Day Three Hundred Twenty-Four: A Day in an Apartment Lounge

We had to be out of our apartment by 11:00, but since Jeff and the kids wanted to spend the day skiing, and I didn't want to lug everything downstairs by myself, that really meant we needed to be out by 9:00. Our shuttle wasn't scheduled to pick us up until 4:30, so I spent the whole day hanging out in the lounge of the apartment building, which was a new but not bad experience. There was a huge fireplace there and restaurant-like booths, each with its own power station. I was able to write and read and eat and stay warm while guarding our stuff, and the others were able to make the most of their final day on the slopes.

Lounge Life

Day Three Hundred Twenty-Three: Two Small Firsts

My first First of the day was going to the ski shop to re-rent everyone's equipment for tomorrow, since we found out we don't have to leave as early as expected and can therefore squeeze in a few more hours on slopes. Jeff usually takes care of this at the end of the ski day, but we were afraid the shop would be busy at the end of the day with people coming in for the weekend. So, I went after lunch while Jeff and the kids tried to maximize this perfect day on the slopes. I was a little nervous I wouldn't have all the Spanish words to take care of this business, so Jeff texted me a transcript of what to say, which I practiced several times before I got to the shop. I was then able to take care of the rental like a pro. 😉

My second First came in the afternoon, as I was making dinner. Jeff texted to say the landlord was sending someone to the apartment for a "showing," which has never happened to us while staying in an Airbnb. I had about 10 minutes to straightened up the apartment, before a man showed up to take pictures and get some measurements. I hope the pics aren't going into some kind of professional sales brochure!

Day Three Hundred Twenty-Two: Hot Buttered Rum

I did not know until relatively recently that I like rum when it isn't blended with pineapple and coconut and served with a cherry on a plastic sword or a paper umbrella. The fact that I didn't really know I liked rum coupled with the fact that I don't usually live in a cold area where après-ski drinks are a thing means I have never had a hot buttered rum, though, of course, I have heard of them. This afternoon, while surveying our remaining ski groceries, I discovered that we had both rum and butter, and I felt inspired. I looked up a recipe online and found that I did not, in fact, have any of the requisite spices. But, I didn't let that deter me. I used essential oils instead and was quite happy with the result, though I would certainly be open to trying the original version. This will definitely go into my warm drink repertoire to pull out on cold winter days.

Cheers!

Day Three Hundred Twenty-One: Drinking Tomato Concentrate

As I was preparing to make spaghetti sauce today, my little kitchen helper saw the cans of tomato concentrate (tomato paste) on the counter and was reminded of V8 juice, which he loves. He asked me if he could drink one of them and would not be persuaded that the stuff inside the cans was not drinkable. I opened a can to show him how thick the paste was, and he was disappointed but continued to pine for some to drink. Finally, I emptied some into a glass and added water. He was thrilled and happily drank up most of what was in the glass. But then the lure of the snow beakoned him, and he took off without finshing it. Seeing the glass on the counter and thinking that I quite like V8 myself, I emptied the glass. It was the first time I ever drank tomato concentrate in such a pure form, and it was delicious (though I wouldn't have complained if it had had a splash of vodka in it 😉).

Day Three Hundred Twenty: Game Pieces Amongst the Firewood

This is really a very silly First, but it was a pretty low-key day lacking in novelty. When I started this project, I imagined all the Firsts would be interesting and exciting, but that isn't always the case, and that's okay. While the sensational Firsts are certainly more fun to experience and write about, there can still be joy in appreciating even the smallests of Firsts. My First for today was looking for game pieces in the wood bin under the fireplace. Personally, I would never have even thought to store games in that location, and I certainly wouldn't have guessed I'd be moving logs around, trying to find little letter-covered dice. But trying to find ways to entertain two little boys whose ski legs have given out will inspire a mom to do any number of things she might not otherwise do.

Day Three Hundred Nineteen: New Kind of Can Opener

I'm no stranger to a manual can opener. In fact, that's what we use at home. But, to me, "manual" means you squeeze the handle together and turn the dial. What we have to work with here is definitely not that. As a matter of fact, it took me a while to figure out that we even had a can opener here. And when I figured out what it was, I had no earthly idea how to use it. I had to find a YouTube video to get me started. I can tell you it is neither a fast nor pretty process, and you are as likely to cut your hand as you are to actually get the can opened. But, I conquered the beast and eventually got all the cans opened that I needed to open.

