As a side note, the kids discovered the true humor of farting on this trip. They learned how to do it on command, and for such small children, they smell AWFUL.
Oh, and they love to do it in public, like right now, in the crowded airport.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Never Never Land
After our italian restaurant, we entered the mall to find the Museum for kids. We got more than we bargained for. We couldn't lure the kids to the museum because there was an indoor amusement park/arcade adjacent to it. Think of a kids Las Vegas. It was crazy, roller coasters and other rides. Finally got them to the Museum. Hands down the best Children's Museum we've ever been to.
Great last day.
We topped off our last night and bowed to the tourists in us and went to a Tango show. It was a small, intimate setting of about 75 people and exceeded all expectations. I had to drag Rob out of the apartment to go, and by the end he was hootin' and hollerin'.
In the airport in Santiago now, waiting for our connection.
Don't cry for me, Argentina....but we may start crying as we say good-bye. Hasta La Vista, Baby. Oh, and yes, the Argentine's know that the Terminator is our Governer. All the taxi drivers quoted that line to us.
Great last day.
We topped off our last night and bowed to the tourists in us and went to a Tango show. It was a small, intimate setting of about 75 people and exceeded all expectations. I had to drag Rob out of the apartment to go, and by the end he was hootin' and hollerin'.
In the airport in Santiago now, waiting for our connection.
Don't cry for me, Argentina....but we may start crying as we say good-bye. Hasta La Vista, Baby. Oh, and yes, the Argentine's know that the Terminator is our Governer. All the taxi drivers quoted that line to us.
The empty passport
We tried to go to Uruguay today. It's a quick, 1 hour ferry ride, or so we're told. Kai couldn't wait because it meant another 2 stamps in his passport. We heard the beaches were incredible there.
Alas, it turns out people in Argentina celebrate Easter, too. Of course, they take 1-2 additional days off as they do for any cause for celebration here. Apparently, on vacation, everyone in BA goes to Uruguay. Not a single ticket was available on any ferry to Uruguay for the next four days.
Instead, we had another great day in BA. Went to a highly recommended Italian restaurant for lunch, because of it's proximity to the Children's museum. We were told to get whatever the specials were. Not understanding spanish well, we think we're getting fried calamari and mushroom ravioli.
Halfway through, we realize we have tender squid stuffed with "fruit of the sea". It was delicious and rich. It was washed down with a malbec and followed by our yummy looking raviolis.
yyyyyyeeeeaaaahhhh. 2 bites into the ravioli and a quick gag, we realize it's blood sausage ravioli. It is as bad as it sounds. Definition to follow.
Definition: A link sausage made of pig's blood, diced pork fat, and other ingredients such as onions and breadcrumbs. Also called blood pudding.
Reorder!~
Alas, it turns out people in Argentina celebrate Easter, too. Of course, they take 1-2 additional days off as they do for any cause for celebration here. Apparently, on vacation, everyone in BA goes to Uruguay. Not a single ticket was available on any ferry to Uruguay for the next four days.
Instead, we had another great day in BA. Went to a highly recommended Italian restaurant for lunch, because of it's proximity to the Children's museum. We were told to get whatever the specials were. Not understanding spanish well, we think we're getting fried calamari and mushroom ravioli.
Halfway through, we realize we have tender squid stuffed with "fruit of the sea". It was delicious and rich. It was washed down with a malbec and followed by our yummy looking raviolis.
yyyyyyeeeeaaaahhhh. 2 bites into the ravioli and a quick gag, we realize it's blood sausage ravioli. It is as bad as it sounds. Definition to follow.
Definition: A link sausage made of pig's blood, diced pork fat, and other ingredients such as onions and breadcrumbs. Also called blood pudding.
Reorder!~
Back in BA again....
Short n sweet now......went to Puerto Madera, an area by the river were you can catch a boat to Uruguay or jump on y0ur yacht and take a cruz in the river. Anyway......we really came down to this area to find the Churasco's, basically the equivalent of a roberto's on wheels, only w/ a bbq or Parilla cooking pork, sausage, and beef. We samples several and decided that the "pork sandwich" was the best, (forgot what the espanol name of it was) truely amazing though, all for $2. After gorging ourselves, we wobbled on over to the marina area and toured a turn of the century Naval training ship which circumnavigated the globe 36 times. Very impressive, however would be very unpleasant in high seas........for dinner that night I went to the market and purchased 2 chicken breats and 2 beautiful fillets. We cooked the chicken for the kids and it was amazing. Later in the evening I brought out he fillets, only to be suprised that they spread like a deck of cards.......oops! Didn't read the label very well, I purchased "spread like a deck of cards fillet" or Millonesa cut.......no stopping Big Papa though......sauted some ajo (garlic for you gringos) in olive oil and flashed the beautiful little "cards" and washed them down w/ a beautiful Blend from Alta Vista, Mendoza. Highly recommend this wine if you can find it.
