a long, long, lonely time. I've been on a journey the past few months trying to determine what it is that will make me the happiest in my career. I apologize for the lack of consistency with this blog but my drinking hasn't declined much (ago I'm on a beer kick but the truth is that I've started a regimented diet of vegetables, some fruit, dark chocolate, chocolate milk, nutella and gluten free, wheat like bread. Oh yah, and cashew cookie Larabar's. That doesn't provide much room for wine, though with a pregnant wife there is plenty of pasta dishes that require some shark like red wine. We had a wonderful 2006 Argentinia Malbec. That was a nice year, somewhat underrated in my opinion, and if you can get your hands on any Mendoza Malbec from that year you won't be disappointed.
I'm in the United Kingdom this week for work and went to an Argentina steakhouse, Gaucho, last night for a team dinner. The restaurant is on the Thames river, just down the street from our offices in Richmond (a tony town about fifteen minutes from central London). After an extended happy hour at Pitcher & Piano, a UK chain of pubs, overlooking the river, we scurried over to the restaurant for an outstanding meal.
It’s all travel, all day long. Flight from Buenos Aires to Dulles (DC), then a couple hour layover and another flight to SFO (San Francisco). Security is rough. We had our bags checked before checking in with United Airlines in Buenos Aires (EZE), then we went thru multiple security checks & passport controls, before having every one of our bags personally searched & walking thru another check at the gate for the United flight. I have flown hundreds of thousands of miles and never experienced anything as thorough (or as I said overkill).
Last full day in Buenos Aires & Argentina. I’m saddened to know this is our last day in this beautiful country. We’ve seen the manificence of Patagonia, the beauty of Mendoza and the sophistication of Buenos Aires. I’ve loved each of them and appreciate that we were able to see such diversity in geology, people, development and weather. The highlight has to be the unsoiled nature of El Chalten, the town lacks a bank, paved roads, cell service, its where most of the planet was only decades ago and soon we all will wish there were unspoiled towns like this left.
Today is our shopping day, we woke up and started strolling thru Palermo Soho for coffee & breakfast. Then we shopped until lunch where we ate at Cluny. For the afternoon our plan was to visit the museum of modern latin american art, the MALBA. Leaving from our apartment, we walked down Avenida Sante Fe, then cut east walking alongside the city zoo on Republic de India, coming out on Avenidad de Liberadtor, towards the MALBA (only to found out its closed on Tuesdays). We decided to check out Buenos Aires’ reportedly most ‘sheik’ mall, the Sorrento, which is kitty corner thru a small park from the MALBA. After an hour or two we took off for Recoleta, walking a few more miles to the Park Hyatt and a wine tasting that had been recommended.
Started at the ferry building to purchase tickets for Colonia de Sacramento (Uruguay) but due to the holiday weekend it doesn’t look promising. It sounds like there are a LOT of vacationeers from Argentina already there as we can easily make it to Uruguay but getting back is the problem :) We’re walking thru Puerto Madero, then to La Boca, then ending up the day with dinner in Palermo Hollywood at Sudestro.
Last night was a late one, we didn’t get served until after 1 AM, so we didn’t get home until around 3 AM. I feel old, in my twenties that was an average time to bed on a Saturday nite. We’re walking the San Telmo outdoor fair, a weekly Buenos Aires affair for those looking for art, trinkets, antique glass spirit bottles or to spend some time walking outside in the beautiful (though too humid) BA weather.
We slept in to noonish, it’s nice to take it easy. Our plan today is, well, we don’t have any specific plans other than dinner at Sucre, a restaurant recommended to us by several friends, guidebooks and trusted online sites with user reviews. We’re also going to enjoy an afternoon glass of wine somewhere.
We’re up early today, walking around Recoleta, seeing some embassy’s (France & Brazil to name a few), we visited Evita’s grave site and walked endlessly for miles. In fact we walked the entire way back from Recoleta, with a detour thru Barrio Norte. The taxi ride there seemed like it took hours so its surprising we made it all this way back on foot.
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