The weather empathised with our moods on leaving the Estancia giving us a spectacular thunder & lightning storm to welcome us back to Buenos Aires. We were now staying in Palermo Viejo, a more trendy, café filled area of the city, in an architect designed B&B. We were disappointed to find that the Polo game we were going to the next day was cancelled due to flooding, so we headed back to San Telmo to check out the antique markets. It was great for Ben and I to recognise many toys from our pasts but once again were dismayed when our boys assumed we used gramophones when we were kids! After a swift history lesson we sat down at a stall for more Malbec and spicy empanada’s.
More Malbec & Empanada’s!
Our B&B
With the lovely Dishman Family
We also managed to meet up with the Dishman family again, swopping stories of our different ‘Gaucho’ experiences over a very tasty and healthy lunch. We tried to go to the park and the Planetarium with them only to find that everything except cafes really do close on Mondays! So it was to be an afternoon of ice-cream and parks, where all the kids were terrorised by the local toddler with a stick! Then back to their rented apartment in Palermo Soho for a pasta dinner and some serious kids movie watching. They boys have found a shared love of all things ‘Miranda’ with Fintan, Florence & Laila. We had also been in contact with Pilar, our estancia friend, who bravely invited Ben and me to her Tango class. Yes, with other paying clients, but Natalie the tango instructor at Tango&Tango was very determined that we at least master a couple of steps! I blame the fact that we don’t have any proper dancing shoes with us! Thank you Andrew & Amy for babysitting too, hope Peru is amazing, see you on the plane!
This was about as good as it got! Not quite Strictly, is it?
Our final night in BA we wanted to spend with Pilar and her Tango partner Fede, and met at a local Parilla for a fantastic dinner. Ollie ordered his favourite Argentinean specialty ‘carne milanese’ (a bit like Wiener Schnitzel) and Cameron practised the Spanish he learned from Pilar on Fede, and we shared our final Argentina beef feast! Spending time with Pilar has been brilliant as she and Fede gave us an insiders view on life in BA that you don’t get from guidebooks and we can honestly say that Pilar has become a good friend who we know we will see again, maybe in the UK!
Dinner with Pilar & Fede
Now we are off to Patagonia, Chile for the next part of our adventure. Ollie is very excited to see what wildlife Chile has to add to his animal spotting, Cameron is wondering just how ‘chilly’ it’s going to be and Ben has his camera ready for his first sight of the Andes!
A long flight from BA to Santiago, to Puerto Montt and finally to Punta Arenas in Patagonia, Chile – all in one day!!
Sounds like Argentina has been a fantastic place and one that you may return to. I was very impressed with the ‘Goucho’ as was Charlotte, in fact if she had her way that’s where we would be on holiday next year !! Although please tell Cameron that she ‘dismounted with style’ yesterday during her lesson. She went over a jump the horse landed and so did she on the floor over Matilda’s head- she’s sporting some pretty impressive bruising !.
I have to say that Ollie you have been sporting some pretty impressive hats on this trip! & mr and mrs Walker very impressed by the dancing ! – new hobby perhaps?
Stay safe and enjoy Chile – looking forward to hearing what it’s like. S xxx
Hi, hope Charlotte is recovering from her ‘dismount’ and isn’t too black & blue. Hope she got back on her horse! I can see Charlotte loving the estancia life, lots of riding, good food and lots of freedom. Good luck getting out of a trip here now, how is Grinner’s frequent flyer points looking? Don’t suppose it’s on the Easyjet route for next year? Ollie is certainly loving the hats, he keeps ‘losing’ them so he can get new ones, it’s like a male version of the ‘shoe’ gene. Not so sure about the dancing though, I did end up with sore toes and frankly Ben’s a bit too tall to be my partner. Chile is stunning too, will post soon. Ax
Buenos Aires sounds great, but Even BA can’t improve Ben’s dancing, surely? But great posture both of you. Loving the hat Ollie, you look really cool and Cammo I’m sure Chile will be warmer than you think……or maybe not? Travel safe. Nick xx
Mmm, not sure what will improve Ben’s dancing but I don’t think Tango is going to be his new hobby, it was fun but really hard to look halfway decent after only 1 hour. Chile is chilly but quite stunning and watch our for our next post – Ollie has another new hat! In fact he could have his own webpage just for the hats! Hope you are all well, Love Ax