Tuesday & Wednesday: In CORDOBA!!
Mom and I relaxed at one of the sidewalk cafes in the pedestrian area of the city. Cordoba was founded by a group of Jesuits and to this day there are so many gorgeous churches and wide, cobbled streets.
We thought we'd be visiting one of the city museums, but it was actually a cultural center. It had the most gorgeous garden in the back. Shock of all shocks, they use CFL bulbs!
The de-sanctified church at the Paseo del Buen Pastor. It is a beautiful space that's now used for concerts and cultural events.
The "real" church across the street from Buen Pastor, La Iglesia del Sagrado Corazon. A-M-A-zing. It's huge and gothic and is so different from all the other churches in Cordoba.
Wednesday night, Mom and I went out for a little pre-dinner cerveza. While we were enjoying the gorgeous weather (did I mention that it was about 85 and sunny the whole week?? yep!), there was a young guy playing his saxophone on the street. Nothing could have set the mood better. Tons of people milling about, with an occasional nun or priest. Street vendors selling necklaces and boot-leg DVDs. And a saxophonist rocking out. Pretty great. :)
Thursday: LA CUMBRECITA!
Thursday, Hub and Mom and I went to La Cumbrecita, one of the last pedestrian only cities in the world. After a bumpy start (a bus trip that was WaaaaaaaY longer than expected and too much water in my bladder, among other things), we finally rounded the bend to this view. The buildings are hard to see, but they are all nestled in the valley and up the side of the mountain.
We went horseback riding to see the place. Hubster pretended to be a gaucho; he's practicing for our (hopefully!!!) time on the ranch in May.
Mom busted out some moves of her own. It's been a while since she's been riding, but she's always been a natural. These pictures do not do justice to the colors in the mountains and the sky. You should just go and see it for yourself!
It's really hard for me, since my husband and my mom don't get along. See? :)
Here is the gorgeous waterfall in Cumbrecita. If it had been just a tad hotter, and we'd had a little longer to dry off, I would have gone for a swim in the pool.
Cerveza!!! (That's "water" for all of you who don't know Spanish!)
Diego literally ate every type of sweet thing he could find in Cumbrecita: alfajores, chocolates, raspberry empanadas...and more!
Meet Olivia, the baby Mom stole on our bus ride home. Well, only for about an hour while Olivia's mom took a nap. I told Mom this is as close as she's getting to grandkids for a few years.
Thursday night: CARNE!!!
When we got back from La Cumbrecita, we went to an amazing parilla for dinner. Here's Mark scarfing down some Cebicho...or was it Cabita...maybe Cepito? Whatever it was, we didn't start eating until midnight and didn't head home until after 2am! Bienvenido a Argentina folks.
Friday: Being tourists, Ferria, and JESUS!
In the crypts of Cordoba.
Our view during lunch. Where I got bit by mosquitos, hoping they are the ones NOT carrying Dengue Fever. Sweet. At least the gnocchi (like potato dumplings) were tasty! Priorities, right?
Then we went to the ferria (artisan's fair). It was HUUUUGE. In total, there were probably enough vendors to fill 2 city blocks.
Thursday night, Mom and I wandered around the city for a bit and ended up joining the Maundy Thursday processional through the streets re-enacting the crucifixion of Christ. It was the most intense and moving Easter event I've ever seen.
Saturday: LA CUMBRE! PARAGLIDING!
On the bus ride to La Cumbre, we drove past a gorgeous lake, right beside the "mountains" (not really mountains by our NC standards, but still pretty :)).
Diego and Mark in the back of the truck on the way to the top of the mountain. It was more than a little dusty and I was SO happy that my camera didn't get filled with dirt and stop working!
Mom and Kelley just before take-off! They were ready!
Just after take-off, here's the view of the launch site. This is also where most people landed. We immediately gained at least a few hundred feet of lift...it was incredible!
Here's what my view was like. 20 minutes of bliss and so worth it!
My love, flying!
After paragliding, we had lunch in La Cumbre. It's a tiny little town northwest of Cordoba; so small that most stores are closed for siesta between 1 and 5pm.
Holy cow your mom looks just like you! Oh and tell her she can come to my house and play with my kids and imagine what her future grandkids might look like if they favor your hubster more than you! Also can I just say the jumping is NUTS!
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