Apple sauce and Yogurt and.....

I've never liked Applesauce and so when I tried manzana rallado for the first time, I was shocked at the pleasing taste.
I became a huge fan of Manzana rallada- grated apple (apple sauce of Argentina)
When Mati was born I grated all his apples for him and he loved it as well.
Then Pili came along and I got a little lazy, plus I aquired a taste for American applesauce, and so my apple grater started to collect dust.
Now that I'm in Argentina and have no other choice but to grate apples for the kids for "apple sauce" I realized how much I missed it and the kids too. We go through apples like we go through diapers and now Pears too.
You must try it.
It's so different fom jarred applesauce; like fresh green beans over canned, to me they are two different foods.



Then there is Drinkable Yogurt. Nineteen years old and I was not a yogurt fan; until my first encounter with vanilla drinkable yogurt. Sadly back in the US I couldn't get my hands on it. Even in NY 10 years later I could only find it at whole foods and paid $2.50 for 8oz. Yogurt bebible is as common as milk here.
Pili now turns her nose up at milk (she has so much more of my genes than Nico's) and thankfully yogurt is only 1 peso more per liter. (5 pesos)


And the not so healthy.... Pizza Primavera with eggs and all. We actually ordered Pizza napolitana (fresh sliced tomato on top) but they made an error and sent us the primavera. It wasn't until after I tried it that I realized it was blog worthy.

Adios Termas de Arapey

Have I been successful in convincing anyone to come visit?


Laundry- best part about being home. My "hamper" has never been so congested before.
Ya like the old school vaccume cleaner? I think it must have been a wedding gift of Mabel and Jorge. And it blew up on me a couple of weeks ago. I've been cleaning my rug with a broom. NOT FUN!

After 36 hours laundry done.
And yes I am hoping to win the record for the world's largest laundry basket.

Monday and Camera is fully charged

Just 24 hours left in Arapey and a lot on the agenda. The hotel farm
Coati- Native species of South America

La ll-ama or according to Pili la ma-lla She swtiches syllables up sometimes. That's how Jorge got his name Bu-a instead of A-bu (short for abuelo)


Horseback. I was feeling generous after seeing one of the horses kicking both hind legs in the air, and decided to loan Florencia my little white "pony" Doctor Shaq, whom last year was the only reason I would go cause he ain't but yay high (that redneck comin out in me). We were never really able to bond like el guacho Matias did with his horse Tornado. This year I decided I'd hang out with Mabel and Pili on the wooden horses which were probably even more dangerous; nearly got bucked off head first. Don't laugh. Tomar la leche- Drink milk. Since Argentineans don't eat breakfast they (or more likely the Spaniards) came up with a phrase tomar la leche which refers to a mid morning snack. So here we are tomando la leche en el bar, even though we actually had a huge breakfast. CHANCHOS going giant but we were forced to eat cause Jorge would become irate if we didn't take advantage of every amenity. even though he's just a big kid who makes me sing "everybody gone surfin Surfin USA" way to much. Milk does a body good..... and biking too straight to the floating gardens. These gardens were inspired by the Japonese and the Swiss with an ecological purpose to purify and cool the water from the springs before entering the river.


Mati took advantage of la leche and subsequently decided to skip out on lunch. To his convenience most of the kids cleared out Sunday night so he was able to get a one-on-one fishing trip with Carolina, and Caro has some experience. After showing evidence I accompanied them to release the pezecito.

I live to beat Nico in pool, I'll die having never accomplished this goal. Jorge comes to relieve me.
Mati continues his adventures with Caro as she turns him into a slithering snake.
Pili rummages my purse and I wonder when she will finally overcome this obsession.








After dinner we find that the wii has been brought to lightby our fabulous friend Caro.
I hope I have many a more years before being persuaded to purchase one. Mati has his first Playstation playdate next week. So the Play (as referred to here) will be revealed as well. He's a growin up :)

keepin it holy

Day of rest; for the camera anyways. Looks like all we did was eat and pose for ITF.
International Tennis Federation





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May 29th Mabel's official b-day

We put Pili to sleep before going to dinner. (babysitter $5 an hour)
Tonight was going to be too long for her to hang

After dinner we found Matias in the kids club playing this game: Chancho va gigante. Pig goes giant. (a remix of the card game pig) Loved it and have it on the agenda already for Mati's 7th b-day party. Hope my memory doesn't fail me.

I think you understand why Matias had to play with the girls.


