Un gran viaje a Argentina con mi abuela

My second year at Americano begins tomorrow. Whew. Wow. I am feeling a great deal more comfortable and centered than I was at this time last year, expectedly so. The summer was fantastic and was capped off with a wonderful trip to Argentina with NieNie. I'm going to recount our viaje mostly with photos here as I am momentarily short on words...

We began our 8-day stay in my 2nd South American country in Buenos Aires. Our 3 days in the Paris of South America was something like this...

A trip to el Museo de Arte Latinamericano

a leisurely walk in a Japanese garden...
                     we found Buenos Aires to be a beautifully green city...

We had meals that looked like this. La Cabrera gets 5 stars from me!!

Then we arrived in Mendoza for another 3-day stay. Lares de Chacras offered a very comfortable reprieve with another lovely view just outside our door...

Our first day in wine country was spent at a winery with a wonderful spa. We were greeted into this entrance with glasses of delicious vinco blanco. After 90-minute massages, we were quite refreshed.

We dined one evening in our hotel's wine cellar. The ambiance was quite lovely.

Our 2nd day in Mendoza was spent exploring two vineyards. One smaller family owned, and the other larger, but both with tantalizing Malbecs and more. As it turns out, I am a definite fan of dessert wine. Who would have thought?

Felipe hosted our 2nd tour. Quite the salesman was he. And equally adorable. 

NieNie and I both agreed that the highlight of the trip was our 8-hour cooking class with Jose. The menu included empanadas, plenty of carne, the best veggies of my life and flan with dulce de leche ice cream...and various wines for each course!

While I've been known to put down a good deal of food, Jose was multi-tasking as he was instructing NieNie and me and making the comida for the winery's restaurant, so all of that meat is not just for us.

Really, the best vegetales de mi vida. The rabbit stock and white wine that the veggies simmered in added dynamite sabor. 

Mmmm, I'd like to find that rewind button about now...

Our time in Argentina ended with a one night stay at an estancia se llama El Ombu.

Here a famous gaucho strums his guitar while we dine.

This was followed by a bit of a show by a handsome ranch hand.

Good looking trio.

NieNie returned with me to Ecuador to see some sites in Quito and help me get settled into my new apartment. She also got to see Ana!

I'll sign off this evening with a glimpse into the new abode. Loving the view and how cozy it already feels. 

Life is good. No, life is great.

Abrazos a todos from Quito.

Jame

Visa Renewal: Bond? Paging James Bond

As it stands, Bond (Peter, that's you) is still in Quito, so the Bond girl is trying all her tricks on her own to get a visa renewal before leaving the country on Monday. I've previously written about my evolving tranquila self, the one who can just. let. go. Bueno, the way I have been sweating through my cute summer dress (mmm, let's be honest, the dress from Cassie's Closet...sorry sista-friend) and swearing not so under my breath seems to argue that that Jamie is definitely on vaca sipping Piña Coladas in Canoa. Fine, just fine. Without her it seems this now provides an opportunity to indulge my dramatic side.

The series of anxiety-inducing events has gone something like this:

1. HR at Americano informs me that my visa expires while I am back home, so I must renew in Minnesota rather than Quito.

2. They pass off the apparent appropriate forms for renewal.

3. I arrive home and call the Ecuadorian Consulate and make an appointment for July 28th.

4. Walking in on the aforementioned date with my papers and passport, I sit down with the General Consulate to take care of business. Ha, as it stands, there will be no processing today because the visa actually expires on August 12 (the first day I am to be in Argentina with NieNie) and it is against the rules to renew early. I suggest you go to the consulate in Buenos Aires says Ms. General Consulate. I wish I'd brought with my copy of The Very Hungry Caterpillar. You think I'm going to break away from red wine and steak to maneuver a visa renewal at the Ecuadorian consulate in Argentina?! Not. a. chance. I am also feeling it is unfortunate that we are not in Ecuador and that I am not dealing con un hombre because a few dolla dolla bills and bats of my eyelashes in tandem with pooor fa would likely do the trick here. I begin to really irritate Ms. GC as I ask what my other options might be. She finally agrees to process my visa on August 11th (really bending "the rules" here as that is TWENTY-FOUR HOURS early). I will have to drop off my papers and passport on August 7th and pick up my new visa on August 11th before flying out.

5. So now, here we are today. I walk into the consulate, present all docs once again to a new woman as the GC was out of the office. It seems now I do not have all of the passport photos I need. I will have to get more taken and bring those in tomorrow morning, when I have planned to bake cookies con mis sobrinas one last time this summer. Whatever, we'll just tell the oven to bake faster. But then, the kicker: I need a background check you say? I was not previously informed of this.

6. I walk out of the office and frantically begin calling police precincts and even the FBI (I don't think that was the appropriate office to contact) to see who can process a background check in like 12 hours. Here's the deal: no one.

