Wow, what a busy yet very eventful last two weeks I have had! I will start where I left off on Sunday 13, which was my host-sister's 20th birthday. The girls left to spend the day with their father so I spent the afternoon baking cakes and preparing dinner with my host-mother. It was great to finally bake/cook after not having much of an opportunity for the past three months, as well as a great conversation with my mother. That evening, about 12 family and friends came over for dinner. It was somewhat awkward as I didn't know anybody, but it was still a good time.
Sarah's parents and sister were in town for a majority of the week and on Thursday they took Rebecca and I out to dinner. It was great to finally meet her parents who I have only spoken to via Skype. Afterwards we went to the Buenos Aires Pub Crawl, similar to a bar hop. There is a meeting point and then as a group spend an hour or so at five different bars throughout the area. I was surprised, it was very enjoyable. Thursday was international night so we met a mixture of English and Spanish speaking people.
This was also the day Laura arrived! It was great to see her! I met her at her hotel after La Boca. My mother invited her over for dinner and made my favourite coconut and dulce de leche dessert, it's to die for!
On Saturday Rebecca joined us for the touristy sites of Buenos Aires. Sadly, the whole time Laura was here it was either raining or overcast, but we made it work! We started with Casa Rosada where Cristina Kirchner works. It is a beautiful building with so much history. All we could think about was the Evita movie with Madonna and expecting CFK to jump out and say hello, sadly it never happened. Fun fact: she takes a helicopter to and from Casa Rosada everyday..wonder if my future employer would pay for that? We then walked around Puerto Madero. That evening Laura, Rebecca, another Rebecca from our group, and I ate at our usual Argentine restaurant. We then went over to my friend David's house and then showed Laura the Palermo night life. It was a great time, although Laura needed a bit of adapting to this way of life. No worries, she was fine by the end of the trip.
On Sunday Rebecca joined us again to visit the Recoleta cemetery and market. To our surprise, the cemetery was massive! Obviously, our main reason for going was to see Evita's tomb, but it was interesting to see the elaborate workings on different people's tombs. The market was great and we were all able to buy hand-made, Argentine items. That evening Lauren's family invited a few of us from the group over for drinks and appetizers. It still amazes me how nice everybody's family in API are!
Tuesday was a very relaxed day. Since I have class in the early afternoon we were only able to walk around the parks in the Recoleta area. That evening we went to Cafe Tortoni for the tango show. Laura loved it!
On Wednesday we had originally planned for a trip to Tigre, but weather was not permitting. So, I still decided to take the day off from school and we spent the day shopping, visiting El Ateneo, and Havana. We both were able to buy gifts for friends and family in the States and I finally found my boots! I have been searching since last autumn for brown boots in the States and could never find any. I walked into one shop tried them on and I was sold! El Ateneo is a bookstore which used to be a theatre. It's a stunning building! Laura also experienced Havana and their famous alfajores. I sent some to mum for her birthday and I have been told to bring her another box when I return..they're delicious!!
Starting Tuesday or Wednesday, Laura was starting to get the sniffles so Thursday was very limited. We went to La Flor, a metal flower which opens and closes when the sun rises and sets and the Hard Rock Cafe for a last minute gift for her father. Afterwards I sent her home to rest as we had plans that evening. We went out with some of the girls from the group to 69, a gay/drag club. It was great! I've never been to anything like it before, but we all had a great time!
Friday was Laura's last night in Buenos Aires so we spent the day visiting the Evita museaum. It was also my host-mother's birthday so she was busy cooking for another group of friends and family for dinner. I bought her some flowers and Laura and I ate a delicious meal with the family. I can't wait to try the recipe when I get back! We then went to the wine bar with Sarah for a relaxed evening.
On Saturday we went to an API welcome lunch for the summer students. There are four new girls here for the summer. It's strange as two of them are here for one month and the other two for two months. The ones here for a month are leaving on the exact day we are, something we all found odd. I still can't understand why you would study somewhere for a month as it takes the best part of that time for you to settle down and learn your way around the city. I'll be here for four months and that is no where near long enough! That afternoon Laura and I did some last minute touring around 9 de Julio with the Colon Theatre and Obelisco de Buenos Aires. That evening I went with her to the airport, very sad day!! But, it was great to see her!!
Well I'm not sure if any of my other posts will be this full of festivities! But, I only have a month left, so I'm going to make the most of it.
¡Hasta luego!
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