Last time I wrote I was in transit from Brazil to Buenos Aires in Aregentina. Buenos Aires was what I would describe as a lovely surprise (particularly after Brazil...). The city is spectacular and you feel more like you are in Europe than at the bottom of the South American continent. Some quick facts about Buenos Aires...1. they have the same electric plugs as us - the first I've found outside of Australia or New Zealand & they, like I, was convinced they existed anywhere else (but it didn't really matter because I now have US plugs, but anyway), 2. the country was invaded by the Spanish in brutal form (like the rest of South America, with the exception of Brazil), however the architecture was modelled on Paris, so the architecture is predominantly French..3. Buenos Aires is home to apparently the widest avenue in the world... the neuve de julio (the ninth of July avenue which represents Argentina's independence day) - I can definitely atest that the avenue is exceptionally wide...4. In the early 1800's, the English decided to invade Buenos Aires for no other reason than to get all of their resources, so they built the railway system that lead from all over the city to the port - so, because of this the roads are like the rest of the American and most of the European continent (opposite to us), but then their railway system operates the other way (same way as us). I thought this was very quirky.... 5. Buenos Aires also has a river that separates it from Uruguay and I tell you, I had no idea it was a river... when I drove past it I thought that it was a bay as there is no sight of land on the other side, so I am also led to believe that not only are they home to the largest avenue, but also the widest river in the world... who knew!...6. in Argentina it is very common that they use pink paint on many buildings. Well, in the old days there was no pink paint, so to make the colour they mixed the white paint / chalk, with cow's blood - eeeeeeewwwwww! Oh and my mistake, the colour is not pink, it's actually blush. Enough facts... talking of cow's, let me tell you about my dinner on Thursday night...
This dinner was an interesting experience for me. I was taken out by my Argentinian work colleagues to a famous steak restaurant that is frequented by many a soccer player (the whole roof was lined with their shirts), and also the odd rock star (Bono's photo was on the wall). So, the night was interesting on two counts... firstly, I got a celebrity sighting, though I had no idea who the person was. His name was Roberto Perfumo. Roberto who? I hear you ask... Roberto is a retired famous Argentinian soccer player, who is now an ESPN reporter. So, being the opportunist I am, I asked if we could get a photo with the guy, but the restaurant wouldn't let us because they said it would stop famous people coming to the restaurant, so instead of a photo with me, we'll have to suffice with the internet pic instead (so famous, I can't even find a recent one).
So the second reason that my evening was interesting was that I got to experience the traditional famous Argentinian desert, Dulce de Lecche - a crepe filled with the sweetest caramel you've ever tasted - it's pretty much condensed milk and sugar cooked and turned into a gooey delight, but sweeter. This is to the Argentinians what Vegemite is to Australians, except worse. They put it on everything - toast, fruit, straight out the jar.... Well, those that know me know I have the sweetest of sweet teeth... I've been known to devour a pack of glace cherries in one hit, or a whole tin of condensed milk, or eating sugar cubes by themselves (no horse jokes Renee)... you get the picture, but my 'tooth' is savoury in comparrison to the Argentinians. The Dolce de Lecche was just toooooo much. Not just headache too much, my body completed rejected it. Immediately after eating, my stomach bloated so much that I developed a "food baby", which was so impressive that it could've been mistaken for a real baby! 1/2 hour later, and the most excrutiating trip home (think cobble stone alley ways), my body really did reject it, and as I'm a lady I won't go into the detail, but let's just say I spent more time in the bathroom than in my bed that night (eeeeewwwww!). Now, the real question is though, was it the Dulce de Lecche or was there another culprit??? Let's go back a couple of courses to the entree. My Argentinian colleagues said "leave the entree to us". As a polite guest, of course I obliged, but I was very nervous because along with a sweet tooth, I am also a very picky eater. So the entree came and it looked like an innocent piece of veal. I was instructed to rub it with a lemon and to add salt and enjoy away. So I had a couple of bites and the flavour was okay, but the texture was just wrong. Rather than needing to chew like you would a normal meat, it just melted in your mouth. So, I thought no more (with more than 3/4 left on my plate) and I dared to ask my hosts what I just ate. I was informed that I was enjoying the beautiful dish of something that sounded very tasty when said in Spanish, but translate it to English and I found I was eating a beef gland (more eeeeeeewwwwww!). Even better, it was a gland either from the heart or they thyroid (like one is more appealing than the other!). I am pleased to say though that the main meal of fillet steak was fabulous. An interesting night at least!
So that was Argentina (along with long days at work, but that would be boring to talk about ;) ).... and then came my favourite day of the year - CHRISTMAS!!!!
Christmas Eve was lovely relaxing at home and skyping during the night with my beautiful families, sharing with them the Australian Christmas Day and watching for the first time "It's a Wonderful Life".... see I'm very lucky, Christmas started early for me! Oh and earlier in the day the discovery of an even better reality tv shows... Mob Wives - quality watching and highly recommended....no, really, it's a new favourite (so much so, as I write this a few days later I am watching it again so mumma bogan can also fall in love with it... though she wouldn't admit it, it's keeping her away from reading the paper)!
