Gene drew this picture to symbolize our travels. What do you think he's trying to tell me? He's the one that came up with the title for this year's travel blog, too. Like it? Feel free to comment on it or on any of the blog entries to come.

Bienvenidos a Costa Rica - Welcome Home!

So far we've been welcomed home by friends, rain, an eartquake, and numerous aftershocks.

Our Last Sunday Nite in San Telmo

Nice that it's only 2 blocks to Plaza Dorrego - and Gene decided he was feeling much much better - enough better in fact that he wanted to walk up to the plaza and enjoy some empanadas and watch the tango dancers. Once all the antique dealers fold up their booths on Sunday evening, the music starts and everybody starts dancing. Amazing. Actually at one point, there was a tango band, another band, and a guitar player - all in different corners of the plaza but clearly audible to us. Confusing? Well, yeah, a little! But a lot of fun. I was desperately trying to get close enough to get photos of the dancers' feet. Dancing with a gorgeous woman wearing those gorgeous 4" - bright red no less - was a guy dancing in flip flops! A couple of other people were trying to dance in sneakers. We even saw one guy dancing in hiking boots. There are always great scenes in the plaza! Sad that this was our last Sunday here. We've enjoyed it.

Life is what happens while you're making other plans

Right after New Years, Gene started feeling sick. For a day or so we were afraid that he was seriously ill. I was tracking down information on where to take him to get emergency medical care while shoving water at him, trying to figure out to do and giving him "poor babies." All of you who know me also know why I didn't become a nurse.

New Years Eve

"Everybody" knows that everything in Buenos Aires is closed on New Years Eve. A few places open back up later in the evening. Everybody knows that if you want to eat out, you make a reservation in advance. And of course dinner is sometime 11 pm or after. But we just never knew what we wanted to do in advance to actually make a reservation. And we knew that Gene couldn't walk far. And we knew that public transportation would be close to non-existent. So we did what we do so well - play it by ear. Bonnie and David had invited us to start the evening at their apartment with some friends. They were making pizza. We really wanted to go. But even those half a dozen blocks sounded like a challenge with Gene's walking problems. So ultimately we walked the two blocks to Plaza Dorrego - after all it's one of our favorite places. We ate a couple of big steaks at one of the two places that actually was serving food. Outside only of course. The inside tables were reserved. This was fine, except for the first time since we've been here, it felt chilly. So while Gene waited for the wine, I ran back to the apartment to get our jackets. The evening from then on out was great. Bonnie and David showed up just before midnight, along with a bunch of friends. There was champagne and beer flowing freely. There were flamenco dancers. There were fireworks being set off in the middle of the plaza. I ignored my fear of fireworks and stood under them taking pictures! (Interestingly, none of the pictures were later to be found on the camera. In a champagne and beer buzz, did I forget to turn it on or what!) Feeling like very boring people, we quit at 3 am - just when everyone else was getting geared up to get partying! But we had a great time doing New Years Eve in Buenos Aires!