Aunt Merci and Preggi Cousin

I only saw my aunt Mercedes and my cousin Sol once on this trip. My aunt put me in the subway and took me to a surprise location. Once we were out of the escalator and into the street I realised where we were going: La Puerto Rico, my favourite coffee shop in Buenos Aires. I used to go to this cafe to purchase coffee beans for my boss. Every time I entered La Puerto Rico the aroma of exquisite coffee inundated my senses. I could almost taste the thick flavours of freshly brewed coffee and imagine a shiny croissant sitting delicately beside the hot cup. I used to love sitting there on the dark wooden chairs and marble tables and read whilst drinking a cafe-latte and looking at the black and white pictures on the walls. The coffee tasted nearly as good as it smelled. The place changed quite a bit since then, but the magic still remains. Thanks Tia!

Solamente vi a mi tia Mercedes y a mi prima Sol una vez en este viaje. Mi tia me subio a un subte y me llevo a un lugar sorpresa. Cuando salimos de las escaleras hasta la calle, me di cuenta donde estabamos yendo: La Puerto Rico, mi cafe preferido en Buenos Aires. Solia ir ahi a comprar granos de cafe para mi jefe. Cada vez que entraba a La Puerto Rico el aroma exquisito de cafe inundaba mis sentidos. Podia casi degustar los ricos sabores del cafe recien molido e imaginarme una medialuna brillante puesta delicadamente al lado de la taza. Me encantaba, cuando podia, sentarme en las sillas de madera oscura y las mesitas redondas de marmol a leer mientras tomaba un cafe con leche y miraba las fotos blanco y negro colgadas en las paredes. El cafe sabia casi tan rico como su olor. El lugar cambio bastante desde entonces aunque aun mantiene ese magia del pasado. Gracias Tia!

 My cousin Maria Sol and her 5 months pregnant belly. She is pregnant with her first child. Good luck, Sol!
Mi prima Maria Sol y su panza de 5 meses. Espera su primer bebe. Suerte Sol, que salga todo bien!

I was very happy to meet Dani, my cousin's partner. He is such a nice guy and he made really nice mates.

Muy contenta de conocer a Dani, la pareja de mi prima. Me cayo muy bien y sabe hacer ricos mates!

The streets of Buenos Aires CBD, a very busy place, lots of people, lots of cars and lots of noise. Very nice buildings, very European.

Las calles de Buenos Aires, un lugar muy atareado, lleno de gente, lleno de autos and mucho ruido. Muy lindos edificios, muy europeos.

Charlando con Simi

Palermo Hollywood

Palermo Hollywood is the new name of an old suburb of Buenos Aires. Its streets are loaded with shops and very expensive merchandise as well as cafes and restaurants. We walked along the streets and looked at stuff. I took photos and we ended up having merienda (afternoon tea) with my eldest niece Sofi and the whole Garate family. I didn't buy anything.

Palermo Hollywood es el nuevo nombre de un viejo suburbio bonaerense. Sus calles estan cargadas de negocios y de mercaderia carisima, asi como tambien cafes y restaurantes. Caminamos por las calles y miramos cosas. Saque fotos y terminamos merendando con mi sobrina mayor y todos los Garates. Yo no compre nada.

Teacher

One of the nicest things I got to do whilst being at the Garates was to visit my niece's classroom and share a story with the class. I read a book titled "Where is the Green Sheep?" I had bought this book for my niece because she is learning English at school, so I thought it would be an easy and enjoyable book for the whole class. I also showed them another book, called "There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Mozzie" because it had pictures of Australia and some of the native animals. The kids were so excited and my niece was particularly happy. She helped me turned the pages and enjoyed being the "teacher's assistant". I really loved the chance to share a moment of her special classroom and I hope she enjoyed it too.

Una de las cosas mas lindas que pude hacer cuando estuve en lo de los Garates fue visitar el aula de mi sobrina y leerles un cuento. Lei un libro llamado "Donde esta la oveja verde?" Lo habia comprado para Simi porque ella esta aprendiendo Ingles en la escuela, entonces me parecio que seria facil y que los chicos lo iban a disfrutar. Tambien les mostre otro libro llamado, "Habia una viejita que se trago una mosca" porque tenia dibujos de Australia y de algunos de los animales nativos. Los chicos estaban super contentos y mi sobrina estaba particularmente feliz. Ella me ayudaba a dar vueltas las paginas y realmente disfruto siendo la "ayudante de la maestra". Realmente me encanto la oportunidad de compartir ese momento en el rinconcito especial de Simi, espero que ella lo haya disfrutado tambien!

 I love this photo, it's so sweet! Amo esta foto es tan dulce! I love you sis!

Surprise!

This is what I found when it was time for my shower. My funny brother in law and my niece wrote a message on the shower wall, it reads: Wash yourself properly, dirty untie! Nice.

Esto me lo encontre de sorpresa cuando me toco banarme a mi. Mi cunadito in my sobrinita me escribieron este mensaje. Que bien eh!

Time for a Shower

After such a busy day it was time for a shower. My poor sister has her hands full with these two rascals!

Despues de un dia tan ocupado era hora de banarse. My pobre hermanita tiene sus manos llenas con estos dos jaimitos!

