The trip started in Buenos Aires, and Pedro and I had been there for the weekend before the parents arrived on Monday morning. My second time in the most happening city in South America, I fell in love with it even more. I think it had something to do with coming from relaxed and small Montevideo, but I was continuously amazed at the size and energy of the city – at 1pm party-hoppers were still moving club to club from the night before!! After picking up mom and dad at the airport we headed stright to the hotel in downtown and then cabbed it to El Caminito, my favorite touristic spot of the city where Tango originated and still defines the neighborhood today. We enjoyed a welcoming drink, ate lunch, and enjoyed some live outdoor tango shows. Despite their jetlag, mom and dad were up for more city exploring, and we checked out the Casa Rosada (President’s house), Plaza de Mayo, and leather markets. We finally found a working ATM before hitting the shops, and Mom was so relieved she yelled as running from the ATM to the cab “I’VE GOT MONEY!!!!” We died laughing as the taxi driver looked at her aghast explaining to Pedro that she really shouldn’t do that in downtown Buenos Aires.
Dad got an Argentinean OFFICIAL jersey in wonderful Carolina blue, and Mom and I searched for good jewelry and leather deals! The night started with a little Fernet, the liquor of champions in Buenos Aires – a little like Jagermeister, the minty liquor is just not good the first time you drink it, so we swallowed it down with the spirit of “well since we’re here, I guess we HAVE to try it…” But dad actually liked it, I’m sure! Next we headed to “Siga la Vaca”, an all-you-can-eat meat restaurant perfect for trying a little of everything. We ended up spending a little longer in there than normal, because we felt bad leaving any leftover wine (we were pleasantly informed that yes, a bottle of wine does come with each person’s meal, not just a glass). However, the next day on the rocky ferry I was regretting the Argentine’s affinity for heavy wine-drinking and late meals…Pedro and I call it the “meat hangover” and it is just not fun.
Next was Montevideo, my home! I really enjoyed this part of the trip because it was great for my parents to understand and see my lifestyle; they stayed in the hotel where I live, saw my semi-dorm-style daily life, and walked around my neighborhood. We all tried Uruguayan beer and Tannat wine (the grape made in Uruguay) and enjoyed some of my favorite restaurants; I made them try chivitos, dulce de leche ice cream, parmesan cheese dip, and of course, meat!! Their favorite thing however was the alfajor, the infamous and delicious cookie sold everywhere in Argentina and Uruguay. We took them to a store where they could buy the cookies in bulk, and the astonished cashier asked me, “Do your parents know what alfajors are…?” Aka they should before buying 10 boxes…The store owners offered us free coffee and cookies as I don’t think they had ever had such good customers. That same day we walked around Mercado del Puerto, the most touristic spot of Montevideo by the main port of the city, and enjoyed lunch in the big warehouse-type restaurant that specializes in duh, meat, and Medio & Medio – the wonderfully easy idea of champagne and white wine mixed together (Another of Mom’s favorites!)
Coast of Montevideo!
So you may be thinking, did they just eat and drink the whole vacation? Well NO, and yes…Mom said moving from restaurant table to restaurant table is all part of the deal, right? The tradition continued as we road-tripped 2 hours to Colonia, Uruguay, on the Northwest coast of the country. We stayed in a 3-room bed-and-breakfast run by an old Argentinean man named Freddy, and was the perfect “last stop” to relax from the more fast-paced sightseeing! Mom and Dad had a wonderful back patio on their room, so both days we enjoyed Uruguayan wine in the nice weather. We played games laughing the whole time (wine came out of Mom’s nose – haha not really but almost) and we couldn’t help but feel at ease in the European style B&B, decked out in funky furniture and imaginative paintings. We toured the small, cobble-stone city at our own pace, climbing the lighthouse, checking out old ruins from Portuguese and Spanish invasions, and souvenir shopping the days away. The perfect way to describe Colonia is quaint, and honestly the bars, cafes, tea houses, and restaurants are the main attraction of the small town. One of our favorites was “El Drugstore” where we cheers-ed (salud!) to our last night together. The staff was so nice – we asked if they had nachos and they felt bad they didn’t – so brought us some spicy mayonnaise and saltines instead…inventive!
Cute Colonia
It was a true breath of fresh air to have visitors come, especially family! Certainly a vacation for us too; their trip took me out of my day-to-day life abroad and helped me realize once again that I am living a very foreign lifestyle! Sometimes I forget after being away for so long that I have actually made living abroad comfortable and familiar.
