Sunday, October 16, 2011

Orange poppyseed cake and a spontaneous trip with Chris!

We both hit this weekend like a bomb- sleep-ins, long lay-ins, existing all Sunday in my pyjamas... we were completely clapped out and Chris had a nasty throat infection.. and were so thankful to have 2 days to rest up for another week of school.

9 more weeks and we are back in Aus for holidays and fun with family, friends and my beloved beaches!!
Very VERY excited!
and sure, there is 9 more weeks of school- but it is going to fly and in the meantime we have more weekends ahead of adventuring around here in Buenos Aires, more time learning Castellano, hanging out with the beautiful friends we have made here, enjoying the warmer weather that is coming through and making all the trees green again!

By the river in Tigre
So this weekend was restful, we also woke up on Saturday morning to decide that we wanted to go on a random spontaneous adventure- go somewhere new and try different things!
We took it easy and left the house at about 11am- caught the train from Quilmes to Constitution- Subte (subway) from Constitution to Retiro station- Retiro to Tigre! It cost both of us together $4 to get to Tigre by public transport, it was great!

In Tigre

My lovely husband in Tigre

Tigre means 'tiger' en Castellano.. I don't know why they call it Tigre, it is a river town with lots of canals and pretty riverside walks. But the highlight was discovering their markets!!! oooo it was fun! the best part of the day was finding a shady spot right on the river, sipping our mate and listening to some live jazz played by a guy on a saxophone- relaxing!
Out of all the market goodies we walked away with sun-dried tomatoes, an empty cool shaped glass jar and dried coloured flowers wrapped in brown paper.

I have two favourite things to my list of favourite goodies-
1. Carry flower wrapped in brown paper- it made me feel so pretty- is that childish and strange of me?
2. Today I soaked the sun-dried tomatoes in hot water with fresh garlic for 20mins- then dried them off and put them in my new glass jar, filling it with extra virgin olive oil. It was some homemade, Italian, fresh goodness I felt all good on the inside.

Tigre was fun, and we were so tired from walking around in the heat all day- we got back on the train intending to head back to Capital- but remembered we were passing Belgrano station, which has China town!!! 2 stops away, we decide to get off in Belgrano to explore China town at night! and so so glad we did, it was a highlight of our day!! We went to one of the many asian supermarkets 'Casa Chino' which had EVERYTHING! and we went a little food mad and bought lots of goodies! im so happy because I now have 4 packets of rice paper rolls- you can't get them anywhere else but in China town!! also sesame oil, 2 minute noodles, chai tea, poppy seeds and other goodies! we even found Feta cheese and tofu! but couldn't refrigerate for the trip home.
We then had dinner at a swishy Japanese restaurant- I am in love with ceviche!!

Belgrano had such a great vibe!! We will be back in a weekend coming for sure to do some more exploring- and so easy to catch the subte and bus and everything!

Other weekends that we have had since my last update have been cool as well. In the last couple we have had to be at school for school event like Founder's Day (running a live music stage all day) and evening concerts. Now with that settling down, we hope to have more energy for hanging with friends.

Bowling!
We did go bowling together one weekend which was fun! I lost.. but not by much hehe.

clever Chris won the game

look how many times we missed!!! I almost thought we need bumpers! haha

We also have some beautiful friends that we hang out with and they invited us on a picnic with their family to a big big park called 'Parque Pereyra Ireola' or something like that.. it is acres and acres and acres of parkland where 100's of local families come and have picnics! it was amazing. but the best bit was being with our new friends and family over here. It an honour to hang with such genuine people.

So, am I practicing my Castellano- more now, but could be practicing harder! I have help from my friend Nati who I am meeting with once a week to practice and drink mate with. I love her! and I love learning spanish... I am finding it hard to remember all these new words- It is like it goes in one ear and out the other... I will keep trying!

Today as I sit here in my pj's all day (I'm not embarrassed, we all do this sometimes people)- I have been looking up tour companies for the Inca Trail trek to Machu Picchu and think I have found the right company!
They are called 'Peru Treks' and had the best price for the 4 day/3 night trek! If anyone has gone with them or heard anything let me know- I have looked at all reviews and read sooooo many things and different companies! It is so exciting!
If anyone wants to come trekking with us in 2012 from the 30th April to 4th May, let us know!

My favourite heladeria- Via Cosenza en Quilmes!!  CHOCOLATE ESPECIAL!!!!
Just thought I would include another photo of an INCREDIBLE ice cream here in my hometown of Quilmes... this is by far the best ice cream I have ever had in my life- I eat this at least once a week... my head keeps telling me "be careful miki... get your ice cream butt to the gym"! eeek.. but I am totally enjoying life in the moment of eating this ice cream! hahaha
I just looked at how psychotic I look.. baahahahaa.. this one is for you mum... you have raised an ice cream monster... haha!

Today, I made orange and poppyseed cake for the first time! it was good...apart from the fact that the middle fell out and oozed everywhere... yea so it wasn't cooked in the middle.. but it tasted good! hahaha and the outside area was cooked good! but man it was funny to turn it upside down and see my cake start oozing poppyseed batter all over the board! haha I licked it up no problem!
Easy as to make! get yaself some poppyseeds and go wild everyone! haha

chat soon,
Lovelove,
Miki
xo

3 comments:

  1. You are crazy woman...that ice-cream is epic! Sounds like you guys are having a ball...9 weeks till I see you!!!! do we need to book you guys in advance for a dinner at our place?? Or lunch even!!!! :-) xxx

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  2. Haha, Mik,another epic blog! Your Spanish and my Dutch, in which I'm trying to immerse for next year, sound similar.......so hard to remember words aaaaahhhh!
    Until so very soon, lots of love and hugs your way xxx
    Caroline

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  3. yummmmm, I love your face looking at that ice cream!!! Amazing,

    Cannot wait for Dec 17 to come!

    LOVE TO YOU BOTH. XX

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