Buenos Aires, Missions, and Iguazu Falls with Sharon’s Mom

Our flight from Salta to Buenos Aires in Argentina was uneventful. The next day Sharon’s mom arrived from Oregon to meet us for a month of travel together. We were all very excited to get started. Buenos Aires is a lovely city, so much history, beautiful architecture, interesting culture and super lovely people. And I am not just saying that just because Buenos Aires has more cosmetic surgery done than any place else in the world (fun fact). The people of B.A. treated us very kindly and went out of their way to help us on multiple occasions.

We attended a symphony orchestra concert at the Colon Theater, a breathtaking venue where even the nosebleed seats sound great! We crossed the widest street in the world which has 18 lanes of traffic and requires you to wait for a second light to make it across. One time I ran instead of walked and was JUST able to make it all the way across! We also visited the presidential palace which happens to be painted pink – it really catches the eye. Between museums and palaces we stopped often to partake of the famous BA cuisine. Our favorites were the beef empanadas, amazing steaks, and pizza (Argentinian style – with corn and palm hearts for toppings). Sharon and her mom also went to the horse track to watch the races and participate in another cultural experience.

We also attended the Festival of the Butchers which a traditional open market for selling meats and cheeses from the ranches AND a communal dance party. At this event, I began talking to a local lady who was cheerfully emptying trash cans. I was drawn to her because of her amazing attitude doing something most people (myself included) would see as a despicable chore. During our conversation I complimented her on the unique and beautiful earrings she was wearing – you may guess what happened next, but it totally surprised me – she immediately began taking them off and insisted that I take them as a gift for my wife and as a memento to remember Buenos Aires and Argentina! I was speechless, I tried unsuccessfully to tactfully turn her down but quickly realized it would be impossible to not accept such a kind and generous gesture. When I found Sharon later and showed her the earrings and told her what happened we decided to find the woman and give her the earrings that Sharon was currently wearing and ask her if we could take a picture (seen below). We were deeply moved and humbled by such hospitality. We would like to show this type of hospitality to others, living with ‘hands wide open’ in regards to our possessions.

After more than a week in BA we rented a car to head north towards Iguazu Falls. Our first stop was in Yapeyu, the birthplace of San Martin who liberated Argentina and Chile from Spanish rule. We also visited our first Jesuit mission in this area. From Yapeyu we continued heading north and visited three more missions in various stages of decay and restoration. One of the missions we visited had a cathedral which took over 70 years to construct. Incredible!

Iguazu Falls. A place we had dreamed of seeing for almost fifteen years! The reality was even more majestically beautiful than our dreams. Our eyes and brains could hardly take in the scope and size of the falls, they just seemed to go on and on and on! To quote Eleanor Roosevelt upon seeing the falls of Iguazu for the first time, “My poor Niagara.” We’ve never seen Niagara Falls, but we have seen hundreds of other waterfalls in our life and Iguazu was like all of them put together and then some! We spent two days exploring the immense falls (in size and sheer numbers). Including, a boat ride INTO the base of several of the larger falls – a wet and wild ride! We also saw lots of wildlife, but the most abundant and fearless were the coati (think raccoon). They were everywhere and you had to be ever vigilant of your backpack because they are accomplished food thieves.

We can’t talk about Argentina without mentioning the cultural phenomenon that is MATE. Mate is a drink made by putting a large amount of loose tea leaves in a cup and continually pouring hot water over the leaves and drinking the tea through a straw that has a strainer attached to the bottom. Everywhere you look you see people carrying thermoses so they can constantly drink their mate. Hiking, driving, walking, around the fire, with their friends, AND they offer to share it with you! Another aspect of ‘mate culture’ is that the cup is passed around among family and friends (yes, germaphobes, everyone is drinking out of the same straw). One of our favorite facts about mate is that as coffee has caffeine, mate’s version is called mateine!