Day 6

Today was a free morning. We got up late and Tuky took us downtown where we met with Joe and Pam and Maria Elena to walk around and do some shopping. We did go to a good book store and while the rest were shopping for sports clothing Maria Elena took me to a smaller and older cd store. The Sra there was very helpful and I was able to buy CDs by Maria Sosa, the most famous national singer who just died two years ago, singing into her 80s, accordion CDs of Chamame which is the folk music and dance of the littoral region, a charango cd from the altiplano where we will eventually go. We met the larger group for lunch and the did another TV interview and went for a driving tour of the city in a four car set of antique autos with an antique fire engine in front with the Argentine, US, and Rotary flags all flying. Great fun. Afterward Pam and I went back to Henry and Lilliana's house to enjoy the garden, hang out, while the other three went swimming. Then Henry got out his guitar and I played country music and blues for Lilliana who is a big country fan. Rene,Tuky, Joe, and Stuart showed up and we kept the singing going for quite a while drinking mate. We are back with Tuky and Eduardo to pack and then off to supper at.
Dinner was at "El Anis del Mono" restaurant. Our first restaurant pasta meal. It started with picada which the Argentine equivalent of antipasto, chunks of cheese, salami, olives, bread. Then a spinach and cheese ravioli and the desert, either ice cream, fruit salad or floating islands. Lots of conversation and I was able to get more information from Henry about where we are going next, what the clubs are like, and what kinds of different climate and terrain we will see. It looks as if the next couple of weeks will be a bit different and somewhat surprising. Henry and Eduardo also exchanged some great jokes and stories about the folks that we will meet. It was a bit like listening to Garrison talk about Norwegian bachelor farmers.