We left town for the weekend

We went to the beach. Mind you it is late 'winter' here but it was a great opportunity to get away from the city, enjoy time with new friends and to see another part of Argentina.

We were invited to stay with friends who have a summer house in Carilo, an oceanside community that apparently is overwhelmed by porteno's (people from Buenos Aires) in the summer months. I knew I would like this place because, if this sign was lit above the fireplace, it meant the bar was open (and Lothar never turned it off the entire weekend!).

We had hoped to play some golf but it rained all day Saturday, so we hung around and watched the Ryder Cup. Late in the day it did stop raining so we went for a walk on the beach which was about a half mile from where we were staying.

Ok, it was a bit breezy and cool on the beach.

There are some pretty nice shacks on the beach. In the winter, you can rent quads and jeeps and drive up and down the beach as well. In the summer, it is wall to wall people vying for a spot on this huge beach.

Carilo is known for the forest that it is set in, the size of homes and a pretty spectacular beach that goes for miles and miles. The trees are full of parrot's nests and you can hear them squawking all day.

Lili, our host prepared a traditional assado for us. They have the perrilla inside their home. It is a large charcoal BBQ and you cook various cuts of meat and they are each served as a different course. Since Lily's husband, Lothar is from Germany - he and I enjoyed a few beers (Ok a lot of beers).

So, you mix this:

With this :

And this:

To get an amazing meal - so amazing even the chicken was exhausted!

Lothar pulled out his guitar and sang a few songs for us. It was a real treat to be part of it!

We did a bit of touring of Carilo and Pinamar on Sunday - this is how they deliver bread in Carilo......

The drive to Carilo (3 1/2 hours south of Buenos Aires) was just like driving in rural Alberta. Plains (or pampas), crops, cattle, horses grazing and except for the parrillas that you would find along the way, you could be driving Calgary to Red Deer.

Yes, those are cow parts grilling above charcoal on the side of the road.

B.