So as always I mean to blog, and I don´t..
2018 hasn’t really been the amazing year I have wanted.. We sit almost 110 days into the new year and I am in a very uncomfortable position once again being an expat... it is called *everyone leaves, but you stay*.. It is the absolutely hardest part of this lifestyle we have chosen.. I hate it.. I hate it more than traveling or escargot.. and that´s saying something! It leaves me heart broken and right about this time of the year I really go into a funk!! This morning I woke to another text of a mom leaving for Shanghai.. I cried... for longer than I should have but I did..
But this year.. year 4 I am pulling my ass out of the funk and continuing to blog, which I once very much so enjoyed and forgot that I did.. so I am back.. people always say I should write a book about my life here.. maybe one day but for now I just blog the travel and fun things we manage to do!!
2018... not much to say.. it hasn´t been or rainbows and sunshine, though my year of happiness on my instagram might say a different story.. LOL
So pics.. what have we been up to..
So year 2018 saw my oldest announcing ´hey mom.. I want to be vegan´.. yes in the land of meat, meat and here eat some more meat my daughter.... the vegan. So off we are.. finding soy meat, hydrating it to a yummy texture of mushy dog food and then transforming it into a vegan delight.... lettuce wraps... we are 4 months in to this new lifestyle.. we try vegan when we can.. and now Nola and Cora are both on the bandwagon.. better for the environment they say.. (just to note Scott and I have not changed.. we love the meat)
So summer in Buenos Aires is amazing.. the weather is great, the city empties out and it is easy to go out and about.. do we?? Not always, but we try!! The Bella Arte is a free museum here in the city and it is amazing.. but I will say after a day of dealing with the girls not really wanted to do more than watch YouTube I sorta feel like this lovely woman below...
So to break up the long break of summer (where everyone else in the school leaves for home, but which we stay for).. we headed to Curaçao!! With a nice stop over in Bogota to reconnect with friends.. I love this photo... it is silly and dumb, but I love how 4 kids can completely just gel easily and chit chat, fall asleep, send bad snaps of each other and generally make dinner amusing.. I was so thankful to see them and their mom and dad.. my heart needed it..
Landing in Curaçao.. heaven.. We stayed at the Lions Dive and immediately knew it was going to be perfect.. The beach area is protected by a lovely stretch of rocks which makes the water amazingly calm to be in.. We snorkeled, the girls scuba´d, we shopped, we ate.. we generally had a nice time..
I won´t lie and tell you this wasn´t one of my favorite things.. a Starbucks with a proper English muffin and sausage sandwich.. yup.. it was heaven.. and 2 minutes from the resort..
On the way back we made one more stop over in Bogota and Nola was able to get some ´friend´ time. (ME TOO)... I am so thankful we were able to pull together a brunch and a bit of shopping with these kiddos.. I adore this photo.. and all that it stands for.. friendships no matter the distance when worked on can easily pick up exactly where they left off..
Coming back to BA, starting second term.. ahhhhhh.. good to be back.. plenty of 3 day weekends up and coming to enjoy.. so we head to Santiago, Chile.. with a nice day trip to Valparaiso....
Hard to see in this picture.. but it is a shopping cart, with a propane tank attached heating up oil in a HUGE drum to cook chicken on the street with... omg.. it smelled heavenly... I am not going to lie.. I was tempted.
Valparaiso has the most insane and amazing graffiti art scene out there.. this was one of my favorites.. of the about 200 pieces we saw..
So below is heaven in a drink!!! When we first went to Santiago, Chile 87 years ago when we only thought we had a short time to visit everything.. we had this amazing drink.. peach juice with a peach and wheat husk... cold and yummy.. don't doubt me.. just try it!!
So upon returning from Chile, I turned 44.. it was a tough birthday for me one which I had hoped no one would notice and I could slide by.. but lucky me and I do mean lucky me I am surrounded by some amazing friends.. This year on my 44th birthday I was treated to the most amazing tour (private, with a guide, before the doors open.. yeah I have THOSE friends) of a building I have been dying to get into... the Kirchner Cultural Center.. and it did not disappoint. Once the post office for Buenos Aires, this amazing building was recently transformed into a series of open spaces for use by artist, musicians, poets, etc.. there is even a lovely hang out space to do yoga in and listen to classical music during the day..
this was my favorite art piece.. it is a stained glass tiles hanging from the ceiling below a stained glass window panel.. the light, the colors.. they were simply amazing..
