criplomats

John and I set off on a big adventure this week! Wednesday afternoon we checked into the Palacio Duhau to join our A&K vacation heading to Antarctica. Thursday we joined a group tour in Buenos Aires and saw an interesting old tenement home in San Telmo that had been restored, as well as the cathedral and Casa Rosada. We had dinner at the hotel after welcome cocktails, then got a few hours sleep before heading to the airport well before the sun came up.

We landed in Ushuaia — the end of the world — three hours later. We went to a hillside resort for lunch, then boarded Le Lyrial. After security and welcome briefings, we had dinner as the ship sailed away.

We arrived in the Falklands this morning (or The Malvinas, if you are Argentine) and went by tenders to shore. We were in a small group of early birds, and went first to Gypsy Cove to see the Magellan penguins and did a short nature hike overlooking the beach where many of them were hanging out and playing in the water. We saw some up close near their burrows, as well — these are the same kind of penguins we saw in Peninsula Valdez in October. The wind was intense but the temperature was around 50 — not too bad until it started raining on us toward the end of the hike.

The rest of the time we walked around the tiny town of Stanley, going to the museum and a couple of shops. Before we went back to the ship we walked down to the hillside cemetery.

We’ve gotten friendly with a few folks on board, the most surprising of which is Robin Cook who writes medical thrillers. I read several of his books when I was younger, but haven’t read much of his work since then. He gave me a hot-off-the-presses copy of his latest book to read and I’m enjoying it. The ship is beautiful and comfortable. We have a small balcony and big picture window. We’re excited about the next stops!

The photo above doesn’t do justice to the beautiful jacaranda trees blooming all over town – they’re just gorgeous, and I love how the rain created a carpet of their blooms on this path across from the embassy. They’re very fragrant, too!

John was in Rio de Janeiro this past week for a work conference – he had fun and felt like it was productive. He saw lots of people he knew and said he learned a lot.

I noticed a college friend, Cathy, was in Argentina when I saw her posting on Facebook this week and reached out to her – I was tickled that she took the time to stop by to say hello! We had a blast catching up – we literally hadn’t seen each other since 1981! For all of its faults, sometimes Facebook comes in handy!

We had our holiday party at work on Friday afternoon and our Secret Santas were revealed – I was delighted that Lea had no idea I was hers. The party was a fun way to end the week.

I finished reading “Yellowface” – I’m still mulling it over. It was a fun read but the protagonist made me nervous the whole time! John and I watched a bit of “Slow Horses” and “The Crown” when he got back from Rio.

It really got hot this week (up to 90) so I guess summer is here…although today it’s been cooler and very windy and rainy. It caused a lot of damage around town and some folks had their electricity knocked out.

A friend started a “no pressure” book club and we met yesterday at a nice outdoor venue, La Ferneteria, behind the Bella Arts Museum. We talked about Ann Patchett’s “Tom Lake.” It‘s a nice group of women and it was a beautiful day outside.

Last Sunday, we hosted about 20 of John’s American staff for a happy hour – it was a lot of fun, and our visitors Laura Rhea and Lucy got to meet our co-workers after returning from a day at an estancia. Our guests scooted off Monday morning heading to Mendoza.

John flew with the DCM to Montevideo on Wednesday for a quick look at their renovation project. Friday was a local holiday, so I spent a little time in Palermo buying small gifts for our Secret Santa at work. Lots of people at the embassy are involved in the inauguration of the new Argentine president, working with the U.S. delegation from Washington.

John and I are watching the latest season of “Slow Horses,” and we started a Nordic crime series called “A Nearly Normal Family.” Last night we watched the fascinating Greta Lee in “Past Lives,” a slow-moving but really beautiful movie.

It definitely does not feel like Christmas other than Secret Santa at work and a tree in the Embassy lobby. It’s warm and the city doesn’t really decorate.

The vet came on Wednesday to give Flavia an antibiotic shot for a UTI that showed up in her urine analysis. I’m a bit worried because she hasn’t been eating much the last couple of days and has vomited — let’s hope this doesn’t last!

Flavia appears to have made a full recovery and is back to normal! The vet thinks she had inflammation in her intestines, something she has had before that we have seen on sonograms. Her urine analysis did not show kidney failure – even the vet sounded a bit surprised. Her kidneys are weaker, but normal for her age. We are thrilled!

This week an old friend from Hendrix, Laura Rhea, and her daughter Lucy stayed with us while they toured around Buenos Aires. It’s been fun to rehash college days and hear what she’s been up to in the last 40+ years! They have been great guests and we’ve enjoyed having them.

Last night we went to Teatro Colon to celebrate 200 years of diplomatic relations with Argentina. The embassy contracted the national orchestra to play a special program that ended in a moving rendition of Aaron Copeland’s “Lincoln Portrait” narrated by our Ambassador. John and I even made the social page (below). We took advantage of being out to go to a nice dinner at one of our favorite old school parrillas, Criollos.

I’m reading “The Heart,” by Maylis de Kerangal. We finished watching “Santa Evita,” which I really enjoyed.

I just posted photos last week of Flavia living her best life, but she turned the tables on us this week. Tuesday she stopped eating and got very weak. On the fifth day she ate a tiny bit of tuna and she’s eaten a little bit this morning (and seemed a little perkier), but she’s lost weight and has been lethargic. I stayed home with her Wednesday and the vet came to give her fluids. We’ve been watching her closely and just hope she either pulls through or doesn’t suffer. She’s 19 and a half.

We had a nice Thanksgiving dinner with Lea and Jose and another co-worker Rachel late Thursday afternoon – delicious food and good company! My green bean casserole turned out pretty well despite not having those crispy fried onions in a can (I can’t believe I didn’t bring any back with me).

Saturday I met Lea for lunch at an Italian place we like near the cemetery. It was a beautiful day outside, but it’s really starting to warm up.

John and I finally watched “Barbie” last night and really enjoyed it. It’s clever. We also watched the newest episodes of “The Crown” and are also occasionally watching “Santa Evita.” I finished “Enough” and then read the fourth book in the “Thursday Murder Club” series – they are cute and an easy read. I picked “Tom Lake” for our next book club, so went back through it this morning to refresh my memory of it – I think it will prompt me to re-read “Our Town,” since it plays such a big part in the book.

Here’s hoping little Flavia continues to improve.