11/12/2019 – Cordoba, Argentina

We got up and made brunch. Umma (the cat) gave us cuddles all morning, She is the best! We went out and about exploring the local area called ‘Nueva Cordoba’ browsing the multitude of independent shops. There are even vegan/health food shops here, which we haven’t really seen in any other places. It is funny because in South America they call beef ‘meat’, which means they don’t really count chicken or other different types of meat, as meat. We have met a few vegetarian backpackers along the way who have asked for the vegetarian option and have been served chicken or fish which just isn’t classed as meat here!

We have a habit of going into a shop, trying on clothes, looking at the price tag and then deciding we don’t want to spend our money on clothes. We are just so fed up of our stuff, and most of our clothes are pretty worn out. We are definitely not feeling less materialistic after this gap year, in fact in a way it is the complete opposite – we are more excited than ever to return to our clothes/makeup/jewellery in a few months time. Of course over the last 8 or so months we have witnessed things that have really highlighted to us what is most important in life, and has reminded us of how fortunate we are to have won a lottery postcode and come from England where we have family, jobs, money, democracy, and freedom, along with everything else. Still, if I am being honest I can’t wait to get a refresh of some different clothes when mum and dad come out and visit us in a month or so time!

It was flipping hot and sweaty today, it reminded us of the heat in Cuba, we definitely haven’t felt this hot in a long time! We decided to spend the afternoon in the shopping mall, mainly so as to be somewhere with air conditioning. We browsed the shops, which were pretty upmarket and expensive. We ended up on the top floor, and Joshs eyes brightened as he saw the golden arches of McDonalds appearing. We had a little pit stop and Josh became more alive with every bite. This boy needs to eat! He weighed himself on some scales in the pharmacy and has lost about 4Kg so far on this trip! After food, and early evening we wandered a few blocks into the historical centre and to the main plaza, where we perched on some steps in the shade. It was another beautiful leafy green plaza, with palm trees, kids and locals relaxing along with a few token people looking pretty worse for wear. Josh and I discussed how we are pretty done with main plazas, they have almost all looked the same since Cuba! I guess that’s the difference between a short and long trip. We have now added main plazas to the list of things we don’t need to see in a new place, along with churches and the local historical museums! We shuffled back home via some grocery shopping, and went home to bathe in a.c. We made ourselves a gnocchi dinner and fell asleep watching The Crown. There was a cracking thunderstorm as we went to bed.