San Diego Wherein I meet Zoe and Remie

 

The above is neither Zoe nor Remie. We will meet them later. This is Tuesday, the most conversational cat I have known. She is the delightful hostess at Kathy’s and Phil’s home in Mission Hills, San Diego, CA. As I am still on eastern standard time, she has coffee with me every morning (while K & P sleep) gives me nose kisses, and updates me on the daily activities.

I flew into San Diego Friday night around 8 PM. Lola picked me up and took me to Kathy's and Phil‘s home where Lola‘s husband Adam was grilling lamb chops and waiting with the two kids, Zoe and Remie. Phil had already left for Palm Springs, where Kathy and I will be headed Saturday morning. The family ate Adam's perfectly roasted lamb chops while I drank myself silly. I got my brief introduction to Zoe and Remie. Zoe is 2.5 years old and a bundle of energy and curiosity.  She warmed to me rather quickly.  Remie is an infant and slept, completely uninterested in me.  

Phil’s  brother and sister, Barry and Janet, have time shares in Palm Springs where every year when the tennis tournament is scheduled they host a party. I have been kindly included this year in that party. Kathy and I drove there through the most beautiful mountainous areas that are just visually so complex that I could not stop staring at them. The timeshare complex is also beautiful but unexpectedly not desert-like. It is surrounded by two golf courses that are well watered. The party as Kathy described it had the vibe of a teenager party. There were about 20 people packed into a small living kitchen area. Lots of laughter, excellent food and ample wine made for a good time had my all. The following day, our plan was to hike before returning to SD.  It turned out to be too hot to hike. We had a quick lunch and then headed back to San Diego.

The next few days were filled with sun and fun.  

• Kathy and I met with Lola and the kids for a walk to the Old Trolley Barn Park in the North Park area of SD.  Walking in the sun was a wonderful reprieve from the snow in Mass.  We had lunch back at the condo with Adam.  
• Electric Bike Ride. Kathy gave me a lesson on her electric bike.  My unsteady beginning quickly morphed into a stable ride.  Granted, I'm no Evil Knievel.  Kathy's neighborhood is hilly but free of busy traffic. I'll probably stick with my fat-tire lady bike to ride in my very flat area.  
• Sound Bath.  In Kathy's neighborhood is a yoga studio where we signed up for a sound bath.  A sound bath induces a meditative time that promotes relaxation. One lies in a darkened room while instruments like Tibetan singing bowls, gongs, and chimes are played. I found if very soothing. My mind could use a regular clarifying.
• Taco Tuesday.  Yes, it's a thing.  A great thing where friends and/or family gather each Tuesday to eat tacos.  I must add that I can never have too many tacos.  We again met at Lola's along with Kathy's friend Maryanna and walked the few blocks to the taco stand with the entire gang.  My mouth is watering as I write this.  It was a laid back, sidewalk dining and cooking time.
• San Diego Zoo.  I had such sweet memories of time spent here with Wayne.  Kathy, Zoe and I rode the aerial tram that goes from one end of the zoo to the other with views of Balboa Park.  We made a round trip and met Lola, Adam and Remie back where we started.  It was a nice afternoon of birds, hippos, monkeys and snakes.   

I flew Jet Blue to and fro.  I highly recommend it.  The only snag was the tornadoes over the midwest which caused a flight delay from 11:30 to 1:30. (There was also the national TSA sick out which did not affect San Diego but cause a bit of pre-flight apprehension.) This put me in Boston at 11pm and home at 12:30.  Pics of my time at flickr.

Buenos Aires Recoleta Cemetery Day 10

Recoleta Cemetery 

Our very busy and interesting day started with a visit to the Buenos Aires Recoleta Cemetery.  My first thought?  This is just like the New Orleans Metairie Cemetary. But, after a few minutes, I realized the Metairie pales in comparison.  The Recoleta is like a well cared for monument city.  It covers 14 acres, all of it above ground. The most noted occupant is Eva Peron.  Condé Nast does a much better job of illustrating the wide avenues and mausoleums than I did.  

