More Cordoba Pictures

Here are some more pictures from Cordoba and my outings...Buenos Aires
pictures t follow...

http://picasaweb.google.com/argentineyankee/MoreCordobaPictures02#

Tennis Anyone???

I have been in Buenos Aires for 4 nights....here are some of my highlights thus far:

Monday ...had lunch at the corner cafe with my mom, aunt and uncle.
afternoon siesta and dinner delivered to my apartment (a nice juicy steak and flan for dessert)

Tuesday ...Hang out with my new friend Christy...she is also here visiting Buenos Aires on an extended leave. We went out at night to a local watering hole for ex-pat's...called Shoeless Joe.
It just so happened that Tuesday's is free beer for the ladies. I had no problem drinking
Quilmes, an Argentine beer...Christy chose a nice Malbec. It felt good to speak Ingles!

Wednesday...Christy and I walked all over town; I was her official translator. She is trying to sign up for an intensive spanish course...this is when we realized that we were definitely in a Latin American country...couldn't get a definite answer at all...and no..she is still not signed in for a class.

Thursday...had lunch with my mom...walked again...to a Chilean supermarket chain called JUMBO...it's like a mixed between Target and Metropolitan Market. In other words, I could of stayed there for hours...but fortunately we bought a few things and heading out for our afternoon coffee. Tea and scones is what we actually ended up having...very British of us I know! They bring the tea pot to the table, the place is full of people and all the tea cups and saucers are a mismatched...I love it!
I discovered this place on Wednesday with Christy...it's going to be my "regular spot"...3 blocks away from my apartment...and as if that was not good enough...who walks in but no other that the recently 2009 Crowned US OPEN CHAMPION...and latest Argentine Idol...Juan Martin Del Potro!!!!! Really!!! He is as tall in person as in TV....very nice eyes ...very nice, humble and sooooo young ;) I was kicking myself for not having my camera with me...but I couldn't help myself...had to aks for his autograph...I know so uncool of me...but I just had to... :)

Now is Friday morning....7:30am...the city is waking up...I can hear the buses passing by below my window and the upstairs neighbor,,..walking on her heels as she gets ready to go to work.

Me....I am just fixing myself a cup of cafe con leche...

Food Shopping

Venture out alone this morning to the local supermarket, named DISCO.

This is a trip I thought, I would know what to expect and not have any surprises; I was wrong!

Without setting foot inside, I encountered my first surprise :) I stand by the first door I see and wait for it to open...it didn't ...so I thought to myself..."...must be an exit" and proceeded to the other double door, by then realizing that they were NOT automatic :)

Once inside, the lay-out is American style smaller. But, as in everything, there are exception beyond the food which is expected. Loved seeing dulce de leche, fresh pasta, the bakery looks delicious...but then the surprise was that when you buy anything from produce they have to weight the item(s) before you go to the check out. Those that know me well, know how I get lines. Once at the checkout line, I waited, lines are the same as in the USA...long and slow...
as I waited...I kept looking and noticing how short all the cashiers where..how weird I thought!

As I got my items out of the basket, and got closer to the cashier...I noticed that they are ALL sitting down...:)..hence their low height...

Buenos Aires...Here I come...: )

Packed my bags in Cordoba and arrived in the "Paris of South America"...
Left the camera cord behind, so I won't have pictures for a few days.

BUENOS AIRES...(tranlation= Good Air) ...Buenos Aires sounds nicer no?

All week-end there have been celebrating the arrival of Primavera/Spring :)
On Sunday, ALL high school and university students hung out at local park and have a little festival. Today Monday, they celebrated by having NO CLASSES.
I'm finding out there are a lot more Holidays celebrated here. It makes the school year look like
the Month of November in the Nothshore School District :)

Student Day, Teacher Day, Professor's Day, Day of the Child, and the list goes on...!
Btw: because of the reversal of seasons (Argentina is below the equator), school stars in Mid-March thru the end of November.

