a day to play tourist and spend time with friends

Sa 1.25.14

• on the bucket list before the big move was to do the double decker yellow bus tour of the city
• so we were up bright and early, strapped James in the carrier, picked up some coffee and pastries, got our tickets and boarded the first bus of the day!

early birds!

• it was a cool, sunny day...which was such a tease since we'll be saying goodbye to BA (and hello to the frozen tundra up north) in less than 3 weeks!

• that's little Jamesito hiding under the blanket napping...he was such a champ today with his crazy parents carting him around the city

• this photo's for you mom:

• dad, do you think you can construct one of these?  would make a great little lawn ornament ;)
• the bus took us from our neighborhood, up north to Belgrano, Chinatown, through the center...

• ...then back down south to La Boca...passed the famous bombonera where one of Argentina's best futbol teams plays, Boca Juniors

• James kinda missed a lot of the action...really only waking to eat

a little kicking-on-the-lap action (isn't his little monster onesie great??)

• we looped around to Puerto Madero where we hopped off for a little bondiola lunch

• this sweet little face didn't last long...during lunch I was feeding James while pigeons peskily pecked around our table...I think James could sense my uneasiness...so we quickly fled this location and went somewhere more peaceful to finish up our sandwiches
• then it was back on the bus to complete the loop
• we had planned to hop off the bus to visit some friends, so we stayed on for another half a loop to head over to their place

this pic just makes me laugh...not sure why, but James preferred this hold on our walk

• we had such a nice afternoon spending time (and eating the most amazing lemon pie accompanied by delicious coffee...thanks guys!) with some friend who had their little son Maxim exactly one week after James was born
• we finally got some (pretty funny and super cute) photos of the two of them together:

first...not so sure, but then warmed up to each other

James saying "Hola...let's be amigos!" (James speaks Spanglish like mami)

• what funny little guys, huh?
• and here's James charming Cecilia a bit:

• LOVE LOVE all the babies being born in BA! 
• sadly, we'll be leaving, but Cecilia, Zdenko and Maxim move back to Sweden the day after we fly out...I have a feeling these two little guys will see each other again someday :)
• later that evening, we were invited to Jake's coworkers place for an Argentine asado...complete with all the cuts of meat grilled to perfection on the traditional Argentine parilla (see parilla to the left of the photo)

L->R Juli (the asador), Tere, Fede, Cedi, Jake
(Juli's fiance, not pictured, is Isi...don't you love all the abbreviated nicknames?  I do)

• Jake's coworker, Ceci came...maybe only to meet baby James for the first time :)
• she had a hard time letting him go, but James surely didn't mind!

James' fidgety little arms are always flying...cracks us up!

• sunny sites and fantastic friends...great way to spend one of our last weekends in BA!

Argentine Civil Ceremony

F 1.17.14

• when couples want to get married in Argentina, they must have what is called the civil ceremony in order to make it legal; religious ceremonies are optional and have no legal status 
• p.s. a few fun facts: did you know that foreigners don't need a special visa to legally get married here? just need proper immigration status...and that the couple must do a blood test within 7 days before the ceremony to check for venereal diseases? and they're not allowed to wed if tested positive?...and that gay marriage was legal in 2010? Go Argentina!
• this takes place at what is called "registro civil" and is similar to a courthouse ceremony in the States (I imagine)
• some couples choose to also have a church ceremony and/or reception in the afternoon or at night (remember this wedding we went to?) 
• funny enough, our very first civil ceremony was of our friends, Fredrik from Sweden and Yayoi from Japan, who are living and working here as expats
• the ceremony was at a registro in our neighborhood and began at 2pm
• we arrived early for photos and chatting

• James met Maxim for the first time, born 1 week after James

not a great photo, but Maxim, you're adorable...will have to add more the next time we get together...
also the photographer took some great shots, so would like to get some of those 

• about an hour after arriving, we were shown into one of the rooms
• the bride, groom, and witnesses sat in the front, with the guests behind, then the judge entered

• apparently translators are allowed, but Fredrik and Yayoi's Spanish is very good, therefore they were able to get married in Spanish! (something I couldn't do...especially with a tough judge...good thing she lightened up a bit after the first question: "For what are you marrying?" ...ughh....por amor!)
• James was a stud throughout the whole ceremony

he does the creepy "eyes open a little" sleeping...always keeping an eye on everyone...maybe he'll be in the secret service someday

• the couple said their I do's aka sí 's

Jake was one of the three witnesses - criteria to be a witness: must have an Argentine address and be able to understand Spanish

• and finally a kiss and some signatures to seal the deal

• throwing rice, rose petals, confetti, etc. at the couple is traditional here, but only OUTSIDE

throwing rice is prohibited

• preparing James for the rice throwing

• felicitaciones to the newlyweds! 

• along with the marriage certificate, they received the little red book in Fred's hand, which is the libreta de familia...where things like births, name changes, vaccines, etc. are recorded
• their Spanish teacher told us that she has kept her grandparents' little books as mementoes...what a great keepsake of their Argentine wedding for Fred and Yayoi!

beautiful couple!

• Jake took the day off, so we escaped the heat and went home to feed James, nap, and watch a movie before dinner later that evening
• we went to a place I'd been dying to try, Sucre, in Belgrano
• I want to go back just to try the rest of their amazingly concocted drinks 
• it was like chemistry lab meets swanky bar

• little James fell asleep in the cab ride over and napped while mom and dad tried some magical potions

• I ordered the Té Julepe As which consisted of zubrowka (a grass vodka), mint, lemon, hibiscus soda, and apples...you bet I asked for a spoon to scoop out that fruit! ...amazing (p.s. James had a bottle for dinner, don't worry)

• Jake's drink was even cooler

• he got the Bruma Isleña, which was like an old fashioned with bourbon, homemade angostura bitters, syrup, and vanilla oak smoke
• you'll have to ask Jake to better describe it, but basically, the chemist bartender lit a piece of wood, trapped the smoke in one glass, then poured the mixed drink in and set it over another glass of ice water to chill...what?! a whole sensory experience...Jake said it was tasty and that he'll have to learn how to recreate it (oh dear)

• so the innovative drinks set the tone for what was to come...and evening of delicious appetizers, bread, fish, meat, desserts, and of course great company among friends

• we loved celebrating you two! again, CONGRATULATIONS!!! and thank you for a wonderful day!

meeting mommy's students

W 1.15.14

• we met mommy's students from her adult conversation class for coffee and James was such a little charmer

• I kept saying how nice it was to have someone other than his parents hold him!  
• it's good for him to socialize and get comfortable around other people...prepare him a bit for his big move to the States where all of his family will want to hold him, snuggle him, play with him...we can't wait!
• so far, he's doing pretty well around others...
• afterward, James hung out with this guy outside while we went in to pick up some empanadas to take home for dinner

• thanks for meeting us ladies!  remember to come visit us in Chicago someday ;)