Our schedule in Buenos Aires changed two days ago when Gaston received word that massive anti-government protests would take place on January 23, the day of our flight.  Tauck arranged the flight change for this morning.  It was chaotic at the airport and when we arrived in Chile our bus and guide were not waiting.  It seems Tauck had not verified the change in arrival with them.  After a long wait, lunch on Gaston, and and even longer walk to the arrived bus, we drove 2.5 hours south to Vik Chile in the Millahue Valley which is in the heart of the Chilean wine country.  As you will see in my Flickr photos we got to see the beautiful Andes against the sunset.  The hotel very generously waited dinner for us about 10pm.  My Buenos Aires and Hotel Via pics at Flickr.

Estancia and San Antonio de Areco, Argentina Day 9

Gaucho presentation at Estancia

We headed out early this morning for San Antonio de Areco about a 2 hour drive. It has been declared a city of historic national interest by the Argentine Government. Here we visited the Draghi Silversmith Museum where Juan Jose Draghi was the forerunner of the revival of traditional gaucho silversmithing in Argentina. On view were traditional gaucho belts, sabers, stirrups, as well as contemporary jewelry and high relief placards.  The shoppers in our groups spent a great deal of time in the gift shop.  Wayne and I walked to the park and listened to the birds. 

After listening to the birds, we boarded the bus to Estancia, which is a ranch (normally for rearing sheep or other cattle) that in this case is a place for Polo horses and Guachos. All the Polo horses were on sabbatical. But we had a nice glass of wine and then an impressive gaucho show.  The first show involved 2 gauchos racing under an arch with a keyring size ornament that they tried to spear with a stylus. They were extremely fast and pretty accurate.  If the ornament was speared and remained on the stylus, the gaucho held it aloft and then presented it to a señorita he desired.  I got one!!!   Then the son of a gun got another ornament and presented it to another señorita...the two timer.  They also played a game much like football and one gaucho presented his horse as he had trained it.  Check this link to read about him and Flickr to see the photos of both placed we visited.      

Buenos Aires Day 8

 

No, that is not me on the left.

I absolutely love Buenos Aires.  It is very sophisticated.  We began our fabulous day with our guide Alejandro leading us on a walk through Plaza de Mayo where we saw The Metropolitan Cathedral and the Casa Rosada. The Plaza de Mayo is a city square and the main foundational site of Buenos Aires. It was from the balcony of the Casa Rosada in Plaza Mayo that Eva Peron address the masses shortly before her death. We did not go into the Casa Rosada, but we did go into the Metropolitan Cathedral. Pope Francis was the Archbishop here for 15 years before moving to the Vatican in 2013.  There is a museum of his personal and liturgical items.  We did not see that.  This tour is more about brief observations of culturally important places or customs.  I haven't even known who the artists were in the cathedrals nor have they been pointed out. 

Lunch was at Cafe Tortoni, a beautiful Fin de siecle named after the Parisian cafe of the same name. It was where the elite of the Parisian culture gathered in the 19th century.  It still emanates that feel. It was selected by UCityGuides as one of the ten most beautiful cafes in the world. 

Tonight was a blast at the Tango Porteno Dinner Theatre.  We had a designated front row balcony area where each person posed with one of the dancers for photos.  I couldn't stop laughing.  The show was quite good.  The footwork was so fast I could hardly determine how it was done.  Oh, dinner was included.

Pictures at Flickr.

Iguaza Falls, Argentina Day 7

 

Rodents, Crows and Falls

I spent the last few months walking 5 miles a day in order to be in good shape for this tour.  What I should have done was readjust my sleeping patterns.  We have had to be ready to roll no later that 6:30 am every day.  Today luggage had to be ready to roll by 6:30 which meant I had to roll by 6am.  My regular roll time is 8am.  But, it is all worth it.  We rolled across the Tancredo Neves Bridge over the Iguacu River and into Argentina. The falls are still beautiful but the crowds are huge here.  We had to option of taking an upper trail and lower trail.  We skipped the lower trail just because of the heat (90*) and the crowds.  Everyone was very considerate but you could hardly move.  After lunch we headed to the airport for our flight to Buenos Aires where we will be staying at the Alvear Palace Hotel. 

The hotel is another Belmond.  They are all a bit different but all elegant.  Buenos Aires has a very European feel as does the hotel.  Dinner tonight offered the best tenderloin so far.  We sat with Jeannette and Pete.  It was great food, good conversation.  Pictures at Flickr