Spectacular Saturday!

Saturday started off as a relatively low key kind of day. Many of the students went on a trip to the city of Mendoza, which is the capital of the province. There, they hoped to do some shopping and explore the city with their host families. I personally enjoyed sleeping in a little, catching up on some missed sleep from during the week. I am extremely grateful for all we did during the week, but it is always nice to recharge the batteries for another busy, fun-filled week!

In the afternoon, Many of the teachers involved in the exchange got together and travelled to Los Reyunos, a dam that receives water from the Diamante River, forming a lake in the lower mountains in San Rafael. The lake itself serves as a water resource to nearby villages and as a place for people to practice various water sports such a scuba diving, fishing, canoeing and water skiing. There are areas around the lake with flats that are available for rent year round that provide a lovely view of the lake area. It was a gorgeous, mild and sun-filled day that was perfect to spend overlooking the picturesque view. We set up at a spot overlooking the site, eating pasteles fritos (reminiscent of fried dough) and siping on yerba mate (year-ba mah-tay), a traditional Argentine loose leaf tea that you put in a mate cup and drink through a special metal straw. It is a very strong tea with almost as much caffeine as a cup of coffee and paired deliciously well with the pastles fritos and churros filled with dulce de leche. After sitting around for a short while chatting and enjoying one another’s company, we noticed some boats out on the water and decided to go on a boat ride.

We went down to the water and all got on a lancha (boat) that took us out on the water to see more of Los Reyunos than we could from where we were sitting earlier. The guide told us about some of the history of the site, but I mostly enjoyed the spectacular views of nature (I REALLLY want to upload pictures, but the Internet still isn’t cooperating 😦 I will post them ASAP, I promise!). As we headed into one area, the guide told us that in the summer they stop the boats at a certain point and allow the passengers to jump in the water and swim a little bit. The water is 30 feet deep at that point and usually close to 80 degrees in the summer time – It was around 40 degrees this day, so no swimming was going to be done this time! On the boat ride back, we noticed the familiar site of a zipline cord and Ms. Fallahi and I decided that we were going to be adventurous and go ziplining. I was very nervous and hesitant at first, especially since the zipline went over the water at a decent height for a pretty good stretch. As I watched people before me go, my nerves calmed and I got very excited. Once I set off, I got the most lovely view of the water below and felt like a bird soaring above it. Ms. Fallahi and I both agreed that we would both do that again!

When we got back into the center of town, a quick coffee was enjoyed before heading the Nancy’s apartment for dinner. She had prepared for us a traditional Argentina meat dish – carne en masa. Beef is cooked inside a cast iron casserole surround by masa, a type of dough. Because it is enveloped within this masa, the beef comes out very tender (and delicious). For dessert we enjoyed my favorite food – chocotorta, a cake made by mixing dulce de leche with whipped cream and layering that mixture between chocolate cookies dipped in coffee.

Sunday we will be going to Valle Grande, not too far outside the city of San Rafael to have asado, the equivalent of BBQ in the United States. I will talk more about that in my next entry! 🙂