The Plaza

That same afternoon we took the kids to la Plaza, a typical Buenos Aires park. It isn't really a park, it's just the size of an empty block with kids' play equipment. Being in the middle of the city means that it doesn't have a lot of green and it isn't very spacious, but at least provides a fun space for the kiddies, given that most kids in the area live in small apartments. We spent a while there running around them, particularly Lorenzo, who is prone to quickly disappear from your sight. I love Lolo and Simi so much and I miss them immensely.

Esa misma tarde llevamos a los chicos a la Plaza. La plaza es algo muy bonaerense, no es realmente un parque, es mas bien del tamano de una o media manzana vacia con juegos para chicos. Como esta en el medio de la ciudad no tiene mucho verde y no es muy espaciosa, pero al menos provee a los chicos del area de un lugar para jugar, ya que todos viven en departamentos pequenos. Pasamos un buen rato ahi corriendo detras de los chicos, particularmente Lorenzo, quien es rapido para desaparecer de tu vista. Amo a Lolo y a Simi y los extrano inmensamente.

Going Out

The first day at my sister's house we went out and about. She lives in the city suburb of Palermo, it is really nice there, with tall trees and old buildings. We run a few errands together and had a nice stroll around town. It was very nice having a walk with them all.

El primer dia en lo de Valeria salimos a pasear. Vale vive en el suburbio centrico de Palermo. Es muy lindo por ahi, con arboles altos y edificios viejos. Hicimos un par de cosas por ahi y nos hicimos una linda caminata por el barrio. Me encanto caminar con todos ellos.

 The buildings in Buenos Aires are very close to one another. It's so typical of that city, I think that the city is overcrowded and there is not enough space to have gaps between the buildings. At times I felt I couldn't see the sky!

Los edificios en Buenos Aires estan re pegaditos unos a otros. Es muy tipico de esa cuidad tan sobrecargada de gente que ya casi no queda espacio. Por momentos parecia que no podia ver el cielo.

This is my sister's building. She was saying that there are days when she has to do all these by herself. Take her two kiddies, the bike, the stroller and all the bags that go with it. Poor little sister!

Este es el edificio de mi hermana. Me decia que a veces tiene que bajar todo esto ella sola. Los dos chicos, la bici, el carrito y las bolsas...pobre sis!

At the Garates

My last few days in Argentina I spent them at my younger sister's house where I got to enjoy my two youngest nephew and niece. In this photo we can see my crazy nephew Lorenzo acting up on his high chair, probably laughing or screaming whilst my sister, Valeria, tries to serve dinner. Eze, my brother in law, had cooked dinner for us and left to play soccer. His empanadas were delicious! It was so nice to be with them, living their day to day life even if was for a short time, it gave me a snap shot of their daily routines and I got to spend quite a bit of precious time with the little ones. Thank you for having me in your home and sharing your lives with me. I love you all (even if my laundry wasn't nicely folded like at my other sister's house, he he).

Mis ultimos dias en Argentina los pase en la casa de mi hermana mas chica donde pude disfrutar a mis dos sobrinitos mas pequenos. En esta foto podemos ver la locura de mi sobrino Lorenzo, mandandose alguna en su sillita, probablemente riendose o gritando mientras my hermanita Valeria trata de servir la cena. Eze, mi cuando nos cocino la cena y se fue a jugar al futbol. Sus empanadas estaban deliciosas. Fue muy lindo estar con ellos y vivir sus dia a dia, aunque haya sido por poco tiempo, me dio una imagen de sus rutinas y ademas pude pasar tiempo de calidad con los pequenitos. Gracias por dejarme invadir su hogar y por compartir sus vidas conmigo. Los amo a todos (a pesar de que mi ropita no estaba dobladita y guardada como en la casa de mi otra hermanita, je je)

 Yummy empanadas caseritas. Creo que mi hermana hizo algun relleno. These were the yummy empanadas, I think my sister made some of the fillings.

My gorgeous niece Simona (Simi) was dressed for bed and probably giving me the "script" so that we can play together. I had to stick to what she said, word by word (Bossy boots???)

My preciosa sobrinita Simona (Simi) lista parala cama y probablemente dandome el libreto para jugar juntas. Yo TENIA que adherirme al libreto, palabra por palabra (Mandonita????)

Sofia and Indiana, my two eldest nieces, they are simply beautiful, both inside and out. I miss you!!

Sofia and Indiana, mis dos sobrinas mayores, son simplemente hermosas, por dentro y por fuera. Las extrano!!!

Well, this photo says it all, "I am naughty, crazy, loud, but so cute and irresistible!" 

Esta foto lo dice todo, "Soy kilombero, loquito, ruidoso pero tan simpatico e irresistible!"

Bettina, my older sister, and Sofi, her older daughter, don't they look exactly the same?

Bettina, mi hermana mayor y Sofia, su hija mayor, no son igualitas?

So much love going both ways! Tanto amor yendo y viniendo!!

My baby nephew looked really sweet when he just woke up, but he didn't seem to appreciate my presence in his room so early in the morning. He only wanted his mummy, cuddles and his dummy!

My sobrinito bebe era tan lindo y dulcito recien levantado, pero me parece que el no apreciaba mucho mi presencia matutina. Solo queria a su mama, abracitos y el chupete! Mi amor!!!