Buenos Aires - Summer of '11

Over the past few weeks, we've managed a couple of weekend trips to beat the heat.

The first was to Tigre, a heavily populated delta, that's a delightful network of street-like waterways for small craft (complete with street signs). We only had time for a boat ride, but we'll definitely return here to do some kayak-camping further up in the delta.

I'll be honest, we were too busy gawking to take good photos.

Rivers galore! And you can travel through any of this stuff.

The second trip was to Colonia, Uruguay. This small town's main draw is it's cozy, quaint, colonial, cobble-stone charm. Perhaps I've had my fill of colonial architecture, but I found scootering around the city and hanging out at the beach the more interesting parts of the trip. I suspect I will like the rest of Uruguay for these very reasons.

The drivers in Uruguay are terrible. 

I won the bullfight as a result of a no-show.

Meanwhile, in Buenos Aires, our apartment has been photographed! Hopefully this will make up for the lack of circus pictures (next week, honest!).

The receiving area. I should not that if you don't have your keys you can't leave through the front door. In case of fire, break door.

Our main living space is quite cluttered right now. The bike should give you a point of reference. On the left is the arm of a loveseat. Our breakfast table is in the center (with yellow laundry draped over a chair). This is all Amy's mess, of course (including the white laundry bag to the right). In the back is the washroom (lit up), and the bedroom. Out of frame on the left is the kitchen. 

Entry way to the kitchen. it looks less dank on the inside.

There's a full shower on the left, but it's tough to get everything in one shot. The bidet is unused, but now that I see it there: when in Rome.

Bedroom/Office. Business time?

Basket of Goods. This is what $20 CAD gets you in Buenos Aires. Cost is indicated by visibility. Notice how hard it is to see the cheap wine in the back right.

Our de facto dinner table. Tomatoes here are incredibly tasty. Everything else is as salty as olives. Dying young never seemed so attainable. In the back we have some empanadas (and Amy, my little empanada!). Vino tinto accompanies nearly every meal.

Here are some things I've been up to in Buenos Aires. They're in point form for ease of your reading, and not because of my laziness/the heat:

•  Spanish lessons galore! Also, Spanish movies are great. Volver is excellent, Pan's Labyrinth was good but depressing.
• My bike was totally destroyed by cobblestone streets, but has now been repaired. 4-hour bike ride around Buenos Aires with our building's caretaker this weekend!
• New circus school! It's smaller, but fancier. Pictures of that to come as well.