Strawbelly…

In J’s cameo as a spring chick a Christening involving fresh strawberry based desserts was necessary. Let’s face it, fresh, in-season, juicy strawberries in November!? I had little choice. (this also goes to explaining back to back dessert entries… )

For all you folks chilling out in Autumn leaves, this is only to inspire your travel bug and to duly note the loveliness of spring down here. Come December… I’m going to need all the reminders I can get of the plus sides of living on the flipped side.

That’s right there are a *kilo of strawberries on this pizza (*almost a kilo….)

Feliz Cumpleanos Che J!

Hi all! That's right, today is a very special day down here in BsAs as it is a big day for J!!

Mr. November is having his first Spring birthday! Last night USC (J's team) played Colorado and our friend M surprised us all by bringing by a birthday cake. Around midnight with Bellinis (the brunch drink of choice in Buenos Aires - Peach juice and Champagne) and Dulce de Leche infused Dulce de Leche (something like caramel and so culturally relevant it puts Tango to shame and I dare say rivals football/soccer - though I would never dream of asking someone to choose between the two).

Now as for this cake - yes, Mummsie, those are lady fingers covered in cream and DDL and more cream and more lady fingers topped with DDL and Alfajores (the national cookie - basically a cookie sandwich stuffed with DDL, and then, like the ones featured here, can be dipped in dark or white chocolate. Recommend trying with stout drink of choice, espresso is mine.)

Well I'm going to get back to sitting on the patio, enjoying a beautiful spring morning in November... birds a chirping, flowers a bloom'n, allergies a plague'n and the occasional horn a honk'n. Bit of leftover Chinese and, of course, a slice of that birthday cake :)

Snapshot

So, since I’ve been quite MIA since arriving to beautiful South America here’s a quick snippet…

My morning commute: Wakeup early – walk the 45 minutes in (almost never happens). Running really late – taxi. Running a little late – quick “Hola, buen dia” to my portero, and to every other portero between my building and the Subte (subway) stop – they’re all out washing off the sidewalks in the mornings. This is a tradeoff, with the over embodiment of the title of the ‘Paris of South America’ and every household having at least one dog with no “scoop” laws… one walks at one’s own peril, really being a pedestrian here is quite taxing at first… 1) listening to all the security information, one must keep a tight hold on one’s purse/bag/etc.; 2) one must also pay attention as to not get run over (though I’ve seen scarier traffic situations, India and Vietnam namely), the machismo of many drivers here equals their routinely speeding up when they see a soul crossing the street.. no bueno; 3) one must enjoy taking in the view of the new place, the architecture, the people, etc. AND; 4)make it to work without ruining one’s morning

with one foul step… So the tradeoff with the sidewalk washing porteros is that many sidewalks have loose tiles, and I have a special knack for innocently finding these, shooting the water lurking below either all over my other leg or all over whoever happens to be with five feet of me… so far J has taken the brunt of th

is little talent.

So, I make it to the Subte, on a good day I simply enter the train, other, less fortunate days the sardine effect ta

kes hold. Luckily I’m only onboard for four stops. So then I get a little morning walk in, though I made a very friendly friend on the other side of the road I’ve taken to commuting on the Zoo side. This involves the occasional peak at the flamingos, (on the downside) some elephant sized odors.., some unidentifiab

le squawking, or, if I’m really lucky… a capybara spotting! Soooo exciting! [the extent of excitement

due, in large part, to childhood favorite, Bill Peet’s Capybobby]

Being that the aforementioned account was inspired by my colleague’s morning… he takes the train, this morning he missed the first train, but caught the next. Then his train came to a halt between stops… hmmm. Then the power w

ent out on his train, so then his train started getting hot - full of people, morning sun warming up, with no air. So, after waiting for 40 minutes he pried the door open. Then his fellow passengers started jumping out. So then he eventually jumped out too. They walked up the track. They saw a train, but it was going the other way. So then he waited back at the platform, but no other trains came. So then he had some luck, he got a cab during rush hour. However, all the street lights were out on the main avenue. So, after paying double the normal fare he’s now at work. Happy Tuesday to him.