A new kind of can opener

Check out that amazing work!

Day Three Hundred Eighteen: Snowy Day in June

Last summer, while we were cruising around Glacier Bay, we experienced some light freezing drizzle, but today was the first time I have experienced full-on snow in June. Even though I don't particularly love being cold, there is truly something magical about snow, and I love to look at a snowy landscape. Fresh snow is just so pure and beautiful! I was sad to have to miss out on skiing with my family, but I am thankful I get to spend time in this picturesque place!

We woke up to an almost- whiteout

Snow in June!

Our home for the week

Day Three Hundred Seventeen: Handwitten Boarding Pass

I have flown more times than I can count, but no matter how many times a person has done it, there always seems to be room for the occasional out-of-the-ordinary occurrence. Today, we had a completely new experience when we received handwritten boarding passes due to a glitch in the system. You can imagine how long it took to do this for each person in our family! One of the things that makes travel so fun is you never know what will happen, which was pretty much how our whole day was today. You can read more about the rest of our adventures (when I get around to posting them), over on our family blog.

Day Three Hundred Sixteen: Three Restaurants in One Night

For our last night in Mendoza, we went looking for a special experience. We had heard about a rooftop restaurant at one of the hotels with amazing views of the city and the Andes in the distance. We arrived around 7:00, only to discover a sign that stated the restaurant didn't open until 8:30. (This is the normal time for restaurants to open for dinner here, but a few open earlier, and we took a chance.) Since it was a hotel where we have "gold" status, we went down to the front desk to ask if we could hang out in the member's lounge until the restaurant opened. That's when we learned that the restaurant was actually not opening at all tonight. We were still able to appreciate the amazing view and snap a few pics, but obviously dinner wasn't going to work out. Ruth remembered seeing what she thought was another rooftop restaurant at another hotel we passed on the way to this one, so we headed over there. When we arrived, the restaurant was open, but only for "Happy Hour." We decided to go ahead and have a drink so we could enjoy the lovely views of Mendoza from the patio. Lacking a Plan C, we just started walking in the direction of our house, knowing there are a million wonderful restaurants in the city and assuming we we would encounter one we wanted to try. Eventually, we came to Estanacia La Florencia, a restaurant we have passed by many times and which has always looked enticing. Third time's a charm, I guess, because they were open and serving dinner, and we were seated immediately. Everything was absolutely delicious, and it was a great way to spend our last night in Mendoza, even if it wasn't our first (or second) choice!

The view from Mirador, Restaurant Number One

The view from El Faro Bistro, Restaurant Number Two

Third Time's a Charm

Day Three Hundred Fifteen: Motherhood Milestones

My kids are growing up, which has been more evident than ever to me in the last year as my baby has morphed into one of the big kids. They are more capable of doing things for themselves. They can be trusted to behave themselves and to make responsible choices most of the time. And they don't need constant supervision. Our family dynamic is changing, which is mostly exciting but also a bit odd for me. And there are a number of Firsts that come with this new territory. Just today, I sent my twelve-year-old off to a restaurant in a foreign city by himself to watch a World Cup game; Jeff and I talked with our oldest about the responsibilities and privileges of unsupervised driving, which will be a real thing in a few short weeks; I left my youngest two home alone for a couple of hours; and Jeff and I went out for a short date while all the kids stayed behind. This is very different from the way things have been in the past. I'm adjusting to the changes, and I'm so thankful to see my kids (and myself) growing into this new phase of life.

So thankful for these amazing people!

Day Three Hundred Fourteen: Dulce de Membrillo

When we lived in Brazil, we were introduced to Romeu e Julieta, which is the combining of cheese and guava paste named after the famous Shakespearian play. Here in Argentina they substitute quince paste (dulce de membrillo) for the guava paste and drop the cute name. The dish is considered a national dessert. So, for me, it was dessert for breakfast today. Because I do what I want. I have to admit that I have had dessert for breakfast before, but I've never had this dessert for breakfast before, so it definitely counts as a First. It was fabulous, and I have no regrets!

