Drive through shopping

At stop lights, many intersections become locations of commerce.

Vendors sell anything and everything - religious articles, newspapers, flowers, ice cream bars, chocolate, colored marker sets, kites, fishing rods.

Things for kids are popular....especially if they are in the car with you.

Ar rush hour, it gets even busier - with 6 to 8 vendors offering different items at the same red light.

The vendors leave their products out on display as well - although I still havent figured out the appeal of the oversized tennis ball.

B.

Fernet & Coke (or Fernet y Coca)

On the weekends, Mimi & I like to go for walks. This time we headed toward Paseo Alcorta, a mall that has a grocery store. We just wanted to pick up a few things. On the walk, we went by the Plaza de la Flor, where the 'big flower' is, there was also a 'big' advertising campaign on as well.

Meet Coca Sarli - a whole lot of Coca Sarli. 1882 of her in fact.... ...all numbered.The promotion was for 1882 Fernet. The park was filled with 1882 images of Coca Sarli.

Fernet is an Argentine drink (that tastes like Absorbine Jr but is quite popular mixed with Coke or as it is known here, Coca).

Coca Sarli, a famous Argentine actress is now 74.

She was Miss Argentina back in 1955.

B.

Quick trip back to Calgary

I travelled back to Canada for a quick visit. It was great to see Mimi, the kids and Cooper. Mimi had been back for a few weeks while I 'slaved' away at the office here.

When the kids were here back at Christmas they became fans of Esperanza's empanadas. While I couldnt bring them back I did return with the hot sauce we enjoy here. I also brought back containers of dulce de leche which was enjoyed with ice cream. Thank goodness for ziplock bags.

The weather was lousy while I was there but I did manage to get out golfing with some buddies - in the rain. We had some fun.

I did drop into our office in Calgary to catch up with a few folks. It was a busy place with everything going on so I kept the visit short.

The main purpose for my trip was so that the kids could host my 50th birthday party. The timing of my trip changed because of work commitments, so there was a scramble to pull it together. They did a great job. They borrowed a house (thanks Cindy & Peter), arranged catering, got out invitations and the sun actually came out. It was nice to see friends and get caught up and have birthday cake.

So whether you are 5 or 50, you still get to wear the crown on your birthday!

B.

Watch the world go by

Along 'the stroll' near the Recoleta cemetary is a strip of restaurants & cafes. They have redone the area where all their patios are set up.

I had gone for a walkabout one afternoon and sat down at La Biela (a well known cafe right on the corner) to watch the world go by - and it does. There are locals and tourists and buskers and entertainers. You can sit down on the patio of a cafe like La Biela and order a coffee. The staff are professional.... and they are quite happy to let you sit there all afternoon. All that world-watching does generate quite a thirst. La Biela has pretty nice mugs too (and that isnt a coffee mug).

B.

Pisco Sours...

Played golf on Saturday and then afterwards went to friends for chicken wings & Pisco Sours (yes, the night before the 10 K race).

Pisco would be one of those national drinks that you have to be careful with (alcohol content aside). You know how with champagne, you can't call it 'champagne' if it isnt from the Champagne region of France - well two countries (Peru & Chile) are in a dispute over who has the right to claim the name (or origin or home) of pisco which is an aclcohol distilled from grapes.
Whoever claims it, it makes for a good mixed drink (which will sneak up on you and hurt you) called a Pisco Sour. The variation we enjoyed consisted of: one part (a really big part) pisco, one part fresh squeezed lemon juice - from lemons picked from their tree in the back yard...one part water, 8 teaspoons sugar and one egg white. Throw it all in a blender with ice and spin it all up.
Dangerous - tequila dangerous.

Down here the champagne (I mean, sparkling wine) is also very good.
B.

Family

Family is culturally very important here in Argentina.

There are the usual celebrations for Father's Day and Mother's Day (there is the unique one here that I like - Friend's Day) BUT there is another special one.

It is called Children's Day.
The brunch at the Alvear to celebrate it sounds like it will be a blast.


Paying 240 pesos (about 70 bucks) for your 3 year old to have brunch sounds like a bit much..........but hey, the wine is included.

B.