My First Asado

Today we had an excursion to two museums.  They were both in a town called Alta Gracia which is within an hour's drive west of Cordoba.  When we were heading there, I could have sworn we were driving back through Indiana:

But it wasn't too long before we saw mountains in the distance.

We arrived at Estancia Jesuítica and, of course, had to do the most touristy thing that we tourists do: GROUP PICTURE!

Estancia Jesuítica--built in the 17th century.

We left Estancia Jesuítica and headed to Museo Che Guevara (the house where revolutionary Che Guevara grew up).  I didn't take any pictures there (sorry!) because there weren't very interesting things to look at but it was filled with new information to learn.  I'm not dissing the museum at all; it just wouldn't have produced very intriguing pictures.

After the two museums, our program treated us to lunch in a fancy upper room of a hotel!  It was pretty snazzy.  They served me my first three-course meal!

Empanadas

 Lasagna

Creme Brulee

'Twas all very tasty, indeed.  With our tummies full, many students fell asleep on the bus ride back to Cordoba.  We got back to Cordoba around 4:30pm.

Random tidbit:  They use military time here...but only in writing.  Verbally, they do not say "at fourteen hundred," they say "at two" but for some reason they choose to write everything in military time.

A friend of mine from the program, Libby Sternhagen, said she wanted to go to el centro and have her first cerveza (beer).  I went with her and we had a nice chat in a quaint restaurant--I would probably call it a diner, but I don't think they really have diners here.  I've yet to see one anyway.

At 9:00, Gabi, Yaco, Nancy, and I all went to the house of one of Gabi's friends, Alba, for asado.  This is a very traditional meal made of a roast.  It is common to invite many people over for the asado and that held true for this meal--there were thirteen people there in total.

Credit: Turismopradoverde.com.ar

I believe it is common for families to have an asador in their backyard or patio.  Most that I have seen have only the smaller grill that is behind the man in the photo.  And have I mentioned the meat is all fresh here?  Yeah, really fresh.  Everything here is so fresh and savory!  It was a late night for me (we left Alba's house at 1:00am) but that's custom here!  

Un beso!

Jessica