Day Three Hundred Thirteen: Mercado Central

I can't believe we've been in Mendoza a month and only just made it over to Mercado Central for the first time today! I always love markets, and this one is especially nice because it's very bright and clean and not smelly like some markets tend to be. The market has been operating in this location since the city was first established, though it has obviously undergone changes over the years. I'm so glad we got to visit before we have to leave the city!

Day Three Hundred Twelve: At an Irish Pub, in Argentina, Cheering for England

By now, World Cup games are nothing new for us, but here's the First for today: gathering at an Irish pub in Argentina with a large group of English and English descendants (and a few Argentinos) to watch England play and beat Tunisia in the World Cup. It was a loud, enthusiastic crowd and the best match we've seen so far!

Claire (who is English) and Katie (an American) are friends from Jeff's school

Day Three Hundred Eleven: Cerro de la Gloria

It was another beautiful day here in Mendoza, so some of us decided to do a short hike. Mendoza is surrounded by several large hills, so we took a cab to the top of one of the more famous ones, Cerro de la Gloria, where there is a huge monument dedicated to General San Martin, who played a fundamental role in liberating Argentina from Spain in the 1800s. After checking out the monument, we hiked down the hill and through the largest park in town, which also honors San Martin. It was a lovely day, and we had such a great time!

A tribute to San Martin and his liberating army

A nice view from the top of the hill

 Coke break at the lake after our hike

Day Three Hundred Ten: World Cup Breakfast Outing

Like so many Americans, we don't really follow fútbol (soccer). I'm pretty sure I've seen parts of a World Cup game, but I don't think I've ever specifically sought out a game and watched it all the way through. But, this morning, Jeff and Weston and I made our way to a little cafe to watch the Argentina/Iceland game. It was fun to be part of all the excitement and cheer for Argentina alongside some die-hard fans, even if the match ended in a tie.

World Cup breakfast dates

Game Food

A terrible pic of the replay of Argentina's only goal

Day Three Hundred Nine: El Botellón

We met up with some friends from Jeff's school this evening at El Botellón, a craft brewery in town. The group represented three continents aside from the one we are all on, which made for interesting conversation. The concept of the brewery is that you pay one price for "happy hour," which gets you unlimited peanuts in the shells and two pints of any of their twenty beers. And, you are welcome to sample as many as you like before making your selections. We had a great time and enjoyed the experience very much!

Day Three Hundred Eight: Cine Argentino

I had yet another opportunity to participate in an activity with Jeff's school today: Cine Argentino. Jeff had attended one of these video-viewing events a couple of weeks ago which was apparently quite colorful, and he ended up learning some vocabulary they don't teach in class, although he did report that it was a great way to practice listening to Spanish and to learn more of the culture of Argentina. I was hesitant to go today because I really didn't want to watch a crude movie, but since I very much wanted to get out of the house, I decided at the last minute to walk over to the school and check it out. It turned out to be fine. In honor of the first day of the World Cup, we watched a comedy about a man addicted to watching fútbol (soccer, for those of you in the U.S.) whose wife issues him an ultimatum, which was the movie's namesake: El Fútbol o Yo. With the Spanish subtitles to go along with the Spanish dialogue (and with the predicable plot), I was able to follow along pretty well in my first all-Spanish movie viewing. Woohoo!

Day Three Hundred Seven: Don Pedro and Almendrado

Jeff and I went out for a walk after dinner, which was lovely but quite cold. So, after a while we decided to stop for coffee and dessert. We popped into Don Aldo, on our favorite street, and ordered up. There were two desserts listed that were completely unknown to us, so those were the ones we chose. I ordered the Almendrado, which Google translate told me was simply "almond." Jeff ordered the Don Pedro, which the waitress explained to us without us understanding a word. Both desserts contained ice cream, which was ironic since we were so cold and were trying to warm up. Also, when they were delivered to our table, we didn't know which was which, so we each just ate the one closest to us on the table. When we got home, we looked both desserts up online and realized I had eaten the one Jeff ordered, and he had eaten the one I ordered. Both were good (and both were almond-flavored, which is why we didn't figure it out in the restaurant), but the whole thing was quite funny.

Almendrado-- the dessert I should have had

Don Pedro--the dessert I actually had

Day Three Hundred Six: La Cabaña Chocolate Factory

Today we got to participate in a tour of the La Cabaña Chocolate Factory, which was fascinating and fun. And, of course, we enjoyed all the free samples!

