JUST ANOTHER DAY IN BUENOS AIRES

WELL, HERE IS THE 'GIRL'S' PERSPECTIVE OF BUENOS AIRES. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY AWSOME SHOPPING HERE. THE EXCHANGE RATE IS GREAT AND THE ECONOMY IS STILL RECOVERING FROM THEIR 2000-ISH FINANCIAL MELTDOWN. IT IS NOT SO GOOD FOR THE ARGENTINES, BUT IT IS GOOD FOR SHOPPERS.

I REALLY DO NOT! GO TO FOREIGN COUNTRIES TO SHOP...REALLY. I HAD READ ABOUT ARGENTINA AND EVERY WEBSITE-OR-BOOK TALKED ABOUT THE GREAT DEALS. LEATHER WAS MENTIONED OFTEN...AS THE OTHER BIG PRODUCT IN ARGENTINA IS BEEF.

SO I BOUGHT A LEATHER-SUEDE PURSE FOR MY DAUGHTER ALEXANDRA'S BIRTHDAY. AND I LIKED THE SHOPS SO MUCH I BOUGHT A FEW FOR MYSELF. THE HANDBAG I BOUGHT FOR MY DAUGHTER IS MADE FROM A TYPE OF SUEDE FROM THE CAPYBARA ANIMAL...WHICH I BELIEVE MAY BE A GIANT RODENT... I HOPE SHE LIKES IT BECAUSE I DON'T THINK I WILL BE SENDING HER HERE TO RETURN IT. I OPTED FOR STANDARD COW LEATHER.

I WISH I HAD SAVED UP MORE MONEY. MOSTLY EVERYTHING IS A BARGAIN.

(I WANT TO TELL YOU THAT I AM USING ALL CAPS BECAUSE SPANISH KEYBOARDS ARE QUITE DIFFERENT AND I CAN NOT FIND THE KEY TO CHANGE THE CASE.)

THE FIRST DAY IN BsAs WAS RAINY. TODAY WAS HOT AND MUGGY. IT FEELS A BIT LIKE HAWAII....ONLY I AM QUITE LOST WHEN WE WANDER THE CITY.

RAY'S SPANISH IS COMING BACK TO HIM SLOWLY. AND NOT A MOMENT TOO SOON. I CAN USUALLY GET BY WITH A QUICK GAME OF FOREIGN-LANGUAGE CHARADES, BUT IT IS NICE WHEN I DON'T HAVE TO!

FOOD HERE IS GREAT. STEAKS REALLY ARE GREAT. THE FRUIT IS VERY FRESH. THE BUTTER IS AS GOOD AS SWISS BUTTER. WHAT MORE IS THERE? TAXIS ARE ABOUT $3. I WAS NOT SURE ABOUT BsAs, YESTERDAY...HOWEVER, I FOUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF RICOLETA TODAY. WE WERE NOT IN THE FANCIEST PART OF RICOLETA BUT I THINK I COULD LIVE THERE.

OF COURSE, YOU HAVE TO KNOW THAT THE RUNNING JOKE IS EVERYWHERE I GO I SAY THAT I COULD LIVE THERE...HAHA...

IT'S NOT TRUE. I COULD NOT LIVE IN MALTA OR TURKEY. AND I DON'T GO NUTS OVER GREECE. BUT THE FEEL OF RICOLETA IS THAT OF PARIS WITH A SUNLAMP OR ROME WITH PARISIAN ARCHITECTURE.

THIS PLACE IS REALLY INTERESTING. I WANTED TO SEE MORE THAN I HAVE TIME FOR...AND I ESPECIALLY WANTED TO SEE THE GRANDMOTHERS MARCH IN THE PLAZA DE MAYO. LONG STORY. I SUPPOSE I WILL HAVE TO COME BACK TO ARGENTINA AGAIN.

I HOPE OUR TRILOGY HOUSE IS STILL THERE!
HUGS,
RAY AND TINA