Ciao Boludo: 2013

Alas the day has come to say my final ciao.

I have done every thing I could possibly pack into my stay and now it's time to do some other packing (those 99 shirts!) and hit the clouds and fly my way back to Santa Cruz, California.

I have had an amazing time and as my final blog I owe some big thank youz to all the peeps who have helped to enrich my trip.

Of course a big huge hug to my daughter Rachael, the best travel planner, tour guide, translator and travel companion in the southern hemisphere,

and to her novio, Owen, who kindly gave up both living room and workspace to the closest thing he has to a mother-in-law, without complaining or throwing me over Iquazu falls when he had the chance.


OWEN COURAGEOUSLY RESISTING TEMPTATION!

And to Ofelia, my personal morning makeup consultant for her advice and the use of her tail that time I lost my makeup brush.

I also want to extend my thanks to all of Rachael's friends and neighbors

SPIDERMAN LIVES IN RACHAEL 'S APARTMENT BUILDING SO I KNOW SHE IS WELL PROTECTED

who so kindly did NOT make fun of my poor attempts at speaking Spanish and who shared their maté with me even though I really wasn't a very fascinating conversationalist.

And to all the shop owners, cafe workers and everyone else who patiently stood by while I blundered along, I extend a my most grande GRACIAS. For the best cappuccinos I have ever tasted, I salute you.

(however to the grumpy Uruguyan waiter who wouldn't serve us, I say "we didn't want to taste your meaty bits anyway!")

Here's a few of my favorite photos to commemorate my trip.


IGUAZU FALLS IN THE MIDDLE OF A RAIN STORM...WE COULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN ANY WETTER!

THE FERRY TO MONTEVIDEO . . .

. . . AS ARRANGED BY OUR TRAVEL AGENT.

UP TO NO GOOD AS USUAL


LOCKED OUT OF THE PINK HOUSE!


PEOPLE GOT VERY UPSET WHEN THEY SAW ME TAKE THIS PICTURE . . . BUT THE TRUTH ISN'T ALWAYS PRETTY. THIS ROACH WAS ALMOST AS BIG AS THE ARGENTINIAN FLAG!


BEWARE OF ANGRY EMPLOYEES HURLING BRIEFCASES!?

WE FINALLY DROVE POOR OWEN OVER THE EDGE!!

MY FAVORITE ARGENTINIAN DOG

Traveling is a wondrous thing and really does add a new dimension to your world view.

(or is that just my new 3-d glasses?)

I am looking forward to going other places on the globe but for now I am also looking forward to coming back to California where I can get a real taco and Skippy peanut butter. You never know what you are going to miss but I am sure there is much about Buenos Aires and Uruguay that will pull on my heart strings for a long while.
For all of you who followed this blog and added your comments, I say thanks (and I actually did attempt to reply but for whatever reasons my thoughts went into cyberspace instead of on the blog).
And finally, big besos to my adorable husband Stuart,

duck?

for his editorial skills, long distance IT support and airline valet services.
You are the BEST and I didn't find anyone in Argentina who could hold a candle to your love.
ciao ciao (that's how they say it in Uruguay),
J

Yeah, I know the title of this blog sounds like the name of some 7th grade urban metal band, (or maybe a certain political party?) but really this post is a showcase of a lot of the amazing graffiti and wrought iron I have seen in my travels around Buenos Aires and in Uruguay.
Pretty much every building has its share of ironwork and many also are covered with amazing graffiti and street art. Technically graffiti is illegal in Buenos Aires and elsewhere but there is a tacit agreement to allow it in some public places and sometimes on private buildings. Legal or otherwise it certainly makes any city walkabout worth while so I made a point to never leave the Rachael's house without my camera and I was never disappointed.