Mar de Plata

WOW! Imagine a land that's got miles of beautiful coastline, more beautiful bodies than coast filling it, live with sports in and out of the water, everyone and their Grandma sipping on that Yerba buzz...and that's just the toe-dipping into the "small city" world of Mar de Plata. We've just found our new home! I know we landed at peak-summer season, and all the locals were talking down the cold winter-winds and empty streets, but Mar de Plata is more than just the beach attraction. True, with 15 plus hours of sun-fun, you have to wonder, "What does one do in those other 9 months out of the year WITHOUT it??" Sun-out, night life-on! I first thought 9:30PM was a little late for a big dinner and a slow sun-down, but not with so much to do after dark. From Tango-class, to taking in live-entertainment on the street, or simply enjoying the good company of the friends we stayed with there at home, bedtime was rarely before 4AM. Life is refreshingly basic in Mar de Plata, Argentina. No one's dressed-out, made-up, or engrossed in their latest gadget. People here seem too busy being and expressing themselves to be concerned with popular opinion, and that's the crazy thing about it. With so much individuality, the popular opinion is your opinion, your conviction. It's you wanting more from yourself than the people around you, and that's an inspiring find in the rat-racing, selfish world of today. We are still putting together our team, and exactly what we want from it, but I'm excited to see what the Lord's going to do here! Of course I can't finish this post without including due praise and appreciation of the wonderful time we had with our friends here in Mar de Plata! It wouldn't have been the same without Clara and Esther's cooking, oh, ENDLESS portions of Argentine's best "carne" (changed my religion on meat!), John Michael's genius take on films and musical talent, Javier's crawling futbol-scoring skills in the sand, Danny's helpful tips on how NOT to make Mate-soup, and sweet Almendra and her equally charming kids, Fiera and Arcos! THANKS AGAIN EVERYONE!! So sad that we just missed seeing Luchi, Jess, Jo, and little Rapheal this time around, but here's looking forward to our return!  Three days and too long before I get to come back to this little piece of paradise!

Enjoying a Veal Milanesa

Having a coffee 

Casino-said to be the biggest casino in the world!

oh happy day!

Mate break at the Shell

...and more Mate

Daniel

$US - 1 

lost in the crowds

We miss "Arcitos" (adopted son for the day)

bussing into town

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!

I love you! I'm so thankful to have you in my life! You will always remind me of a mother's perfect, crazy, constant love, but you're just a beautiful woman too! Happy New Year, Mom!

Vamos a Argentina!

 Let's rewind last 5 days: Day 1, Wake up Trujillo, Peru-go to sleep in Lima. 2nd day, Lima to Santiago, Chile; arrive just into Day 3 in Buenas Aires, Argentina. Day 4....didn't sleep through last night....Buenas Aires to Mar de Plata! Oh Happy Day! Day 5-today-got up 4 hours ahead of Peru at a healthy 1AM. We took the best long walk up the coast, I got my first Argentine gourd, and walked our way back as the sun set at 9:30PM! Loving this life!

"El casa del nino Jesus"

El casa del nino Jesus is a place all the poor neighborhood kids of el Parque Industrial can come for some love. It's a project that's covered everything from providing them with food and clothing to teaching them useful skills, like how to cook. It used to be a center, but that's been taken over, so we're meeting this time in one of the kids' houses-if you can call it that. Dad and Mom Henderson have been helping some of these kids since they were babies, and now they have little brothers and sisters to look after too. Stephanie, all of 13 years old, is hosting the free lunch and movie at her home this time around. Stephanie looks after her younger brother and sisters while her mom's gone to work for most of the day. The floor in their house is, well, dirt, and somehow I get the feeling that their the lucky ones around. The free food and movie isn't much, but it's amazing to me how a little bit of love goes a long way. I look forward to seeing them all again.

FIRST PERU POST!

Peruvian Temple of "Sun" and "Moon" and the Inca mud city: Chan Chan

So...."we just came for pictures" is said again, and the tour guide is ignoring us quite nicely, intent on describing every little imprinted ROCK, "yes"! We still had some fun though, and one has to wonder about their purpose in life after a tour like that. Imagine, 100 years A.D.: "Daddy, I want to be an honored sacrifice when I grow up"!?!

   

Christmas

'Twas the most wonderful time of the year! Sharing lobster and steak with family in Houston (THANK YOU Jason and Lori!!), and flying out in time for presents around the fireplace in Michigan. There's no place like home for the holidays! It's the time for food and fun we never indulge in. Time for important words waiting for an important time to speak. There's never enough "I love yous", hugs hold longer, and evenings never seem to find an end. You remember why you left home...and why you'll always be coming back.  And as full of a life we all can look back on, lightening strikes, and the love of my life takes my hand forever. I see Daddy's million dollar smile, mom's happy tears, and love makes a memory again.  Long live Christmas all throughout this new year!