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I’m here!

It’s now Monday, and I have been here for six days. My friend Pauline from Toronto is with me until Friday, so this is vacation time for me. I will get back to work on Monday.

panama-canal

On the way down, we had a 9-hour layover in Panama, so my taxi guy, Luis, took us to see the Panama Canal. Quite fascinating as we watched two huge tankers going through the gigantic locks. Here’s a photo of the two of us there. Unfortunately, I didn’t realize it is the rainy season in Panama and it poured all day! Oh well, as we say in Scotland, holiday rain isn’t so wet!

 

Summer is almost here in Buenos Aires, although not fully yet. But it’s sunny and in the low twenties, so nice for walking — and we have walked!

On our first day we went up to see Plaza San Martin, and we found a rolled up red carpet and some Canadian and Argentine flags. Apparently we just missed the prime minister’s visit!mario

My friend Cecilia took us to a party at her friend Mario’s house a couple of nights ago and that was lots of fun. It’s always good to get to meet local people. This is Mario giving us his traditional Argentine asado.

 

 

 

I have some catching up to do and I’ll do that over the next few days. But I am just so-oo-oo happy to be back in my beautiful Buenos Aires!

 

 

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Last Post — for Now

Well, the great 2016 Argentina adventure is over. I came home last weekend, and I’m not happy! Actually, I probably feel even worse than I would have done, because I’m sick. Seems to be a recurring pattern for me in recent years, but I’ve come home with a nasty case of bronchitis and I’ve given myself the task this week of getting well. So I’ve done no work, and I’m only doing this because I want to round everything up for those who have been following me through the blog.

I finally stitched the videos together, and here they are.

Christmas in Cuenca.

This is how the good people of Cuenca celebrate Christmas as a community. Lots of fun.

Futbol!

Great souvenir of a night I’ll never forget.

Tango

My tango lessons with Alejandro were a highlight of my whole adventure. This little video was shot after I had my last lesson, and I must say I’ve watched it many times already because it instantly transports me back to this place I love so much.

Thank you again for following me through this blog. I hope I managed to convey just a fraction of how much I enjoyed my time in Argentina, and maybe even inspired some of you to put it on your travel list.

I miss you, my beautiful Buenos Aires. I’ll be back just as soon as I can.

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Buenos Aires: a Book Lover’s Paradise

Coming from Toronto, where the choices in bookstores are limited mainly to Indigo and a few smaller places, I am amazed at what I found here in Buenos Aires. It’s a city that honours books and writers, and that shows in the number of bookstores all over the city. I snapped all these photos on the same couple of streets, and I’m sure I didn’t get them all. They all seem to have people browsing in them all the time.

El Tunelbookstorelibros

Most of them have cafes inside, where people happily drink coffee while looking books over to decide whether to buy them or not. Try that in Indigo!

 

 

 

grand splendidThis one is my all-time favourite bookstore anywhere. It’s called El Ateneo Grand Splendid. It used to be a 100-yearold opera house (presumably called the Grand Splendid), but it wasn’t being used any more. In Toronto it would have surrendered long ago to the wrecker’s ball and been replaced by a condo building. But here, they made it into what they justifiably describe as the world’s most beautiful bookstore.

The photo is taken from the stage, which remains complete with curtains and serves as the cafe. There you can have anything from a cup of coffee to a full course lunch complete with wine — and all with a pile of as yet unpurchased books by your side!

AteneoI didn’t feel like sketching today, so I cheated. This is a sketch I did on my last visit. Ever wanted to find a quiet spot to read and have nobody bother you? Check out the buy in the bottom box!

 

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Christmas Eve Parade

This parade is a Cuenca tradition. It goes on all day, so you can pop in and out as you wish. Apparently all you need to do is dress up (either you or your vehicle) and join in! I never saw any marshals, and I never saw such an exuberant parade. Here are some selections from my photos of the event. Christmas in the Andes!

CuencaParadeNo1CuencaParadeNo2parade16parade12

 

 

 

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First Day in Cuenca

Well, I arrived safely in Cuenca last night, after a 3-hour drive high up into the Andes. Even though I couldn’t see anything as it was dark, I kept saying to myself, “I can’t believe I’m in the Andes!” I never thought I’d find myself here. Orlando, my driver, explained that we had to drive up to 4,000 metres and then come down (quickly!) to 2,800 metres, where Cuenca lies in a valley. (Glad I took the altitude sickness pills!)

Susan and Michael have a lovely, typically Ecuadorean apartment, which they have filled with Paradebeautiful local art. It is across the square from the biggest of the 52 — count ’em, 52 — churches in Cuenca! This morning we were treated to my first parade, which I’m assured happens every day until Christmas. Aren’t these little angels a treat?

The church itself has my sketchbook vibrating! Tomorrow, for sure.

 

 

 

 

We took the double-decker bus tour this afternoon. I took this shot to show Cuenca AboveCuencain its mountain valley, and Susan assured me I had actually come up over those mountains last night — maybe it’s just as well it was dark!

Tonight we are going to a Solstice party — never been to one of those before, so it should be fun.

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I’m not there yet!

I’m still in Toronto, but only 7 more sleeps till I’m off!

This blog will be my way of keeping in touch with my friends and family while I am on my grand adventure in South America. I won’t be sending you any updates or emails, so just pop over whenever you feel like finding out what I’m up to.

If you want to comment on any of the posts, please do. I’d be happy to know you are following me.

So the next time I post will be from Cuenca, Ecuador, where I’ll be spending Christmas with Susan and Michael. Can’t wait!

Hasta pronto!