I love factories, and I especially
love chocolate factories!

Day Three Hundred Five: Proofread Anywhere Student

Well, I spent the week thinking about the free webinar I watched about a Proofread Anywhere course that helps prepare people for careers in freelance proofreading, and today I officially became a student. I'm very excited to learn more about this field and the opportunities it presents. And, being the Grammar nerd that I am, I am also excited to do a deep dive on a variety of Grammar-related topics. The course is self-paced but can supposedly be completed in about a month. Here's to learning a new skill!

My welcome email

Day Three Hundred Four: Tour Bus Backing Up a Mountain

We joined a tour group headed to Potrerillos Lake today. There were a couple of stops along the way, one of which was to see a Christ statue on a high hill overlooking the lake. And when I say "hill" I mean one of the foothills of the Andes, so not exactly a small one. When we got to the gravel road leading to the statue, the bus driver started heading up in reverse. The tour guide explained there was no way for the bus to turn around at the top, so this was the only way. The driver obviously knew what he was doing, but it was a little nerve-racking for the passengers, who couldn't see where we were going and only knew there seemed to be a pretty steep drop-off on one side. We made it to the top safe and sound to enjoy the lovely views, but it was definitely a new experience for me.

This picture doesn't really do justice to how steep or long the road was

The whole scene at the top of the hill

Day Three Hundred Three: Typing Test

I came across an online typing test today and decided to give it a shot. I did take typing in high school, but I'm pretty sure that was the last time I took a typing test, and let's just say it was a completely different setup! I thought it was a fun exercise and informative, though clearly I have room for improvement!

Day Three Hundred Two: Argentinian Asado

This afternoon Jeff's school hosted an "asado" (BBQ) for students and their families, so the kids and I met Jeff there after his classes and spent the rest of the afternoon enjoying grilled meats and veggies, wines, beers, and the lovely company of the students and staff of the school. We've obviously been to BBQs before, but this was our first Argentinian asado.

So much grilled yumminess!

First Argentinian Asado

Day Three Hundred One: Fernet Branca

I promise we do way more than just drink, but it just so happens that Argentina has provided us with several new drinks to try. Tonight, Jeff picked up a Fernet Branca, which seems to be everywhere and which people always seem to be talking about. It's actually an Italian amaro, or bitter spirit, but Argentina's history is filled with Italian imigrants, and this drink has made it's way into the local culture. It is made with myrrh, rhubarb, chamomile, cardamom, aloe, and saffron, with a base of grape distilled spirits, and it has a high alcohol content. It is one of the most awful things I have ever put in my mouth, and I could barely get through one little sip! It kind of reminds me of mixing a mint julep (which I do not enjoy in the least, despite it's pretty-sounding name) with the really bad kind of cough syrup that made me gag as a kid. Even bad Firsts are good Firsts, though, because you truly never know until you try!

A bottle of sadness

Day Three Hundred: Bonarda

Before we ever arrived in Mendoza, we were familiar with malbec wine and knew most of it was produced in this region. We also knew we would be sampling a lot of it and trying to discover our favorite. Shortly after we arrived, we learned of bonarda wine, which is made from the second most cultivated variety of grape in Argentina (after malbec). So, obviously, we wanted to try this one as well. We have found that bonarda is used in red blends but appears less often in pure form, so we have had trouble finding a bottle to try. But today, we finally tracked down a pure bonarda and were eager to check it out. We liked it but didn't love it, but we were so glad we finally got to try it.

Day Two Hundred Ninety-Nine: Mate

The event at Jeff's school today was a mate (ma-tay) class, and we signed up as soon as we found out about it because mate is super popular here, and we've been curious about it. We have seen it everywhere but previously had no knowledge of what it actually was. But we became quite educated during the class! Mate is short for Yerba Mate, which is a type of leaf that is dried and ground and made into a tea, usually with a little sugar added. The special cup used to drink the beverage also goes by the same name.

