09/01/2020 – Buenos Aires, Argentina

I woke up really early with excitement that it was mum and dads arrival this morning! Josh ran down for breakfast number 1, that boy wakes up hungry, and can definitely eat! We ordered an Uber to the airport. Ubers are illegal so places like the airport are a bit of a dodgy one (as taxi drivers get very upset and have been known to have fights with Uber drivers if they clock on to the fact it is an Uber driver!) We got to the airport to suprise mum and dad. I was desperate for the toilet but didn’t want to miss them coming through the arrival gate, but ended up waiting over two hours as their passport immigration took so long! Josh bumped into a lady he had danced with at our tango class a couple of days ago, who was also waiting for a family member to land, weird coincidence! Mum and dad had booked their airport transfer before coming through the arrivals gate so by the time we pounced on them their luggage was already being wheeled off by their taxi driver. He kindly agreed to transport Josh and I too so we tipped generously! After a considerable amount of traffic we got to the hotel and had our second breakfast – breakfast stops at 12:00, and we happily managed to scrape in at 11:55. I had my first crumpet in months and it did not disappoint! We went up to our room and mum and dad showered and freshened up. Mum and dad gave us loads of presents such as pants for Josh, multivitamins, clothes and makeup, and lots of crumpets and dairy milk! We gave dad some Malbec and mum some olive and balsamic oil from San Rafael. It has been dragged around in our rucksacks for months, so should make our ‘snack bag’ a little lighter. We ordered an Uber to San Telmo market to a steak stall called ‘Hierro Parilla’ which dad said is number one on Trip Advisor. We met my friend Kirsten for lunch. She was my roomy from Camp America 10 years ago. She is from New Zealand and I haven’t seen her since, but we had seen via social media that our paths may cross! We caught up with her after a beautiful steak and chips/salad lunch and a Patagonia beer. At the market I bumped into a couple of Brits that I had helped at the airport earlier this morning. Small world! After lunch mum and dad took us to a café called ‘Café Tortoni’ which they had been to previously with Uncle Mario. It is the city’s oldest café, and has a beautiful interior and feel about it. It feels like one needs to be in a flappers dress and headpiece! It is famous for its evening tango shows. We had coffees and shared a brownie with ice cream and the smoothest dollop of dulce de leche. After eating and drinking to our hearts content, and enjoying the atmosphere of both the lunch and the coffee, we said our goodbyes to my friend Kirsten, who hasn’t changed a bit! We got an Uber to the cambio we have used a couple of times n Palermo, for dad to change up some dollars. We walked to our laundrette to pick up our clean clothes (an affordable £2 for a huge bag of clothes!) and then on to our hotel. Mum and dad checked into their room, which was similarly huge, and next door to us. We helped them move their stuff into their room and then all showered and freshened up, to get ready for more food! It had been a pretty hot and sweaty day. We got an Uber to the restaurant ‘Charlone 101’ that Liliana (our Pilar Workaway host) had suggested. Liliana was there when we arrived. We did introductions and then sat on a table outside on the corner of the street. The owner played his guitar outside and the restaurant filled with locals throughout the evening. The food was simple and delicious, and was a well chosen restaurant by Liliana. We shared a starter of cow gizzard, which everyone was apprehensive about, but actually tasted lovely! We stuffed ourselves with more meat for dinner, and shared a bottle of Malbec, when in Rome I suppose! It was really nice for Liliana and mum and dad to meet, and Liliana even gave an apple corer to mum to give to my granny (in reference to an apple dessert she had made us when we stayed with her) and an envelope of her artwork to help inspire Josh, which was incredibly kind and thoughtful of her! It was a bit sad to say goodbye to Liliana, but we hope to meet again one day, and plan on meeting with her daughter who works near Iguassu in a few weeks time. Mum and dad held up very well indeed considering they had only got off the plane this morning and had been marching around all day in the heat. We walked Liliana back to her car and said our goodbyes, before getting an Uber back to our hotel. We packed our things, showered, and got into bed, preparing for an early start tomorrow. Josh has a new kindle from his parents that has come via mum and dad, so he got a bit excited and started fiddling and downloaded and some short stories.