New Amigas
Trip Start
Dec 05, 2005
1
32
41
Trip End
Dec 09, 2006
Rosario, Argentina
Friday, November 3, 2006
I was delighted when she invited me to spend the weekend with her and her family in Rosario. Being a backpacker you are even more grateful to be back in a family house again.
You soon realise that kissing is the norm in Argentina. A kiss on the cheek to say hello, good morning, good night, before you leave the house and for any other apparent reason. Whether you are a stranger, male or female you receive a kiss from everyone!! You feel rather LOVED in Argentina. I even received a hug from the Cocker Spaniel named VITO.
Laura speaks perfect English and proved to be a wonderful tour guide and translator for all her family and friends.
We managed to walk for miles on Friday night. All the way along the river, looking at momuments and strolling down boulevards. Supper is always a late event so by 2300 we were starving and stopped off for fish at a Tapas restaurant.
Saturday, proved to be an energetic day. Laura invited her friends Gaby and Luciano to come Kayaking with us. Gaby´s brother was participating in a charity race on Rio Parana.We spent the day kayaking and sipping MATE´on the various islands. Luciano proved to be a great teacher as we paddled away in the double kayak. LEFT, RIGHT, STOP, LEFT, LEFT, STOP.
MATE´ definitely has an acquired taste. You never see an Argentinian leaving their house without their thermos flask and their MATE´. There were plenty of thermos flasks on this trip as the ladies love their MATE´. You can tell by the expression on my face what I thought of MATE´.
Mate´ comes from the Yerba Mate plant. The mate was first used by the Guarani Indians for magical and ritual purposes. The Jesuit priests proved it was important for human health, eliminating fatigue and stimulates physical activity and the mind.
On Saturday night I was invited to join the family ASADO. That´s braai to the South Africans and BBQ to the Europeans. Lauras dad ASADO-ed up plenty of delicious, tender meat. My mouth is still watering. At midnight we hit the ice-cream shop. If you have no idea what flavour you want, far too many choices, you buy a 2 kg bucket. This you get to fill with different scoops of ice-cream. YUM YUM.
Rain is always needed. Sunday was a day of rest. In the evening the skies were blue and we headed for pizza and the salsa bar. I definitely need a personal tutor. My co-ordination is horrible and as a South African we wiggle our bums too much. It was great watching the experts tackle the dance floor.
I loved Rosario.
Laura¨: you have a lovely family. I really enjoyed my stay, I loved trying to speak Spanish, VITO is very cute and it was great to be treated as one of the family. Dad cooks a wicked Asado and your mother made sure I was well fed at all times. Muchas Muchas Gracias.
I hope one day in the future we can all meet up again. Even if we are 80 years old, with wheel chairs and walking sticks.