Cioa!
PS - Big Papa's waist is expanding to the point of no return.
Cioa!
PS - Big Papa's waist is expanding to the point of no return.
Iguazu Fall - or Throat of the Devil
After debating for ages, we finally decided to go to Iguazu. Ironically, we've dragged our raincoats throughout this entire country, but decided to leave them in BA for our trip to the tropics.
It was a torrential downpour when we arrived.
Our other strategic mistake was timing. Our flight was at 9am. We haven't woken up before 9am our entire trip. By the time we reached the hotel, all of us were exhausted. We stayed at the only hotel inside the National Park and could see the falls in the distance from the hotel. Even with that motivation, the kids begged to sleep.
All walks to the falls were listed as 1-2 hours (and our kids cry if they walk more than 4 blocks). We wondered if we would ever make it. I was staring longingly at the postcards of Iguazu in the lobby.
Luckily, the magic of sugar and promises of ice cream remained key motivations and got us through the first walk. Thank god an hour to an Argentinian map maker is really only a 20 minute walk to a gordo american family.
The falls were stunning. So worth the effort and the trip. The sun even came out for us on the walk.
We were only in Iguazu for 24 hours, so the next morning, we headed out for the "Garganta del Diablo, The Throat of the Devil. I'm not sure the pictures will do it justice, but here they are.
After that, the kids were pooped. The three of us headed to the pool to relax for the last hour before our flight, while Rob sprinted down the lower falls, anxious to catch a boat ride. He arrived, as first in line of a 20 minute wait for a 12 minute boat ride that took him directly under the falls. He then took off the flip flops and sprinted barefoot back to the Sheraton to make our flight. You know how Rob likes to arrive early for the flights. He was "sweating" this one.
The falls were a highlight for Rob and I. The highlights for the kids were:
Mia: the crocodile we saw in the river. It was dead and we watched them pull it out. The butterfly that landed on my hand and gave me special power, the ice cream after the train.
Kai: the train, the swimming pool, and the key to the room. Mom and Dad let me go up to the room by myself.
Mission accomplished. Oh, and we caught our flight with time to spare.
It was a torrential downpour when we arrived.
Our other strategic mistake was timing. Our flight was at 9am. We haven't woken up before 9am our entire trip. By the time we reached the hotel, all of us were exhausted. We stayed at the only hotel inside the National Park and could see the falls in the distance from the hotel. Even with that motivation, the kids begged to sleep.
All walks to the falls were listed as 1-2 hours (and our kids cry if they walk more than 4 blocks). We wondered if we would ever make it. I was staring longingly at the postcards of Iguazu in the lobby.
Luckily, the magic of sugar and promises of ice cream remained key motivations and got us through the first walk. Thank god an hour to an Argentinian map maker is really only a 20 minute walk to a gordo american family.
The falls were stunning. So worth the effort and the trip. The sun even came out for us on the walk.
We were only in Iguazu for 24 hours, so the next morning, we headed out for the "Garganta del Diablo, The Throat of the Devil. I'm not sure the pictures will do it justice, but here they are.
After that, the kids were pooped. The three of us headed to the pool to relax for the last hour before our flight, while Rob sprinted down the lower falls, anxious to catch a boat ride. He arrived, as first in line of a 20 minute wait for a 12 minute boat ride that took him directly under the falls. He then took off the flip flops and sprinted barefoot back to the Sheraton to make our flight. You know how Rob likes to arrive early for the flights. He was "sweating" this one.
The falls were a highlight for Rob and I. The highlights for the kids were:
Mia: the crocodile we saw in the river. It was dead and we watched them pull it out. The butterfly that landed on my hand and gave me special power, the ice cream after the train.
Kai: the train, the swimming pool, and the key to the room. Mom and Dad let me go up to the room by myself.
Mission accomplished. Oh, and we caught our flight with time to spare.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
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