This trip in 2007 took about the same amount of coaxing. Jose and happened by Fidel's house while I was visiting, and he told me that he would be in Argentina for his fortieth birthday, and he invited me to join him. That's all it took. The planning began anew. It was just about perfect timing-wise. I knew I wanted to be out of the northeast for the coldest days of winter, so the decision was easy. Claudia was making most of the plans, but the actual party was to be at this churrascaria, a sort of barbecue/steakhouse that is plentiful in South America, but Jose also advised me that this particular one was at a finca; a farm called Rodizio Campo. Rodizio is a famed Brazilian restaurant typical of the S. American style, meaning that the farms are directly related to the restaurants, growing their own livestock under their own standards. The cattle feeds on the grass in the vast pampas, and it is good!
Check em out. http://www.rodizio.com.ar They are around the globe, and in the states at Denver, Co, Salt Lake City, Fort Colins, Co, Springfield, MO, Providence, RI, and more. Just do a search, and take along an appetite.
The restaurants are just that, but the finca is a facility located on ninety acres of beautiful country, and this affair was a daylong event. I rustled up another remise, or private driver with a car, and he picked up Bro Donaldo and I at the condo early in the day to begin our trip. Rodizio Campo is located in the little city of Lujan almost seventy kilometers west of Buenos Aires. It took about a half hour just to exit the city, and to get into open land and country. We'd gotten onto a pretty fine roadway, Au Accesso Ouest, Ruta 7 theh headed out through Moreno at the Edge of BA, and on out into the country. The highway was modern and well constructed with toll booths, and all the amenities. They even have their own version of EZ Pass. Route 7 continues far beyond our destination of the day, head on up to Mendoza (we flew there), and apparently over the Andes just above Santiago, Chile. That might be an interesting trip someday.
The driver sped along as Donaldo and I marveled and snapped photos. The outside temperature was in the low 90's, and there was some humidity. It seemed to take more than an hour to get there, but we finally arrived to drive through the gate with tthe sign show in one of these pics. After entering and driving into the trees for a couple moments we came to a parking lot with not much in sight except for a continuation of a road into the trees. It was here that we parted ways with the driver, and were greeted by a gaucho driving the horse-drawn carriage. After clicking off the photos we climbed into the carriage, and the gaucho drove us further into the farm to the main area of the complex. There were a few parties sprawled out amongst the trees on rich green, well manicured lawn. The swimming pool came into view, and then the buildings appeared. Due to the heat and the drive Donaldo was drawn immediately to the pool. Claudia and some of her cousins were already swimming, and I wished that I'd brought my bathing suit. I located Jose and was introduced to the family, friends and relatives, and found something cold to wet my palate.
I walked about exploring, and ended up at the swimming pool. It was very inviting, and the day was growing hotter. Why didn't I pack that swimsuit? I wanted to jump in and cool off with the others. Donaldo was supportive, and I was pretty carefree. I had fortunately shopped for some convertible traveling pants for this climate. I'd found some in the city just before this trip. They are a very lightweight fabric, quck drying, and have the zippers at midleg to convert the long pants to shorts. I headed into the changing room, and converted my attire into the closest setup I had to swimwear, then returned to the pool to cool off with the others; a great decision that made up for the bathing suit. We swam and cavorted for quite a while, then the call came to prepare for other activities. It was one of those great socializing parties where everyone was busy at some activity, and the discourse never stopped. I wished longfully to have a deeper understanding of the language.
I managed to get a little bicycle ride in, then a pass through the petting zoo, and then Clauia, Sabrina and I went horseback riding. Somewhere in the mix we all went into the great hall for the feast. Jose was lauded, and a few grand speeches were made in great fun. The mood was most festive, the folks were warm and wonderful, a few spoke Ingles, and we had a grand fiesta. Our party filled the room as we sat at the tables, and before long the gauchos were bringing out various cuts of all kinds woodfire cooked meats on long swords and skewers to our plates. Yum-yum! They never ran out; we just had to eventually say no mas.
We then tasted the deliscious postres, or desserts, along with that rich coffee, and worked out way back outside to another area on the lawn that had an array of furniture that we worked roughly into a large circle where we visited an kibbutzed til the skeeters came out. Donaldo and I agreed that it was time to go, and we ambled out through the fields among the trees to the front parking lot to find our remise. He had waited there all day. He went somewhere into Lujan for some lunch, and napped lazily in his car while waiting to take us back to the city. He was an affable young man, fortunate to have his own automobile, and although his Ingles was about on a par with our Espanol, we conversed pleasantly for most of the trip. We had initially agreed on a set price for the day, and when we got to the condo I settled up; I gave him a good tip and handed him two hundred pesos, about sixty-five dollars. Donaldo and I had had a full day, and were happy to get "home."
A day like those I dreamed of since childhood, although not as rough and tumble as I imagined. This was a day in the pampas, on a large farm with wild horses and gauchos. I even went horseback riding, but not on a wild one.
Many of the restaurants in Argentina, originated on the farm where the cattle is raised. Rodizio has fine beef because they raise their own.
But one can never be sure what may show up here.
Don't worry though, it's all good, clean fun!!
I have work friends, and
play friends....
old friends and
young friends.
old, old friends...
new friends...
Room for some friendly wisdom here.
Have to quote Heraclitus more.