7. My sweat glands are going into overdrive as I walk back into the office and inform the very kind (and here I imply no sarcasm) woman that I do not know how to obtain a background check by tomorrow. And anyway, I've been living in Ecuador this past year, so what good would a background check from Minnesota be? Oh, in that case I'll need a background check from Ecuador she calmly replies. Ha. Mmmm, we've been over my list of superpowers, teleportation isn't among them. Dazed and confused about my next step, I explain that other friends have renewed in Ecuador without having to produce any background check. Ms. Muy Amable says she will call GC and let me know what she says.

8. I walk out to have lunch with my friend Tunde. He tries to console me with his adventure of renewing his passport with the Nigerian consulate in Georgia. Good story, but he has his passport in hand. My passport is currently held captive. No call ever comes from the consulate before it closes at 2 pm.

9. I get in my car as I am heading to Cosco to take more passport photos and ring Bond in Ecuador. He listens sympathetically as I rant away. Last year we tag-teamed Juan Carlos until we had successfully accomplished our mission. C'mon, James, hop in your jet now, please...

So, I'll return to the consulate tomorrow to drop off the passport photos. Grandma says she'll come with and vouch for me. They will certainly waive the demand for a background check as her word is good as gold. Agreed?

La Boda del Verano

It's official (actually Facebook official, so you know it's the real deal): another Baci woman is off of the market. Many men's hearts sank as one grew even larger at 3 pm on Saturday, August 2nd, 2014, as my stunning sister Cassie said "I do" to one handsome Tom Ryan. 

I've spent the past few weeks relishing the nights that Cass and I have been hanging out at my parents', where she has been living and I have been staying. (Trying not to treat it too much like a B and B, I've been doing a load of laundry from time to time.) Our sister time doesn't get abolished now that she is a wife, but being both sensitive AND sentimental, spending time with Cass in her last days as a Bacigalupo felt extra special. (Though her ability to take down a plate of pasta, laugh at her own jokes and bring on the sass doesn't change with the new name, so once a Baci, always a Baci.)

In the days leading up to the wedding, I spent a number of nights mostly observing Cass work on final touches. With Mom's help, Cass created all kinds of decor from scratch that is most definitely Pinterest worthy. Using burlap, twine, birch bark and hydrangeas, Cass's style is rustic elegance. Another special touch: sweet, little poems to introduce each member of the wedding party. I've got to include the ones she wrote for Linds and me:

For Linds--

My shopping partner in crime,

I could hang with my sister all of the time.

A successful realtor she is

I might even join her in the biz.

Her generous heart is what I love most

Of this I will most proudly boast.

Beautiful babies she and Chad made,

Lovely life none of which she would trade.

For me--

Sisters by blood, friends by choice,

She always carries herself with much poise.

Teacher, world traveler, foodie and chef

I often call her when I could use a deep breath.

One quote comes to mind when I think of my dearest:

“Though she be but little, she is fiercest.”

As maid and matron-of-honor, Linds and I decided on a joint speech. We followed Dad, whose wit and humor nearly earned him a standing ovation. My fave part of Linds' and my speech was our alphabet for the newlyweds, inspired by Dr. Seuss's ABC book and what Linds and I imagine Cass and Tom's life to look like based on their favorite pastimes and interests. It is as follows:

a - acceptance, Anthropologie, autumns

b - beaches, bars, burgers and a baby or three.

c - Cassie's changing clothes again

d - dancing in DC

e - elegant evening in Ecuador

f - fury, fights, forgiven

g -goofy and glam, grabbing grub from grandma's

h - happy hour in Hudson, highlights and a haircut

i - imitating imps in Iceland?

j - juicing in their jammies in January

k - kinship, kindness and keepsakes

l - laughing without limits

m - movie in the Minneapolis moonlight with mimosas

n - New Nightlife in New York

o - ordering orange overalls

p - pouring porters on patios

q - her quirks, his queen

r - the Ryan's rollerblading to the Reuter’s

s - Softball and Summertime Saturday sushi dates

t - Tommy twerking in Tel Aviv? too funny

u - ultimate underwater  

v - valuable vacations, verve and vitality

w - watches, winters, and white wine

x - seXy teXting...you mean seXting?

y - years of...yodeling?

z - a life with plenty of zeal, plenty of zest because Tommy is the one who Cass loves best

The following photos, courtesy of my dear friends Kelley and Nate Reiter, give you a sense of the beauty of Cass and Tom's wedding day.

                                                                                   Getting ready at Mom and Dad's.

Here she comes, Tommy, our sister and daughter, your beautiful bride.

Aunt Christy and Uncle Jim's Weston is such a stud. He was more than happy 
to walk these belles down the aisle.

One hot wedding party...who rocked the dance floor all. night. long. (naturally)

          Introducing Mr. and Mrs. Tom Ryan

“Love consists of this: two solitudes that meet, protect and greet each other. ” 

― Rainer Maria Rilke