Helloooooo! Stay tuned for updates and photos when possible about our Argentinian adventures! Thank you for all of your love and support! You can post a comment/hello here below as we may not have time to answer or write emails. Here we goooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!
Nov 19th
So here we are in BEAUTIFUL Buenos Aires! We met Jose Maria of Argentina and Bill and Patty of Philly U.S. on the plane and thankfully shared a comfy cab with them to downtown to be hosted by the lovely Shelly Monahan previously of Ottawa referred by Mildred Lynn (thank you!.) We are headed to Gaia Eco Village tomorrow and then to other organic farms and who knows..........off to the country we go! The travel was long and turbulent but WE ARE HERE! It's hot and romantic and we are very excited. We spent the sunset at a beautiful park with a bottle of wine and a picnic from a local grocery store.......more in store!!!! Talk soon! Love YOU alllllll.....
Nov 22
Ok so we are in Lujan west of Gaia Eco Village,
http:///. Our stay at Gaia was short but interesting and we left quite an impact on the residents with Turkish Coffe Cup readings last night which confirmed the purpose, beauty and essence of the place for everyone. Our arrival was somewhat unexpected but welcomed and they had too many volunteers so we stayed as guests for 2 nights to feel it out. They have a nice village with many projects on the go and a beautiful garden. We helped out with food a bit and stayed in a nice clean enviro setting. Solar, wind and compost systems are cool! They were too busy to give us a guided tour so we guided ourselves and asked a lot of questions. We may head back there when they need volunteers, otherwise its $15 a day U.S. food and accomodations, which is fair but costly for the start of our trip! My allergies are going crazy and I (yesim) got stung by a dead wasp on the bus today but it was alright, I was confused! So we are headed to Mendoza tonight on an overnight bus to visit
www.elperegrinorganico.com an organic farm near the Andes! They are expecting us......thanks to a referral from Texas Nick who we met at GAIA! Talk soon!!!! Lots of love....
Nov 28!
Hi! ok so we have been here at El Peregrino a week tomorrow. I have had the flu since we got here and am today just feeling a little better. Its going around here so...it started with a headache at GAIA then nausea on the 12 hr bus ride here, vomiting and lots of sleeping, then I felt better Saturday and that night got a really sore throat and still have a not so bad sore throat. The family is really nice and patient and say many are sick at first. So my judgment and mood has been poor and Seb pulled a muscle yesterday in his back so that did not help! He has been very helpful and supportive but I have been hard to be around cause we are in a tent at a new place and I was really sick and it rained and its cold at night here- BUT we are on the mend and will spend a week or so here and perhaps at the other 2
www.wwoofinternational.com farms that they are connected to and see where we go from here. Wish there was more fun to report but the other wwoofers are younger but very nice and have formed a clic that takes time and energy that I have not had to warm up to not to mention the spanish barrier with the family! But its time to get accquainted now that I feel better. Sebs having a great time, he always does which I admire and learn from. I am helping Anna with cooking and market prep so thats fun and seb is doing everything he can, loves the garden of course! Talk soon, Nug hi! Say hi to the folks for us! Love to all!
Dec 3rd
Hey there folks. We are still here at El Penegrino Organic farm. I am much better only left with allergies so thats fine. We will be here till Wednesday the 6th. We are going to an organic cherry farm owned by Ruben Pagliafora and family to experience different farms. Probably for a few weeks then who knows, maybe Cordoba. I was going to write more but someone else is waiting. All in all things are on the up and up and a lot of fun so stay tuned......lots of love.
Dec 9th
Hi all! So we are now at Ruben´s Cherry Farm as mentioned and are enjoying it very much. Lots of Cherries to eat, yum! We have been working on a massive squash crop weeding and adding soil to small plants for days! I also have weeded onions, sorted cherries and picked beans. Another field of sqash after that! Pepe from U.K. from Perengrino is also with us and we are having fun. The family is very kind and interesting and we are looking forward to spending another week with them. They have a typical diet with fresh veggies and like to watch TV and talk with us about politics, the woes and blessings of organics and various other topics. We have been coming to the organic farmers market in Mendoza city for the past 2 saturdays where 6 different organic farmers sell including the cherry farm and El perengrino. Its great to stock up on food we like and need. Also, we use the internet and phone. A Canadian company is apparenty part of starting up a mine in the Andes for Gold which will put the small amount of independant farmers out of land due to contamination! Including the farms we have been at, so all you protesters get on it! So Ben Shultz a friend from home met up with us and is still at El Perengrino having fun! Much fun! Much more to write later.....lots of love. Ciao for now
Dec 16
Howdie! We are going to the beach!!!! Las Grutas south of the capital.
www.lasgrutas.com
to see whats up for us there. Hoping to rent a small place and chill out for a while. We will let you know where we are at soon. Our bus today at noon from Mendoza province will take us there for 7am! So short on time, we will update more soon. We had fun at the Cherry farm and did some more coffee readings, always interesting........and helpful! Thank you Ruben and Sandra and family and friends for hosting us!!! We went to the Andes near Chili last Sunday for a day trip, it was awesome! More soon! Lots of love!
