If Fun Events were Meals... I'd be Real Big!

Today deserves it's own blog entry. Although most of us woke up pretty late catching up on the 4-6 hours we had been getting last week, we quickly started to fill the day. 

It started with the Recoleta Market.

For anyone who has been to a farmer's/craft market this is Argentina's equivalent. It's a traveler's paradise! Not only are items homemade, but their cheap, authentic, and usually have a story behind them. I started out the day looking for a side leather bag as I heard these were better to protect against theft than backpacks and because of the country's specialty leather. But then I found something... 

Hand-Made Leather Shoes

These things were right out of The Chronicles of Ridick, Waterworld... or Chicago. I'm not one of those people that collects shoes or anything but how often do you come across this? And especially for only about $35 (200 pesos)?? My other shoes were already getting dirty and these seemed pretty sturdy. They either look obviously hand-made or "urban"-- either way I only had enough money to buy one item. As leather bags were common I went with the latter. The shoe maker even gave me a free leather wallet as I was walking away... Seriously cannot beat Argentina!

FOOD

Now for the important part. So far I've had the steak, Malbec, cheese, and Dulce de Leche (which could all each had a blog of their own), and today were a couple more specialties/good finds. The first was a circular bread with tomato, mozzarella, and jamon at the market. For the past few days we had been spending more than we wanted because of touristy areas and simply because we were treating ourselves to the area's specialties. This loaf of deliciousness was the perfect meal though. It was fresh (could still feel the hot/warm bread melting in your hands), extremely affordable, and filling (as it spread in our stomachs and kept us held over until a 9:00 dinner). 

The next treat was a Submarino. Sometimes (well almost all of the time) simplicity is the best! All this is is hot steamed whole milk served with a chocolate bar and a small cookie. It's the winter here now and this basically made me feel like I should be coming home to a Christmas tree and fire. I will never make hot chocolate the same again! Just have to make sure we always have some good quality dark chocolate on-hand. 

Edward Water Hands

We ended the afternoon with a show at the cultural center theater called El Hombre Vertiente. Don't ask me what it was exactly... because I still don't know. I also don't know why they would drench us with water in the middle of winter?? BUT it was SICK!! Everyone I was standing around decided that the plot of the show was one big nightmare... a nightmare with real good music ha! I don't know exactly what to say other than it was acrobatics, water, and music -- and I somehow ended up in the middle of it. Maybe this video can show it better than I can: