Argentina: Dec 28th – Jan 1st

Off the ferry and post immigration procedures, we were received by our Argentinean friend Pancho who arrived in a truck with a Texas A&M sticker on it and of course a girlfriend in the seat next to him: a true Aggie! After dinner in a restaurant overlooking a lake we called it a night at our generous host, Pancho’s apartment.

Buenos Aires
The next morning after coffee we took a train to the city and headed to most popular street called Florida. Refueled at a really nice coffee house called Aroma with veggie sandwiches and very good coffee (got Tava’s stamp of approval).

Our next stop was the La Recoleta Cemetery and its adjoining church. The Cemetery includes graves of some of the most influential and important persons of Argentina. It contains many elaborate marble mausoleums, decorated with statues, in a wide variety of architectural styles. The entire cemetery is a mysterious city itself, laid out in sections like city blocks, with wide tree-lined main walkways branching into sidewalks filled with mausoleums. Pictures from La Recoleta

Maradona's legend
After a very surreal walk through what was like a celebration of the death, we took a bus to the neighborhood of La Boca: the place from where the famous football star Diego Maradona came from. We walked around the colorful streets of Caminito where you we see outdoor cafes with free visual treats of tango dancing. Then we walked to the famous Boca Junior Stadium to see Maradona’s beginnings. La Boca Pictures

We then headed back to Florida Street and visited the Galleria Pacifica a mall in a very old historic building that still stays true to its past in a big way. Florida street pictures

We headed home, freshened up and headed out to the neighborhood of San Telmo, which is very famous for Tango etc. We walked the streets for a little and saw some people do really cool Flamenco. After a sumptuous dinner we called it a night.

Tigre delta
The next day we headed to the city of Tigre. The city sits on an island delta created by several small streams and rivers 28 kms from Buenos Aires. After a relaxing boat ride and a walk around a nearby fair, we ate at a really nice river-side pizzeria. The day ended with a nice dinner, a desperate attempt at trying to see some really good tango and finally with the best ice-cream in Argentina at a place called Perissco. Pictures from our ferry ride on Tigre

In the Pampas
The next morning after a usual fun breakfast we loaded up Poncho’s truck and headed out to his ranch to join his extended family there for the New Year celebration. We reached the ranch after a 3hour drive to be in midst of miles and miles of green pastures and a lovely old ranch house full of family, some 15-20 :).

After a dip in the pool the boys went picking wood while Carmen and I took a lovely long walk. By the time we got back the barbeque had been stoked L (poor “lamb”). Festivity for the New Year rolled in with food, wine and entertaining conversations. Pancho’s family set a lovely table for all of us for dinner. After the long entertaining dinner and toasting of the New year we took a little stroll in the night. When we got back everyone was ready to head out to go dancing (around 15- 17 of us) in a near by town of “Cachari”. So, at what was called “Stigma Disco” we danced to crazy songs like “Funky town” and guess what the crazy Argentineans start partying at no earlier than 3 (in the night) and continued to trickle in until we left at around 5 am!!!

After a short night/morning cap our sweet host Pancho and Angie took us horse riding. Archana overcame her morbid fear of animals and managed to let the horse walk her around for a while and Tava went galloping and riding the horse with Pancho alongside him. It was a truly exhilarating experience. We then returned to pack up by which time Pancho and Angie made us a special meal: a lovely rolled vegetarian sandwich in this really sweet soft sponge like bread. Really yummy: needless to say we hogged. After saying goodbye to Pancho’s family we headed back to Buenos Aires airport where we bid adieu to our friends Cramen, Pancho and Angie. Pictures from the ranch

Adeus/ Adiós
It was one hellava trip and would have been nothing like that but for Miguel, Carmen’s mom, Pancho and Angie. And there would have been no trip but for Carmen, who means a world to us. We thank each one of you for this memorable time.