Life in Argentina

We finally have the internet connected in our apartment.  At least Rich's computer works, but mine doesn't.  We think something has to be done to get mine to "talk to the modem".  We are working on it.  Then we have to go somewhere and get wireless internet.  We'll have to pay for it, but it is a necessity so we can both use our computers at the same time.   But, at least, we are able to work on our blog, post pictures, and communicate with the world.  

We live on a major street called Presidente Peron, named after the president of Argentina whose wife Evita was the one the movie was made about.  All I remember is that she was a beloved person and that's where the song, "Don't cry for me, Argentina" came from.

This is the front entrance.  There are spots for cars to park behind gated areas.  The gates are opened by remotes.  We have a remote, but no car.

The apartment building is five stories high and we live on the 5th floor.  Good thing there is an elevator-- actually two elevators.  On the roof there is a place to barbeque.  The BBQ pits are available, but one needs to furnish his own charcoals.  There is also a small room with table and chairs in it.

Our balcony is the one on the right, top floor.  I am waiving.  When we got locked out on the balcony,  (explained in previous entry) our neighbor crawled around the partition between our balconies to help us break in.  Brave soul!!

                                                  Rich enjoying a cup of hot chocolate

 
This is just one example of the terrible condition the sidewalks are in.   They are this way all up and down the streets.  Most are made of these tile like squares, and they break up and sluff off and no one repairs them.  We are told that the government collects taxes from the people and then the officials keep the money, and do not put it back into the city to fix roads and sidewalks.  So the up keep of things around here has a lot to be desired.  We have to walk with our heads down to make sure we don't stumble and to be sure we do not step in dog poop. Dogs use the sidewalks for their "bathroom", big time!

A Lavadero is a place to drop off laundry.  These are all over the place.  They do not have laundromats or do it yourself places.  You drop it off and can pick it up the next day.  A Tintoreria means dry cleaning.  They send those items out.  We used the lavadero for a couple of weeks until we could purchase a clothes drying rack for our apartment, since we do have a washing machine.  They will iron shirts for an extra charge, but they do not starch.

Here are some samples of how they package food.  From left to right: mustard, mayo (really big here, they love it and there are several brands --- BUT, it just isn't like our good old mayo. Then milk is next, orange juice, and a mixed fruit juice.  Some boxes of milk are just put out on the shelf, not in a cooler.  They pasteurize it and treat it so much that it won't spoil if it is warm. Also eggs are just on the shelf.  They leave them out for so long, and then if they are not purchased by a certain date, they have to cool them.  Oh well!!

I have really struggled with buying food here.  Sister Argyle (president's wife) had our apartment stocked with a variety of things and the thing we enjoyed the most was the wonderful fresh fruit.   We just devoured it.  So for the first week, we just lived on sandwiches and fruit.   We couldn't read the labels on things, and Rich didn't know the names of food items very well, and we couldn't find things we were used to.   It was very frustrating.  So last Friday, Sister Argyle took us to WalMart to shop.   She gave us a grand tour of the store and showed us where things were and what things were.  It was soooooo helpful!!  We were there 3 hours. Even though it is a WalMart, it still isn't like our WalMart in the US.  There are many things they don't have that we do at home.  But I stocked up on some food so we can at least eat a variety of things.    Here are some things that are NOT to be found here in Buenos Aires:

crushed pineapple (only sliced rings are sold so we have to chop them up to make crushed)

frozen juices

buttermilk

cans of pumpkin (we can't believe we'll have no pumpkin cookies for 18 months)

cottage cheese

syrup

maple flavoring                             

light Karo syrup - only dark is found

rice crispies  (so for you Kroff readers, no more Scotcheroos until we get home)

butterscotch chips

chocolate chips (very scarce, hard to find - not a hot item)

cool whip

cherry pie filling  

brown sugar  (their rendition of it is just like white sugar, but brown in color)

canned soup (none at all)   

So now you see why I am so frustrated.   We certainly do not over eat here.  It is a good thing we ate so good in the MTC, because it came to an abrupt halt when we arrived here.  But I'm sure we'll get used to things and find food that is pleasing to us.  

These are empanadas.  They look weird in this picture, but they are very good.  This is the fast food of Argentina.  They are circles of dough filled with a variety of things like ham and cheese, chicken, beef, etc.  Then they bake them.  There are pizza and empanada shops all over.  Easy to get these for lunch or dinner.