Meet the Parents....for two weeks in Argentina!

Hello Everyone!

We last updated you while waiting for our flight from Ushuaia (in Tierra Del Fuego) to Buenos Aires (the captial of Argentina).  Much to our dismay, we ended up waiting much longer than anticipated, as there were technical difficulties in the control tower and they closed the airport!  We were re-booked on a flight for the next day meaning that we had to spend one more night in our tent (our 20th night camping in a 30 day span!) and in the cold weather of Tierra Del Fuego.  This also meant that our much anticipated reunion with Shaina's parents in Buenos Aires (BA) would be delayed by half a day.

When we finally did arrive in BA the next day, we were greeted by 37 degree heat and two very happy parents!  We had 3.5 days to explore BA together and we were eager to show Lynn and George a taste of Argentine culture.  As such, the first thing we did together was go out for an amazing steak dinner!....at 11:30pm!  (Eating beef and eating late are both Argentine traditions)

Over our next three days, we introduced Lynn and George to Argentine ice cream, dulce de leche (an amazing milk caramel spread they put on everyting), and alfajores (chocolate covered cookies with a layer of dulce de leche in the center).  We also managed to take in a tango show and to explore several of BA's neighbourhoods and sights on foot, such as the San Telmo Sunday market, and the Recoleta cemetery where Argentina's rich and famous lay in extravagant graves.  On our last day in BA, we took a day trip to Tigre.  Tigre is a town just outside of the capital that sits on a river delta that we explored by boat and by foot.

George, Lynn, & Shaina at the San Telmo Market in BA

The Obelisk in downtown BA (it sits on the median of the world's widest road)

One of the rivers that form the Delta in Tigre

From BA, we all flew to Puerto Iguazu.  Puerto Iguazu is located at the meeting point of Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay.  However, everyone in Puerto Iguazu is there to see the Iguazu falls, which sit 20km south of the town and form part of the Argentina/Brazil boarder.  The Iguazu Falls are considered one of the natural wonders of the world and consist of 275 falls that span a 2.7km horseshoe!  The highest of the falls is a massive 82 meters!

We spent two days exploring the falls (on the Argentine side of the boarder) and took in the views from all the different catwalks and pathways that are set up for tourism.  The falls were absolutely stunning and the power of the water was overwhelming.  The highlight of our time at Iguazu was a boat ride that took us up close and under the falls for a unique experience and much needed shower in the extreme heat!  

The view from a restaurant in Puerto Iguazu at the meeting of 3 countries - we were standing in Argentina looking at Brazil (on the right side of the river) and Paraguay (on the left side of the river)

The highest and most aggressive of the Iguazu Falls named "The Devil's Throat"

Looking down the Iguazu River from a viewpoint at the top of the Devil's Throat - Argentina is on the left side and Brazil is on the right

Us at the top of "The Devil's Throat"

A beautiful viewpoint looking at the Argentine falls

Shaina!

The Argentine side of the horseshoe 

The boat we took heading towards the falls

The boat under the falls!  A very fun and wet ride!

The four of us nice and cool after our boat ride!

After our two great days at Iguazu, we flew west across the country to the city of Mendoza where we would spend a week.  The city sits just east of the Andes and is famous for the amazing wines produced in the region.

When we arrived at our lodging in the small town of Chacras de Coria (15 minutes outside of Mendoza) we were blown away!  It was a 2 acre villa complete with swimming pool, soccer field, volleyball court, and three outdoor grills for barbecues!  It was like a private resort just for the 4 of us!  

The week in Mendoza flew by.  We spent our days touring and tasting at the local wineries, driving and hiking around the highest mountain in the Americas (Aconcagua at 6970 masl), exploring the city of Mendoza, trying our hand at Argentine barbecues (asados), and spending our down time at the pool!

The two highlights were a 5 course gourmet meal and wine tasting at the Ruca Malen winery, and Shaina's birthday party barbecue that was cooked by a private chef!

Relaxing at the pool of our private villa!

Getting the grill ready for our first "solo" asado (BBQ)

Ruca Malen Winery with the Andes in the background

The second course of our amazing 5 course lunch and wine tasting at Ruca Malen Winery

Us with Aconcagua (6970 masl) behind us in the clouds 

Shaina at Tempus Alba Winery on her birthday!

Shaina's birthday BBQ! Everyone at the grill with our chef Raul

After 2 amazing weeks with George and Lynn, we said goodbye as they flew back to Buenos Aires to catch their flight back to Calgary.  We are leaving Mendoza tonight on a bus to Cordoba (Argentina's second largest city).  We want to say a big thank you to Lynn and George for making their two week visit so special and for spoiling us rotten!

Hopefully everyone is doing great at home and we will see you before you know it! (Only 3 weeks)

Love Marsh & Shaina

xoxoxo