So, as you know mumma bogan was coming on Christmas day, but was not arriving until later in the evening, but never fear I wasn't alone, I managed to get invited to a progressive Christmas lunch. Nibblies and champagne were at one house, main at another and then dessert at another. My apartment ashamedly was not included in the progression as it struggles to hold two, let alone 11, but never fear, I was on vegetable duty. So the morning was spent cooking up storm of vegetables, but then there was the challenge - how the hell do I get them to the other apartment four blocks away. First part of the challenge... covering the veges. Surely I have a lid to my roasting dishes somewhere in my boxes, or did I leave it back in Melbourne? Oh well, I'll cover them with foil - bloody hell, no foil. Oh, maybe the little shop around the corner is open.... bingo it's open, I love the convenience of this city.... bloody hell, no foil on the shop shelves... not a problem, they cook crappy food here, they'll have some industrial foil... bingo! Back to the roasting veges.... why are they taking so long????..... wait a minute, does the oven go above 350 farenheit...crikey Michele, why didn't you put them on 450 an hour ago (because you didn't realise the oven could go that high...B.I.M.B.O...why can't the yanks bloody convert to the metric system?)! Okay, so I have two trays of roasted veges, now covered in foil, a bowl of green veg, and a bottle of wine - the second challenge is how do I carry this? Ah huh, one of the boxes that the groceries got delivered in yesterday... oh crap, I put them out in the recycling yesterday (in the stairwell of the apartment!)... it was late when I put them out yesterday, maybe it's still there... bingo, it'll be fine, just dust off the crap from everyone elses garbage...two out of two - foil and a box. Okay, third challenge is now getting these veges on the move... oh dear, the box is a bit heavy, maybe I can get a cab... oh crap, no hand to hail a cab.... bingo, one santa in cab disguise sees me struggling and stops for me... another santa in disguise opens the cab door for me... beautiful, we're on our way... deary me, the poor cab is steaming up with all my veges... better open the window even though it's 1 degree outside. Excellent, arrive at the other apartment building, the doorman's there to help - even a trolley on hand! Great, arrive at the apartment, relax and have a glass of champagne.... ahhhh! The rest is a breeze, with beautiful food, good company and overall a nice Christmas.
Mumma bogan arrived that evening at around 7 and to keep her on the move to shake any chance of jetlag we strolled along fifth avenue, went for a walk to the Rockerfeller Christmas Tree, visited the Christmas windows and then made it home.
On Monday, we had kept the agenda clear, but after a great night sleep and a slow morning, we set out to explore the city and ending up just shopping - what can I say, the sales are extraordinary... and we managed to fit in a Magnolia Chocolate Vanilla cupcake (a famous NY institution)... mmmmmmmm! Oh yeah, then we had a tradition turkey Christmas dinner which was beautifully cooked by myself, and then the two of us grannies had lights out at 9.15pm!!!
So, talking of sales, we ventured out on Tuesday to Woodbury Common. This is a direct factory outlet site in upstate New York about an hour and half bus trip from NYC. Let's just say I felt like I was in Pretty Woman with all my shopping bags.... except I am not a prostitute, oh yeah, and my shopping was not funded by a sugar daddy, let alone a sugar daddy that looks like Richard Gere, oh yeah, and I wasn't on Rodeo Drive with store assistants doting over me - nothing really like Pretty Woman then.... anyway, this trip out to Woodbury Common (as everything seems to be) ended up to be more of an adventure than expected... But, as you know mumma bogan is here, so I am pleased to offer her the guest bogan spot to share what is now known as the "Woodbury Common" experience - over to you mumma bogan.......
Experience is an understatement. Woodbury common is a HUGE version of DFO although far more upmarket. Its a shoppers paradise with every possible brand name ever to hit the market represented.
As we got there early, we passed comment how the size of the place absorbed the crowd, well........
this was soon blown out of the water, when the crowds arrived and queues longer than those waiting to get into the local post office just before closing on Christmas eve were everywhere. Anyway, we managed to do the pretty woman thing, and then wondered how we were possibly going to get this all home, considering we had to contend with a bus, then try to hail a taxi in the pouring rain, carrying fancy paper carry bags not designed to hold items when they get wet. Any way, we managed. All prepared for a hot shower and the jim jams, Michele announced that we were going out to an Italian restaurant for dinner, again in the pouring rain with the temperature close to freezing. At least this time we were able to hail a cab almost immediately. I now will never take my car for granted again. Anyway the Italian meal was well worth it, one of the best I have had.
I'm having a wonderful holiday experience. Haven't had a chance to really put the feet up, but hey, there is sooooo much to do, why waste it. Life here is almost surreal.
Michele has been absolutely amazing and I can't thank her enough. She looks fabulous (apart from the knees) and I believe that the New York experience is really agreeing with her.I know how much she misses Brett, but I can leave for home assured that she is confident and comfortable in her new environment.
Back to daughter bogan
So finally, I know you are all wondering how my knees are three weeks since the "ice skating incident" - what, you weren't wondering? - well, I'm going to give you an update anyway. So, I know some of you may think I was over exaggerating, so to prove that I was not, I thought I would share some photos with you... Now, I warn you that they're not my best angle, but I think they're worthy to share....
On the night of the skating incident:
No, my knees are not usually that fat - they're usually quite bony, but there was no sign of bone definition that night.
Over a week later (and still a photo really does it no justice)....
.... well, they're just only fully healed now!
Are you all feeling sorry for me? Yes, well that's good... and guess what I just fell over again - getting out of my seat to top up my plate with more cranberry jelly - straight onto my knees again! I'm sure I'll be fine, I'm sure there'll be no bruising and there won't be a need for me to send you more photos of this set of bruise progression (fingers crossed!). What is clear is that I am a danger to myself!
On that note, it is time for this bogan and mumma bogan to sign off for the last 2011 installment. See you in the new year!
Michele & Hiske
xxxxx
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