Buenos Aires, Argentina

Our last big trip while living in South America and our last trip out-of-the-country was to Buenos Aires.  For Geoff and I, this has been our only repeat destination, though this time, our two children and my parents went with us, which was not the case when we were in Buenos Aires on our honeymoon. 

We spent almost two weeks there, first in the city and then at a countryside inn and polo club. Although Argentina is plagued with financial woes, the places we visited were still just as classy as we remembered without being run-down or even dirty.

Highlights included: good meals (and even better wine); polo lessons (much harder than it looks); the zoo; shopping; tango; city sight-seeing.

Argentina is famous for its beef. We don't eat red meat, so
we enjoyed the dairy. 

Nana, Leo and Eri on the Hop-On-Hop-Off bus tour.

Travel buddies.

We did a lot of shopping in BA, especially at the artesanal fairs.
About the only thing we didn't take home was from this booth
selling a variety of dreadlocks, which still make me gag a little. 

On a date, enjoying some really good treats and even better conversation.

These birds tried to eat Leo. 

Keeping a safe distance.

Ralphy.

Badass.

The view from our hotel rooms was the famous Recoleta Cemetery,
where Eva Peron and what looks like a lot of other people are buried. This was the
highlight for Eri, 4, who was fascinated by the concept.

Boca Juniors stadium.

Authentic Argentine bbq. The menu at this hole-in-the-wall place
listed "horse," but the woman assured me it was the style of the dish, not
the actual meat. Still, we didn't take our chances. 

Obligatory selfie!

Open-mouth kiss for Nana.

My dad and Geoff went to a soccer game …



… while the girls plus Leo went to high tea. Leo meat-pawed his way
through the crust-less sandwiches and all the little cakes, though we still felt fancy.

Our countryside inn and polo club:

Polo is huge in Argentina, so we spent a weekend at an all-inclusive
polo club, riding horses, swimming and relaxing.

Geoff and I took a polo lesson. He picked it up pretty quickly and played
well, while I enjoyed riding the horse and listening to our instructor's British accent.
Regardless, it was one of the most fun travel activities I've ever done. 

We played in match against a British couple. With my only polo
 knowledge coming from the Ralph Lauren insignia and completely lacking
Geoff's natural ability for the sport, Team America was defeated.

Eri and I with "Rosie."

Even after watching our polo lesson and all of its swinging and missing,
Eri told me she wanted to be on my team. So cute.

Happiness.

Life is good.