¡Hasta luego, Mexico, y que tal, Buenos Aires!

 Buen dia...... from the Wandering Berkmans!

We're still hearing Spanish but the accent has changed and the speed is lightening fast here in Buenos Aires whew!  

We limped into BA from Mexico City after a wonky last week of stomach issues (the joys of travel!) so our first days here were soup and crackers and early nights.  But we're off and running and tango-ing now!  

Before we get into BA, here are a couple of highlights from the last couple of weeks in Mexico City:

 Parque Tezozómoc⁩ features a man-made lake in the shape of the ancient Lake Texcoco, where the Aztec city of Tenochtitlan was built and where the center of Mexico City sits today.  The statues in the picture represent the natives finding the eagle perched on a cactus with a snake in its mouth, which is the symbol in the center of the Mexican flag.   After having taught this legend to students for years, it was cool to see this representation!

Another Quinceañera photo shoot (channeling Evita with those arms!) at the beautiful Japanese Parque Masayoshi Ohira⁩

‎⁨A series of calaveras (skulls) decorated by local artists surround the lake of the Parque Bicentenario⁩.  This one is covered entirely in small beads.  Incredible!  

Frida Kahlo's childhood home (and where she spent her last years) was covered in purple banners saying "All of us united, we are seen." to commemorate International Women's Month.

Diego Rivera's studio in the San Angel house he "shared" (via side by side houses) with Frida Kahlo was filled with papier mache figures he made in addition to the  murals he's famous for.  The studio is 2 stories of open air to accommodate said huge murals.

It wouldn't be a blog post without a picture of Don enjoying some delicacy! This simple meal of grilled chicken, beans and rice had him swooning. Mexico City has become his new fav food city-- who would have predicted it??

                                      

Here's the little angel.

On Sundays from 7am - 2 pm Mexico City shuts down 55 km of major streets and makes them bike and pedestrian only! Riding down the Avenida de la Reforma, an avenue continually clogged with traffic, it was so great to enjoy the sights of the city with everyone else, riding and jogging along.   We found this gem late in the game but will remember it for our next visit!

 What better way to celebrate my birthday then spend it at a Drag Show lunch with some of my favorite people!  Zach, Tavo, Don and I cheered, snapped our Pride fan and sang along to 90's Spanish torch songs.  Get into the mood with Thalia and her iconic Entre El Mar Y Una Estrella    

And in today's Slice of Life, Don joins the locals for a surprise treat on the street outside of the Bosque de Chapultepec. It's true-- cotton candy does taste better when you catch it flying in the air! 

It was another terrific visit to Mexico City- we love seeing Zach and having him show us his world and we love discovering things on our own.  ¡Hasta la proxima!

Quick thoughts on Buenos Aires so far-- 

    --tango is in fact not danced on the streets everywhere! In fact, because we aren't dining indoors we may be hard pressed to find some tango because the shows largely include a dinner.  Our search continues!

    -- uh things are cheap.  We mean super cheap.  We thought Mexico was inexpensive but this place takes the cake!  And by almost exclusively using cash for the better exchange rate, we're walking around with wads of cash that ultimately are worth very little.  Using the advice we got from other nomads in BA, we send money to ourselves via Western Union, walk out with bundles of pesos and we're good to go!  750 pesos for a nice bottle of Malbec (argentine wine)?  ok! (that's about $3.75)

-- there are not, in fact, steak restaurants on every corner.  As a matter of fact, we've seen what seems like even more vegan and veg restaurants and health food stores.  The steak backlash perhaps?? Maybe more people like to cook on their home parrilla (grill)-- there are butcher shops a plenty and they all carry charcoal as well.  

-- we're actively seeking out drinkers of mate (pronounced "MAH-teh"), the traditional loose tea drink.  Signs to look for-- small groups, normally in parks, with one person carrying a leather case long enough to fit the thermos and wide enough for the tea container, the gourd cup and the shared metal straw. Vending machines on the street sell just hot water so you can refill up your thermos as needed.  Very cool! 

Check out the do's and don'ts of drinking mate here.   Our host thoughtfully left a mate set up for us in our Airbnb.

                                         

Not sure which mate to choose from?  Based on the offerings at our local grocery store, there's an entire aisle of varieties to sample!  

 

Ok, off to explore!  On the agenda today-- Western Union for more cash, back home to stash it away (!) and then the Centro Cultural Kirchner to see an interactive exhibit of the tango composer Astor Piazzolla   .  Give him a listen today as you make your coffee, tea..... or mate!

Be well and thanks for following along!!

Don and Monica

argentina