Autumn in Buenos Aires

The seasons are opposite here, so your spring is our autumn.  And like most of the world, warmer temperatures are persisting longer than normal, of which we are taking full advantage. Buenos Aires has an extensive system of gorgeous green grass and tree filled parks, the most beautiful of which happens to be located in our neighborhood of Palermo.  Some of our lazy weekend afternoons have included picnicking alongside a Palermo pond, wandering aimlessly throughout the famous Rosedal (rose garden), touring the urban Zoo, and catching a polo match at the stadium practically in our backyard.  We watched England play "El Resto del Mundo," (The Rest of the World).  The Rest of the World trailed the entire match, though came within one goal before England pulled away in the last chucker.  I sported Cat's Oxford windbreaker, a questionable move given the continuing animosity leftover from the War of the Falkland/Malvinas Islands.  I figured the civilized world of polo would be safe.  

One memory we have to share took place one Saturday a month ago.  Cat and I took a national-holiday-inspired free city tour on a huge yellow bus that might have been the Yellow Submarine in a previous life.  Upon arriving at the meeting point in the center of town at 11am, the time indicated in the newspaper, we learned that it was advertised for 9am on the radio, and 1pm on TV.  We were the only foreigners in a line of disgruntled Argentineans that spanned a couple blocks, with everyone calculating whether they would get on one of the four buses, and maybe even sit on the open-air upper deck.  Needless to say we made both cuts, only to have the microphone sound system malfunction, straining the pobrecito guide's vocal chords and only catching half of his words.  The ridiculousness of the experience and the elevated vistas of the primary government and historical buildings, made it well worthwhile. 

Cat's dear friend, Jenise, just visited us this last week, inspiring an impromptu trip to Mendoza.

What a sport, she arrived last Sunday morning from the international airport only to board a plane later that day in the national airport.  We shared a delightful three days in Mendoza, wine touring two of the days in the world renowned valley's of Uco and Lujan de Cuyo, and taking a high mountain historical tour that included views of Mount Aconcagua, the highest peak in the world, minus the Himalayas.  Though Argentina is known for Malbec, we learned that the Malbec varietal grows much better in the Valley of Lujan de Cuyo, whereas the Pinot Noir grape grows best in the Uco Valley.  One unexpected highlight occurred at our first winery tour and tasting on our last day spent in the Uco Valley.  Turns out that the sweetness in La Celia wines comes from much more than just careful artistry.  La Celia happens to be one of the few, if not the only, socially conscious wineries in Mendoza.  They operate a community day care for staff and laborers, they run a food bank, and they use high environmental standards, particularly in water conservation (note that Mendoza is a desert turned bloom).  Given Jenise and Cat's interests and work in socially conscious business, you can imagine their excitement at this serendipitous discovery.....so much so, we toasted and drank wine.

Tired and wine filled on the bus trip home