La voz de Cataratas

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Brazilian Groceries Shopping

The advantages of living across the border--armed with our groceries shopping list, we get ready to leave at 7 a.m., cross the border, and get divided into two teams. One, will go to the Fruits and Vegetables Market. The other (including me) will go to the chiropractor for my weekly dose of "realignment".

I believe, however, that the Argentine Customs does not approve of the crossing of fruits and vegetables. It used to, though. I remember when the exchange rate was so good for us that we would fill 2 shopping carts with groceries; everything was allowed. Things have changed; people haven't.

Tennis Coach - Episode I

Well, my dear friends. I just scheduled my first tennis lesson in Iguazú (or my last tennis lesson of the year) with a pro called Ninja.

Imagine that. I'll be "flying" next time we meet at a tennis court...
Can't wait to see the results (did I sound skeptical?). More to come after I meet this tennis ace...

Barefoot

That's the way to work--remotely, in the summer, from home, and surrounded by siblings.

Christmas Dinner Menu

Well, it's that time of the year again... Mom is not around to lead the cooking orchestra, so we are scrambling to remember recipes, cooking times, ingredients--all and all, trying to choose the menu by using a democratic approach.

Democracy does not rule in the cooking world, believe me. The house chef should make decisions in the solitude of the kitchen, after midnight, once the dishes have been put away. And this is when we (I wish it was just me!) dictate the menu for Christmas Eve (I'm glad we are only hosting Christmas Eve's dinner this year!)

The goal--not to have TOO much food. We hope that we'll keep leftovers to a minimum (even though that's personally the best part), and we'll shun away from the temptation to overeat.

Twelve people may be a challenge to the 9-kilo pig we'll (meaning, "my father will") be roasting on the clay oven starting at 3 a.m.. So we'll add another meat, 4 different types of salads, dips, and cocktails to welcome our guests.

And make no mistake--I WILL be jogging at 7.30 a.m. the next morning.

Jogging: Day 2

With 83 degrees Fahrenheit, and 83% humidity, I went for a run at 8 a.m. this morning. It felt like being in an oven. I guess you burn more calories? I certainly hope so... to make the ordeal worth it. My sister came along (I'm trying to recruit jogging partners for the different days of the week), and we survived. The trail view is still amazing, no matter the time of the day.

Certainly, the locals (and by all means, I used to be a local, but my body doesn't seem to remember how to deal with the high humidity levels) seem to be completely unawares of the surrounding heat. I guess I'll get used to it.

A Brazilian-style breakfast (fruit, fruit, and more fruit), and a light lunch are the best companions to get off to a good start.

I stopped by my grandma's for a morning visit (she loves drinking mate with her guests by mid-morning), and now I'm getting ready to start working remotely.

I'll post pictures and videos as soon as I unpack my camera (still everything within my suitcase).

Anyways, keep warm, you friends of mine up north...

Musicless

It seems I did not bring my external drive with all my music... A summer without music? Argh! What was I thinking at 2.30 a.m. when I was packing?

Siesta

It's 3.30 p.m. on this Saturday. What would I be doing in Denver? I would be completely overbooked, running from a friend's house to meet another friend for coffee, and then back home to change, heading off to Mass, and then dinner afterwards. I never stop. It's the Colorado air, I guess.

But here, in Iguazú, the heat of the summer certainly slows things down for you. You have no
choice. The morning is the time to go to the pool, a light lunch is then prepared at a cool location (beer is essential to fight off the heat), and then, it's siesta time. Siesta goes from after lunch to when the sun is not so intense. Four p.m.? The house (and the dog) falls silent, everything is quiet (except for the chicharras), and I wonder how come I'm the only one awake, still connected, wired, to the Internet and the outside world.

I guess it would take a few days to get addicted again to siesta, to a slower pace of life. Anyone up to the challenge?

Evening Creatures

After 24 hours of transferring through airports, changing planes, carrying an unusually significant volume in terms of luggage, I finally landed in this lush, warm, intensely green corner of the world. I haven't even unpacked my camera yet in order to share some of the sights. But trust me--the evening creatures are taking over, the crickets (oh well, chicharras, what do you call them in English) are in full swing, and the darker it gets, the louder they sing. In my town, this means a really warm day ahead of us tomorrow. But that's ok. That's part of the deal, isn't it?

But the chicharras are not alone. There are their friends, the mosquitoes. They are happy to see me, believe me. :-)

So I have the fan going, while I'm sitting outside (yeah, can you picture the fan by the pool?)

My father, little sis and I gathered by the pool to have some snacks and some cold, cold, cold beer (which turned warm pretty quickly) as soon as I got home, in an attempt to get caught up. It will take a few weeks, I believe. So many things to cover, and her absence is so tangible...

Heading off to Mass now...