My studio apartment is on the 9th floor. It's cute and I have a little patio...all the conveniences of home in 600sq ft...the only thing I'm missing is an OVEN! The great news is that in this city ...everything IS DELIVERED TO YOUR DOOR...via roller blades, bikes, carts...I can have my groceries, order dinner...and I don't mean just pizza...I mean a full range of restaurant food, a steak, fresh pasta, even ice cream. The ice cream is delivered in scooters with a cooler in the back...and then it is delivered to your apartment in individual mini coolers....gonna have to order some just so I can take a picture for the blog... :)
I can also take my clothes to the laundromat or dry cleaners, and they both home deliver.
Now that's service.

Eating In Argentina

Since yesterday we've had, what I lovingly call "seattle weather". Overcast, gray skies and light rain. People here are ready for Primavera/Spring :) They badly need the rain, we are surrounded by dirt and the songs of birds, it´s time for some green!

I´ve taken advantage of the weather to be lazy...I know, already I'm not working so how can I be any more lazier (sp?is it a word) I think my sister was right, the longer I stay, the more my "ingles" will suffer.

Eating in Argentina is an experience, coffee shops hardly sell you a cup to go. Drinking coffee is a

sit down occassion...even if you don't eat anything else.

For the most part, whether in the city or the country, here is how an Argentine eats:

Breakfast - Coffee black or with milk or MATE, a gaucho typical green tea

8:00-10:00 with FACTURAS /their donut equivalent but more European in style

or toasted/crackers with butter & jam.

Lunch 2 hr/3hrbreak/ If they can, people go home to eat and take a nap.

13.00-17:00 Most stores close during these hours.

If you look at their plates you´ll think it was dinner time.

Today's lunch / as per above picture is called PUCHERO=Beef Stew

PM Snack Called MERIENDA - Whether at home or out and about, you take about 30min.

18:00-20:00 to drink a "Cafe con Leche" and some cookies, or a beer with a mini sandwich.

Dinner Another big meal ..but that I mean... they COOK again...

21:30-23:00 Typical dinner could be a steak and potatoes or a pasta dish

It's very common to linger even longer at the table, especially during the

week-end hours.

The secret to their svelte physiques I think ..is WALKING...lots of walking!

PS: the 24 hr military time is used throughout Argentina...no A.M nor P.M here

A few more food pictures can be found by clicking below..promise to add more soon

These is the... SEE FOOD DIET...Look at the dishes I´ve been exposed to during my visit, but with the benefit of not gaining an ounce. Wish I could say the same :)

http://picasaweb.google.com/argentineyankee/ComidasArgentinasArgentineDishes#

Pictures #3

Ok...last one for the night...

http://picasaweb.google.com/argentineyankee/SalidasEnCordobaOutings#

More Pictures #2

Here´s Another link

http://picasaweb.google.com/argentineyankee/Argentina2009#

So far I have been unsuccessfull at being able to put all pictures in one folder...

More Pictures

I´m still trying to download more pictures. I´ve entered them in "picasa" at my brothers suggestion (my technical support team)...here´s one of the links...

let´s hope it works

http://picasaweb.google.com/argentineyankee/ArgentineYankeeGoesHome?authkey=Gv1sRgCIu9ntOa3c_cpwE#5382262401789915986

Province (State) of Cordoba

I have been staying since my arrival in Argentina with my Dad´s one & only brother Luis, called always by me as Tio Yiyi...although now his 2 beautiful grandkids call him Yiyo :)-

My "tio" together with his wife of 43 years, Tia Lidia operate a year-round vacation retreat in the Sierras de Cordoba.

Their website is: http://www.bosquencantado.com.ar/

I´m in cabin #1 called CEDRO...closest to their home-

Their city is named ICHU CRUZ, population 800. Only the main road into the city is paved! But they do have all modern necessities even wi-fi although my laptop is not liking it, so I´m at the mercy of using my uncles laptop and it´s spanish keyboard. Yes, it is different than the English version, very similar but the differences are enough to slow me down :)

Here are some of the different keys used in a Spanish keyboard:

ñÑ,...as in Niña (girl) or pequeño (small)

¿ in Spanish you put a question mark at the beginning and end of a sentence...¿really? Yes!

¨ don´t know how this one is used

{ } in parenthesis

[ ] not sure when these are used either

...you get the idea..the only extra letter in our alphabet is the Ñ..ñ

FYI...I hope to put more pictures in the blog but I'm having some technical difficulties

Those that know me shouldn´t be too surprised but then again...you must be impressed I have gotten this far ;)

Back to the family now, so easy to get sidetrack...Their 2 sons are Marcelo and Adrian.

