitely a find. Javier did my hair on a Sunday night right after New Year's being thoughtful to leave my day free to get last minute things done before we head home this week.

Go see Javier and tell your friends too!

Hair by Javier Aranda

15-6360 5935

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Polo Day at Puesto Viejo

A New Year's version of flambe'

We took our visiting family out to Puesto Viejo where we enjoyed so much last week. Holly once again organized a great day of polo and horseback riding. Jeremy himself gave us lessons and encouraged our swings as neophyte as we are. Nick had a great time out on the horse---his first time horseback riding ever and he was playing polo by mid-day!

Lovely lunch at PV hosted by Jeremy and Holly

Cooling off after practicing swinging the polo mallet and actually hitting the ball.

Tony and Silvana at Cabrera for a grand parilla dinner

Complete with Chupa Chuys for pre-dessert. Kids loved that--the waiter came by 3 times and let them put as many as they wanted in their pockets!

Poloing around

Nick seriously working on his swing and Konstantin adoringly following him everywhere

Nick wanted flambee' and got it! Everyone thought it was his birthday so he got sung to by everyone in the restaurant in Spanish :-).

We are sharing a burst of photos from our mega touring with our family that was here for just a week as well as we are on our way back home in 2 days and I think the internet, phone, everything shuts off in the morning. It's been a great adventure and we are blessed with so many friends and support from work to enable us to experience life as locals. Everyone greatly improved their Spanish especially the Two Kids!

Thanks Max and Julian for checking in and welcoming us back home. Can't wait to see you next week!

Mega Exploring with the Family during the Holidays

At the Casa Rosada

In the Jardin Botanico

In the Casa Rosada exploring. We got great access!

Could be a relative...

Roaming around the Presidential palace

The Presidential balcony

Two young dictators, I can confirm that.

Welcome!

Lots of history at the 9 de Julio plaza

A favorite courtyard in San Telmo

Konstantin enjoying the mega bird house.

At the "alter" of the Museo Nacional de Armas

Lots of interesting equipment if you're a World War 2 buff

Looking out towards "heaven" of Dante's Inferno in the Palacio Barolo

Obviously they know Nicolas is from the tower ;-)

Where Barolo planned to safeguard Dante's ashes (inside the sculpture that is in the middle of the foyer and can be seen from the top floor). Barolo thought Italy would cease to exist after WW2 and was planning an homage and safe place for Dante in Buenos Aires creating a new center for the Italian culture.

Everything means something....You feel like you are in a Dan Brown novel. There are 2 floors with these marble columns. One has 60 and the other 40 columns adding up to yeah you can do the math 100 symbolic to 100 souls that are in process of being saved and on their way to heaven. The sculpture is down in the middle there, you can barely see it. You can see it from each floor. The tiles make several squares and geometric shapes all meaningful to Dante's book and the climb from hell below to heaven at the top where there is a light house. Also you don't see any corners in the foyer on the various floors, all rounded walls. Yes it means something but I forgot what.