The view from the top.... followed by a German lunch at the Club de Alemán here.. Like I said I was spoiled!
This cookie is so good it really deserves it´s own blog.. it is a maple cookie... Canadian.. made by the most lovely of Canadians.. I might do a blog later about my love for all things and persons Canadian.. I might...
So I had hoped for my birthday to go and see Rod Stewart who I love!!! but instead we went to Montevideo, Uruguay to see Phil Collins.. the US equivalent of driving from Houston to Austin.. or from New Jersey to NYC.. just a quick boat trip over.. I so stole this video.. I can't figure out how to load my own video.. cause I am 44 and technology is scary..
So Scott likes to explore.. and there is a lot of things to explore in this city if given the time and willingness to do so.. Let me say exploring Tierra Santa, the worlds largest (claimed to be ), religious theme park was very, very interesting.. I will be honest.. it is well put together.. there is an eagerness to show the life of Jesus Christ accurately and without bias. This bigger than life jesus though.. is nothing compared to the one that pops out of the mountain 3 times a day... I posted on my Instagram feed.. it was priceless..
again, not my video... I need my kids to help me.. sad times, sad times..
Vila la Nata, Tigre, Nordelta.. blessed to be surrounded by nature in my adopted home
Did I mention I love food.. LOL.. I do.. and I love it even more with friends and homecooked.. spoiled and blessed.. this was the best Malaysian food I have ever eaten EVER!
So we have two amazing ladies at the School who organize all sorts of city tours.. this building is Aquas Corrientes.. The Water Building.. amazingly beautiful and bonus there is a toilet museum..
So we are already to Easter.. time has been flying right on by.. the second half of the school year always seems to do that, but this year specifically. I have my oldest going to 9th grade next year and it seems that time for me is almost clicking by double time.. I hate it.
We were all set to go to Puerto Veras in Chile when Cora and I came down with a wicked wicked stomach virus. This was the first time we have ever cancelled a trip.... and the first time we have ever spent a holiday home.. Scott likes to travel!! But we stayed in BA.. and we checked some things off our bucket list.. Museo Larreta.. set in Barrio Chino you don't think this would be there.. but it is lovely.. with open gardens and sculptures.. this was my favorite.. cause it is all sorts of heads in a box.. I just giggled..
So Scott loves pizza.. I mean loves.. we have tried I would say over 100 places for pizza since moving here 4 years ago.. this was the last of the 'big ones' we needed to try.. super old, super local and no frills.. you go and order, you que to pay, you eat standing up.. the traditional is a stuff fugazetta pizza with a slice of faina (chick pea pizza) on top.. what is there to say.. I am glad we don't live close.. I would be there daily..
since you order just a slice they use a wooden block to keep the cheese in on the rest of the pizza you order from..
We look happy.. we had moments of happy.. come to find out 5 days together at home.. we get a bit cranky.. LOL but we are family.. we make the best..
Café Tortoni.. a must in BA.. churros and hot chocolate.. checking this off of Scott's bucket list.. the girls and I are pretty regular.. I mean it is churros and hot chocolate..
Scott and I took a tour of the art installation at the Recoleta Cultural Center.. funky to say the least..
We are ending this blog on a high note.. my kids.. while we are struggling with the normal middle school stuff that goes on (I mean who as an adult says I loved 7th grade.. ) it has been a good 110 days plus.. Nola is eagerly looking forward to 9th grade and working hard towards advancing in math and Spanish.. meanwhile Cora is securing her place in middle school and finding her voice.. she recently hosting the schools Tedx event with her friend.. I was wowed at how she was so calm and collected..
So I look forward... We have made the choice to stay another year here in Buenos Aires.. We are thankful for the opportunity for Scott to continue at a job he loves and the kids to continue at a school that is wonderful and supporting!! I look forward to more exploring and more blogging!!
This pic is just cause.. I mean look at that dollface.. still gives me the side eye
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