Show and Baile. Remember Mati's dance MURGA and his favorite song Viene tu-ta tu-ta tuta tu ta
However, we were in the wee hours of the night and he was out of energy even for this song.

O-le Ole Ole Ole, BAR- NEY BAR-NEY

I had to interupt los muchachos in their heated game of Dominoes but I thought a treasure hunt with Barney would be worth it!
By far the best part of the trip for Pili. She was on a Barney hunt the next few days. The animadores (entertainment team) are absolutely amazing. They love the kids and truely dedicate themselves to making sure that we all have a good time. I was so impressed that I have already started looking for gifts to bring a couple of the girls next time we go.

Saturday- Rain or shine

Mati can hardly wait another minute so we went fishing in the rain. Fortunately we inspired another family who had way better skills than us. You would have thought Mati caught that fish. however, neither him,his father, or abuelo ever came close. Fishing doesn't run in the Delellis genes. I have a feeling though Mati gonna be changen thangs. He got some of that redneck in em!!!

The good and the bad

Before I go on I've got some beef with the Argentine police and immigrations that I've got to get off my chest. And no it has nothing to do with Pili not being in her car seat :)
First though, quick correction: Nico just read my post and informed me the pools are constantly pumping in and out water, hence the little waterfall at the end of the pool that everyone loves to stand under cause of the pressure and hot water. Yeah makes sence. I guess what I saw was the cleaning of the pools. I assumed. not smart.
Anyways back to the Popos. It's not likely here that you'll ever have a trooper tailing you with sirens on or less likely see a trooper and be reminded to slow your roll or KNOW you've just got BUSTED. No, let me tell you how the highway patrol works here. About every 150 miles there is a little police station set up in the middle of the High way flagging those down who have broken the law and letting the others pass on by. We get flagged. I think it's just a routine control check. Nope, they inform Nico that he passed a car in a no passing zone. What? They say they have pictures. I wish we'd insisted on seeing them. Radars and Cameras. It's sneaky I don't like it. 350 pesos right then and there or else.... 1400 pesos back in Buenos Aires. So we paid up and went on our way.
Then comes immigrations. Double wammy. Our passports are expired. There's no way we're turning back just 1 hour from the resort. 1000 pesos. OUCH.
Coming home we get flagged again. Argentine law is: if your driving on the highway no matter what time of day, your lights must be on. 1o years in US and Nico has forgotten a few things, the dimmers weren't enough. 160 pesos. Triple wammy. I could have almost gone home with a work of art!!
ps: Last year they got Nico for speeding and Jorge recieved the bill 3 months later by mail. If you're gonna catch me do it in the moment not miles or months later. argggg. I have a feeling Jorge never paid that ticket.
I should let Nico proof read before I click publish post

Friday upon arrival

Salsa class. We were anxious to get moving after 7 hours in the car.


Pool time (remember these aren't chlorine water filled pools but thermal spring water pumped in and out every few days.
Hotel attire: white robes, except in restaurant.

After goofing off in the pool we try to pull it together and act as though we have a little class.
The lobby had been transformed....
Wine, cheese, sushi, and I went straight for the Art! We had seen several paintings in the works when we arrived so it was exciting to get to see the final product.
Unfortunately there were no paintings for under a grand. So I just looked.


To top it all off a little bit of TANGO .

We've worked up an appetite for the restaurant all you can eat My favorite is the plate of the night cooked in the moment. Nico's fav. the Parilla, ASADO and Mati's in case it isn't clear in the picture. Pasta with queso mounted sky high!

Arapey, Uruguay (known for it's thermal springs)

http://www.arapeythermal.com.uy/hotel.html
When I was 19 I thought Punta Cana, Dominican Republic was da' bomb. Five years later and pregnant with Matias I found Amsterdam, Holland to be so dreamy. I imagined myself living on a boat on one of it's canals and having one of those crafty bikes those Dutch have created for hauling around the tots. Now a decade has gone by and I'm convinced that Arapey, Uruguay should be listed as one of the wonders of the world or maybe Best vacation spot for families in the world would be more appropriate. I'm hoping I can convince someone to come visit me and take a trip with us. Sara, I know your dad loves Uruguay and Scott Paraguay just around the corner!! And Katie, Jon is so past due to visit his mission peeps. Marin, you and Gil are close I know for a big trip south. Jessi, this place is full of Brasilians. We're waiting on you guys! Now bare with me as I take you to the Delellis family's favorite spot in the world (for now anyways) via Blogger!