Farewell (almost) to Bs. As.

Tomorrow we take off for Mendoza in the north. Seriously wine and steak country. Some thought, though, before we go

1) We notice we're not blogging as much this trip. In part, I think , it's because we have the Internet in our rented apartment so we have it all the time and we're like, "Eh, we'll just blog later." Then we go sit out on our deck and drink wine and read. In Vietnam and Thailand, blogging had to be a special thing, where we'd go to an Internet cafe for a few hours amongst the kids playing their video games

Also, we're doing and seeing a lot of things, but similar things. Historic sites, neighborhoods, etc. Like there's only so many street fairs I can describe. We've basically gone to a street fair a day since we've been here, on average. There are just so many and they're great -- but they don't make good copy. (They do make for some nice new jewelry, though. I'm going to need some extra fingers for all these rings.)

2) Our aforementioned deck is awesome and worth the cost of the apartment rental. It's covered in trees and flowers, giving it a private feel, and it has the comfiest chairs. We've loved renting an apartment. We've had a ritual most mornings: Wake up. I'll scramble some eggs or something while Jordo goes to the store for fresh bread. Breakfast on the deck. Lounging with coffee and Coca Light.

Then we figure out what one thing we want to make sure to do that day. One day it was going to La Boca, the tourist-heavy section of town where scantily-clad tango dancers kept coming up to Jordo and saying, "hooooolaa." (They want you to pay to pose for pictures with them. As one of our new buds here pointed out, "Like I want my souvenir of Argentina to be my husband with another woman.) Another day, it was going to the Slaughterhouse Festival, which was a really cool thing and we got to ride the bus like locals. (Which meant getting smooshed, like locals.) There was native dancing at the S'house Fest and some danged good slaughtered goods, which we happily indulged in.

3) In terms of indulging, it's true: We've been to more vegetarian restaurants than Parrilla -- tradition steak --- ones. But trust me, the one night we did have steak, we made up for not having it earlier. We were both left with serious cases of "beef belly" and had to walk home to try to settle our stomachs. We expect that Mendoza will force us into having more steak, too. We're already invited to a traditional asado, or barbecue, while we're up there, thanks to a connection here.

4) We've met some really nice people throughout the trip, tourists and locals. Shout out to Randy and Natalie of Reno, NV, who hosted us for appetizers and drinks one boozy night this week. Also to the ladies from San Diego, Kristy and Anna, who recommended we try the Thames restaurant. Good call. And to Ian, our local connection.

5) The 80s are alive and well in Argentina. I haven't heard so much Wang Chung and Corey Hart and Duran Duran since 1985. Also, the women here love, love ,love the droopy crotched pants that I had a few pairs of in middle school, the one shouldered t-shirt, and the messy up-do a la Madonna. Members Only jackets? Also in style. Ian, who lives here, said he sometimes thinks of Bs. As. as America in the late 1970s, with all the smoking and people not picking up after their dogs and the fashion choices. Other popular looks: Skin tight jeans that make you look like a blow-up doll and skirts so short you look like you're about to have a gyno exam.

6) And the PDA here? OOC. (Out of control.) Today, I saw this couple going at it like one of them was going off to war. Turns out, they weren't even parting company. They were just having a post lunch make out session in front of the restaurant where Jordo and I were dining before they started to walk down the street with their arms around each other. On the bus the other day, this woman, who was sitting, was examining the belly button of her boyfriend, who was standing, as if she'd discovered some new life form.

Maybe it's just that they're open about sex here. We've noticed condom machines in every restaurant bathroom, no matter how small the place. We were also told that for AIDS awareness month a few years ago, they put a big pink condom on the obelisk (the local Washington monument). That I would have loved to see. Imagine that in D.C.

--NXP