Dec 21
So we are enjoying ourselves here at the beach. We rented a bachelor pad from a nice older couple since last Sunday who have adopted us as their own! We leave from there tomorrow for a short trip down the Southern Coast to visit an old indigineous area with Fletch the tour guide and his friend and 2 german girls, katia and johanna. We are camping near the beach for a bit now leaving an extra backpack with Maria and Mario who we rented the bachelor from. We have had nice quiet time getting to know the area and shopping for fresh food and veggies. We found a mini health food store where we found nutritional yeast!!!! Its right before tourist season so we are lucky to be in the lull before the mayhem. Our new camp is up the coast from Las Grutas in a quiet area called Los Colorados with hip friends and travellers. There are large pink stones and white sandy beaches and less people! Anyway we will be here for a few more months as camping is VERY affordable, we think, so keep in touch if you wanna visit! Then off to Chacra Millean Eco Village in Chubut province
http://welcome.to/millalen click on english version at side bar. Then back up the Andes through Barilloche, then to visit the organic farms of previous again and then up North and perhaps we will duck into another country if it is renew Visa time by then........talk soon, take care for now.
Jan 6
Happy New Year to all! Well we have definately found a home till the end of Feb! The beach is a really nice place to be. We have met many friends and have been staying at Los Coloradas beach 2km south of Las Grutas, by invitation by Alberto and family and friends. We are camping and sharing private facilities. It is a primative but enjoyable situation. Las Grutas is near by and we enjoy the town once in a while. Its been a while sorry! Guess we are busy! We are helping out at a restaurant a bit, doing coffee readings, babysitting, cooking healthy food for those of us who care! and walking the beach and swimming......... Life is tough. There are down times for sure but we get through them. We are working on getting a photo site for you to click on. Ciao for now, thanks for all your comments and love.
Jan 19
Hi! Still at the beach, hard place to leave and why really? Ash and Kristine the tent is our home and we really appreciate it, thanks! It is withstanding harsh, strong winds! MEC would be proud! There is so much we could tell you but not much time at the internet cafe! So more fun, more sun, all the stuff that makes you wanna be here and not in Canada yada yada yada. Its great because everyday the weather is different since we are in Patagonia territory so it mixes up our mood and keeps us on our toes. I have surrendered to the moody weather, sun and fun and am enjoying myself when I am feeling well. Its been up and down for me in this country. Seb is great as usual of course.....I make lunch everyday for 6 of us health foodies. Abdul buys the veggies, Seb the India clothes stand dude buys condiments, Alberto and Nora pitch in money and supply the facility and wash dishes, Seb works the morning up at the restaurant to help support our showers and dinners and then joins us for lunch. So the weather again, one day overcast and cool, the next really hot and sunny, the next windy and sunny etc. Nights are cool, chilly or warm and nice.......Hope you all are doing well, get through Feb and then its spring again!!! Chat soon, love ya all............
Jan 28th
Hey so here we are again, still bearing the beach life and still alive, which is good, now writing......went to a reggae fest on the beach, Abdul rules! You night owls would love Argentina, bars/parties/ festivals open at 1 am to about 8 am, you nap from 10pm-2pm, so watched the sunrise to beautiful reggae music.....we don´t party late often as recovery takes a week, plus we love the daytime at the beach. Just a short note for now to let you know we are well and happy. Watched a movie on a big screen on the beach tonight, there is one every fri, sat, and sunday, Argentininan movies, very good. Now we check for email emergencies and lovely notes and are off to walk home via the beach and check out an electronic night club on our way by......Love to all......
Feb 3rd
Howdie folks, came into town to watch another movie on the beach called Los Manos, check it out its a touching story about a healer........the full moon is intense! It was full Feb 1st and everyone was hurting themselves or something. I had the 24 hour flu and Corto the beach dog of Alberto was killed in a heat fight for a bitch in heat in the night, Alberto found him on the beach in the morning and we buried him at sunrise. Seb really loved that dog so he is really sad and I am sad too. Happy Birthday Yas! Hope it was great. Thanks for your inspiration! We love you. Well more later of course and Ciao for now with love..........
