While our cooking patterns adapt a bunch each month depending on where we live and what’s available in the markets, we’ve made at least one batch of soup at every home except Costa Rica. (Heat and ant invasions do not encourage soup-making.)
Bees and Balloons on Bs. As. Playgrounds
The playgrounds in Buenos Aires are numerous, well-maintained, and full of children, especially during the post-school hours of 4 to 6 pm. Going to the playground seems to be woven into the daily routines of many families, similar to what we experienced in Lyon (France) and Stockholm (Sweden).
Mercado de las Puglas
We ended up at Mercado de las Puglas because it was housing a farmers market for the weekend, but I ended up loving the antique/flea/restored-furniture market portion too, even though we’re definitely not in the market for any furniture.
Tango
I’m often asked why we chose this place or that place to spend a month of our trip. Sometimes it’s based on previous trips, recommendations, proximity to another location, the language, or simply a whim. In Europe we always had to consider our Schengen-area time, which sent us to previously-not-well-known-to-us (but fascinating!) places like Cyprus.
However, we definitely picked Buenos Aires because of tango.
Books about Argentina I Read While In Argentina
Theo and a Fluffy
In addition to tasty coffee, the Auckland cafes we’ve visited will make a “fluffy” for kids, an espresso cup of foamed milk, sometimes with a sprinkle of chocolate and generally accompanied by a marshmallow.
Easy Living
Our home here is probably technically in the suburbs of Auckland (in Westmere), but it’s an area of quick transitions between residential and commercial, not an ongoing sprawl of houses. We can walk to a good cafe in two minutes and several areas of concentrated small shops and restaurants (including good Indian food!) in ten to twenty. There are plenty of nearby parks, playgrounds, and other green spaces.
Walking Break
I needed a break from working. As an experiment in talking a walk instead of indulging in a dose of coffee or social media, I visited this small reserve, about a block from our house. (Yes, I tried the swing!)
Medical Costs
During our trip, we’ve had the opportunity to test various medical systems for non-emergency issues in Turkey, Sweden, Iceland, Costa Rica, and here in New Zealand. In our experience thus far, medical care has been more affordable and personable pretty much everywhere compared to the USA.
Rainy Day Bouncing
The current weather in Auckland reminds me of our month in Ireland – rain, sun, rain, sun, repeat. As I overheard in Ireland, “it’s a beautiful day between the clouds.”
I had promised Theo that if it wasn’t raining, I would take him to the beach after preschool, so I packed a picnic lunch and some impromptu beach toys (mostly random plastic containers.)