ExPat Adventures

J:  So the idea is to dedicate Sunday afternoons at the computer, recording a smattering of ideas and events from the week.  Organizing the jumble of mental images from completely different surroundings is a challenge.

Last night, G commented, "Do you realize we've been to four expat events in one week?"  And the calendar which was completely blank two weeks ago, now is a mass of jottings and places and people.  We're asked so often, "What do you do all day?"  It now seems like we get up and, minutes later, wonder where the day went.

One thing about BA, similar to life in Panama, is experiencing the discovery of shared ideas with bright, interesting people who have come from very different places.  There is something about the sense of adventure that makes expats a most vibrant community.  Of course, there are complainers and just the plain odd-balls.  But all in all, the pool from which to make friends is deep and wide.

That's Dave, an  expat artist from Mapleton, Oregon, doing what he loves -- chipping away at block of rock at the Recoleta Cultural Center.  It's next to the famed cemetery, and just a few blocks from our apartment.   J sat beside Dave this week at an expat lunch, talking golf and Oregon.  He's pointed us to an English bookseller in Belgrano, which will be Monday afternoon's bus adventure.

Here's Gretchen at the entrance to our building

G:  What a week it was,  meeting new, friendly expats at every event... I sat next to Dave's wife Jayme-- also an artist-- at lunch and talked Oregon, being new to BA, and about their  recent 6 -week adventure around Argentina.  She inspired me to keep blogging and to join her for a Saturday  drawing class.  And at last night's Tapas Party at Christine's apartment, we said hello again to Bonnie, the one responsible for getting us to join this particular Expat group (and who also lived in Oregon for a time)....and Dee, who immediately invited us to join her tonight for Chinese food and an informal tango venue at an outdoor pavillion.  We have yet to fix anything more than breakfast and snacks in our lovely kitchen as we keep finding excuses to have lunch out.  Did I mention we bought a scale to keep ourselves on the  right side of the line?

Cultural differences noted this week---salt but no pepper on the cafe/restaurant tables (you ask for it).  I may byop!  We found peanut butter on the top shelf of the baking supplies, right there with the cake mixes.  No canned pop/beer/mixers....practically everything is in plastic liter bottles.  If you're going to buy, buy BIG! 

Notable dining and cafes this week for our future reference:

We've enjoyed Empire Thai  on Tres Sargentos 427 in Retiro;  Clasica y Moderno on Callao 892, Josephina's Cafe on Guido y Juncal,  and La Casa de Gretha on Pueyrredon 2350,  The Oak Room Bar at the Hyatt, and Sushi Box near the Four Seasons, all in Recoleta.

Kevin (owner of Empire Thai) recommends:  Tandor at Laprida y Charcas  (Recoleta)  and Valparaiso (Chilean) at Nicaragua 6078 X Domingo (Palermo).

Dave's recommendation:  Posada (FR/US/ARG)  at Cuba y Blanco Calada (Belgrano).

Others recommend: Moliere on Juncal and the Sunday brunch at the Alvear Palace Hotel.