Feb 12
Just got back from 2 days at Puerta Pyramides in Chubut Province (google it) with Las Grutas/Las Coloradas buddy Rodrigo to visit a friend Lujan. Pics to come. We camped and enjoyed a magical walk down the coast of pyramid rocks. That day was unforgetable to say the least. Our campfires were interesting and inspiring. Feeling refreshed we think of more day trips......its really nice where we are but I am getting restless of the routine. Seb is ok with whatever as usual. Patrice, thanks for all your comments, we are still here and would love to meet them! Send me an email above at the start of my webpage. Hope you are well, looking forward to meeting you one day perhaps. Talk soon! Love.
Feb 17
Hey hey you cool cats, still here at the beach........came to town today to check emails and shop and get other things done...uploading pictures........here till about March 9, heading up north where it will be warmer........kids are starting to go back to school next week and the tourists are slowly going home.........prices will come down and we will leave too. We will miss all our dear friends here of so many months of love and support. Loving and missing you all.
March 10
Hey hey, still here having fun spending time with friends who aren´t too busy with tourists anymore. We are going to General Roca with Ines till Tuesday for a tour to her family farm, lots of fruit trees! Its nice and quiet here now and it rained for 3 days but the sun is out and we continue to have fun. We are at a potluck right now at Poly´s, its so nice to be with good friends. So write more later, love ya lots.
March 26
Still at the beach! Hard to leave such a beautiful place and why really! Had dinner with Guy and Susan last night at their beachfront apt! Spent the night there and woke up to the beautiful ocean view from the patio. They are good old friends of Seb´s from Canada here to track migratory birds from Canada with the government for 4 weeks in this area! How lucky are we! So cool. Its cool today, hence at the internet for most of the day catchin up on cyber goober for all you´s. On the homestretch soon but for now we are here and tomorrow we will be there somewhere.........so as you can tell I am getting lazy with entries but we love you all dearly and will have a slide show night when we get back to add stories to the photos and there is always the link to a glimse of some of our 500 photos on facebook above. Seb had a cold last week and just today its my turn! O well. Love to all of you and healing to all who are feeling down and out. Send me some healin vibes please. Spring is coming!!! Hold on tight..............
April 14
Holy! Its been a while........sorry. We are fine and on the home stretch. If you wanna visit us we will be at Cafe Nostalgica (ottawa U campus pub) the first Tuesday after May 3. Write more soon, just know we are fine and going to B. Aries next week and perhaps Iguazu Falls.........Cioa and love.
April 21
Hey hey, well we have left the beach.........such a special place.........
We love you friends of Las Grutas! We got onto the bus feeling so surreal about leaving as we waved to Edu, Poli, Rodrigo, Flavia and Alberto......we appreciate the love and care we received since Xmas (wow) beyond words........it still has not hit me. So strange to be in a city again BUT it is a fabulous city to explore, IF it stops raining. We are staying with Nacho, Belen (we met in Los Coloradas) and Bella- awesome, warm, loving, hospitable friends! They picked us up from the bus station and have been touring us around and showing us the way! Great restaurants, thanks Santiago
http://www.eternacadencia.com.ar/home.asp . Hoping to get a guided tour of the city just to get it all in easy and then a bus tour to Iguazu for a week, then back for a gathering of friends and a so long..........Next blog entry: What we have learned quotes...................hmmmmmmm. See you soon Canada..........LOVE
April 24
We are off to Iguazu Falls tonight at 6 until Saturday morning! Should be spectacular! Then back to celebrate Lujans birthday at Tigre Island and then some fun with Ines and Abdul at a Reggae Bar then off to Canada!
Ok so here is my famous Oatmeal Cookie recipe for all those asking, thank you for loving them!
Oatmeal Jade
Oven to 375. Bowl and fork, 2 eggs beaten, 1/2 cup sunflower oil, 1/2 tsp salt, 1 tsp cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg what have you, 1 tbsp vanilla, 3 tbsp liquid (milk, water, orange juice etc.) Mix, 1 & 1/2 cups of organic sugar or 1 cup honey, 1 cup mixed raisins, walnuts, sesame, sunflower seeds etc., 2 cups wheat germ (1 cup could be rice flour for crispy cookies, 3 cups fine oats, and last in the bowl 1 tsp baking soda and lots of love. Mix, grease sheets, form balls, press each twice with fork to flaten, double the pan or they will burn, 18 min, rotate at 8 min. Cool and enjoy!
See you soon!
April 30th
Hey hey cool cats, well Iguazu Falls were amazing! Profound and humbling, photos to come! Went to a tango bar last night to watch........have not learned enough tango yet. Went to a natural foods restaurant today with Abdul, it was alright, going to karaoke tonight we think, and a last day tour tomorrow to see more sights. It is labour day here tomorrow so should be crazy busy. Talk soon, tired and coming home! Lots of love!
May 12th
Hellooooooo, we are home in Canada! Thank you to all our friends and family for making this trip possible! We will write more later but for now sending love to all and Argentina thank you, you are in our hearts forever! Canada lets get busy...........