Drinking mate is a social thing, almost like a ceremony, and everyone drinks from the same cup through the same bombilla (special mate straw that filters out the leaves), which I found completely disgusting. But, I tried it anyway because I wanted to be brave and embrace the "yes, and" spirit and not offend the teacher, who was teaching the class on a voluntary basis and who was very enthusiastic and sweet. The drink itself tasted fine, but I was very turned off by the act of drinking after others, especially strangers. The teacher said I was supposed to make a wish since it was my very first mate, and I wished that I would not pick up any awful germs! No joke. Thankfully, I was only the second person to drink the mate because I don't think I could have done it if I would have had to watch everyone else drink out of that cup and then had my turn!

We also learned that there are other social aspects to the act of drinking the mate, one of which was sort of ugly. After each person take a few sips, more mate and water are added for the next person, but if you are upset with someone and want to send them a subtle/not-so-subtle message, you can make them a "long" mate with more water, probably meant to shut them up because they have more to drink. The class was fascinating, and I'm glad we gained the education, but I now feel like I have done this and don't ever feel the need to do it again!

Mate, anyone?!

Day Two Hundred Ninety-Eight: Proofreading Webinar

In the last few months, I have been trying to educate myself about different, legitimate work-from-home options. My kids are old enough now that they don't need my constant supervision and help, and though I still want to be there for them when they do, I feel like I finally have a bit more space in my life and my head for some other things. I'm writing and volunteering, and those things certainly fill serious needs for me, but it seems like it would be a lovely bonus to have a grown-up job that pays actual money and is my own thing.

I'm not one of those people who have just always known what my "passion" is, and I didn't leave an amazing career I loved to stay home with my kids, so I'm kind of starting from square one. Which, for me, means education. Today I had the opportunity to educate myself about work-at-home proofreading, which appeals to me because: 1. I love to read.  2. I notice typos and grammatical mistakes anyway.  And 3. If it's work-from-home, I can do it from anywhere. And as we all know well, I prefer "anywhere" to "somewhere."

I found the webinar very informative and interesting. The course isn't being sold as a get-rich-quick scheme, which adds to the validity of it in my mind, and reviews I've read online seem to backup the particular program at proofreadanywhere.com I was looking into. But I'm a sceptic at heart, so I haven't taken any action or made any commitment. It does seem like a pretty neat gig though, so I'm considering it. But, even if I do nothing else with it, I'm glad to add it to my lists of Firsts and things I'm more educated about than I once was. If any of you have any experience with this kind of thing, I'd love your feedback.

Day Two Hundred Ninety-Seven: Smoked Scotsman

While Mendoza is definitely wine country, there is an up-and-coming craft brewery industry here as well. We've sampled lots of wines from the region, but we thought we should try some of the beers as well, just to be fair. Many of the breweries are located on Aristides Street, which is a very fun area with lots of cool restaurants and shops. We chose to visit Chachingo where we enjoyed some new-to-us beers and a large and wonderful charcuterie board. The beer I picked was called the Smoked Scotsman. It was good but definitely not my favorite beer of all time.

Chachingo Craft Brewery

Smoked Scotsman and delicious homemade breads

Day Two Hundred Ninety-Six: Herb Store Takeout Buffet

Jeff has been wanting to introduce us to a cool little lunch spot close to his school that he has visited a few times with some of his classmates, so we walked over there today to check it out. There is nothing about the outside of the building that would make you think it is a restaurant, including the sign, which indicates that it is a health food and herb store. In fact, it is not actually a restaurant, but they do have a very nice buffet set up, along with some takeout containers that can be filled and paid for by the kilo. It is a tiny place, and there isn't a table in sight as all the food is to-go only, but it was packed with people looking for some delicious food at a very low price. For all six of us to come away with more food than we could eat in one meal, it cost about $24! It was such a unique experience and a fun outing!

The unassuming store front

I ended up with mostly vegetarian options,
but there were plenty of meaty options as well!

Day Two Hundred Ninety-Five: Thirty Degree Temperatures on June 1

This was the first time in my life I have woken up to 30° temperatures on June 1. And even though it is winter in the southern hemisphere, it still took us a little by surprise since up until yesterday it has been sunny and in the high 60s/low 70s. We always say, you can control lots of things when you travel, but you can't control the weather, and you can't let the weather interfere with your fun. We were prepared with our heavy coats and gloves, so it was really no problem for us, and we still had lots of fun.

Too cold for this girl!