My cousins operate a "kiosko" in the heart of a larger city named CARLOS PAZ. Marcelo is married with Soledad and they have 2 of the cutest kids ever...Rocio (name means Dew) she just turned 9 and Giuliano (William in Italian)..Guili for short ..pronounced (Juli) ---I know, when he visits us in the states some changes might be necesary :)

Adrian is also married. His wife is Natasha.

I have been spoiled to no end...not only do they not let me buy anything, I can´t do anything-and they all take time from their busy scheduled to show me their cities and try their favorite restaurants. Oh..I do think I made the right decision to come visit haha---

U.S. OPEN---VIVA JUAN MARTIN DELPOTRO

Last night for the 2nd time in the History of the U.S. Open Tennis Tournament an Argentine player won the Title. The first time it happened was in 1977 and it so happened that on that day, I was also in Argentina...and with my brother listened to the game on the radio until 3am when he won!! The winner then was Guillermo Vilas. Last night I watched it on color TV...with my aunt and uncle....THE VICTORY WAS JUST AS SWEET...

First Impressions...Arrival in Buenos Aires

I arrived on Sept 3 into the Buenos Aires Ezeiza International Airport. The anxiety of customs approaching always gets to me. The question is will they open my bags or not? In the past, it used to be that if they opened them and liked something they liked they would keep it...but looks like that is a thing of the past. I sailed thru customs without any problems.

There is a limit of $300.00usd allowed into the country (total value of items that remain in the country)...but although it was hard to pack for 82 days, I only brought a few gift requests that luckily didn´t add to the maximum allowed. (..and that's the story I´m sticking to...:)

Upon clearing Customs, I found my aunt and uncle waiting for me. The drive back to the city is about 50 minutes. The traffic patterns have not changed, the roads are a little better but the same rules apply. The roads are ruled by the size of the vehicle, it is typical to be in a 2 lane highway with at least 3 or more vehicles across. In order to make the "porteños" (people from Buenos Aires) obey traffic signals, they have now past a new rule...If you drive thru a RED LIGHT...they impound your car!

FREE Miles---What a Great Invention!!!

OMG!!!! Thank you Steve for so generously giving me your miles so that I could travel back home in splendor style....it will be very hard for this "new diva" ;)...to go back to coach class after such excellent service from American Airlines...Champagne before departing...Fresh Salad, Lamb Medallions with Scalloped Potatos, a nice glass of red wine. Fruit Salad and Lemon Gelato for dessert. The airline seat not only swiveled (is this a word?) but reclined into a bed.

Could have flown for another 10 hours, seriously :)

THANK YOU!!!!

What? You going to Argentina? For how long? Why?

Bienvenidos! Welcome!!! I'm stepping out of my comfort zone by attempting to write this blog...a first for me...but thanks to Katie N.....I´m now in..and hope to make her proud :)

My first and foremost intent is to keep a record of this "Once in a Lifetime Experience"-

After 40 years away from Argentina with only 3 short visits during this time, I have returned

for 82 days.

On July 15 of this year...I slipped in front of my house on wet grass and landed with my forehead on the sidewalk...luckily my daughter was home and drove me to Emergency. Ten stitches on my forehead, a mild concussion and several cuts and scratches later...I was home mending and wondering...now what? Quiet time is good, we dont usually get that luxury often, but when we do, it can be a scarry thing :)...at least it was for me!

...At this particular time in my life I find myself a little lost.

Samantha is away at University, I´m still grieving (I always will be) for my son Steven, who was killed by a drunk driver 2 years ago. Since his death...I often say that we are all living a "new life" ..his Dad says that "...some days are harder than others but they all hurt". Nothing seems the same or at least I don´t see everything the same. I continue to hope and try for as many good things to happen out of our tragedy but this takes will-power and energy...and Im tired!

So while recuperating from my fall, and with family and friends support I decided to return home, take time off ...rediscover my birth country and take time to just be....me..whatever that might be or where ever that might take me... welcome to my journey...:)