Mate Mania – The Traveling Blues

Given my brother’s ability to quickly pick up foreign languages and the adventurous spirit that once brought my sister to New Zealand and keeps her moving into a new apartment every 6 months, I might have been the Lear voted least likely to travel the world. However, life works in mysterious ways, and I’ve turned into the Lear that’s now spent over a year of her life outside of the USA.

We’ve received more than a few visitors during our trip but there was none as anticipated (for me) as my brother coming to meet us in Buenos Aires for his first international trip (Canada doesn’t count) and my first immediate family member to ever visit me abroad. He was joined by his girlfriend Mandi whose Spanish from her previous travels in Mexico came in handy, especially during their multiple customs stops.

Lucky for us, one of Ryan’s theater friends, Dario, is a Porteño (a “Buenos Airean”) with the most generous family on the planet. If any of you have enjoyed the hospitality of our parents you’ll understand why we referred to Dario’s folks, Martha and Oscar, as the Argentinian Barb and Ken. Their home is your home and somehow they anticipate your every need including those you didn’t even know you had. Continue reading Buenos Aires: The Blear Perspective

Editor’s Note: In 2012, my sister Kristy and I spent a wonderful 12 hours in San Francisco before heading down the coast (with Marea too) for a 3 day trip through Big Sur on the way to San Diego. Last year, Mandi and I (after attending Kristy and Marea’s mountain top wedding) spent three days heading up the coast through Big Sur, ending with an abbreviated 5 hours in San Francisco before rushing to catch a flight out out of SFO (and getting lost and almost dying on the freeway on the way to return the rental car). Irresponsibly, I thought the best way for Mandi to experience her first time in San Fran, would be while trying to exactly replicate the magical time I had had as my first time in San Fran. As you can imagine, this “forced fun” day did not go quite as planned, and became the butt of many jokes during the Buenos Aires portion of Kristy and Marea’s Epic South American Adventure, where Mandi and I met up with them for 10 days.

In the spirit of forced fun, this portion of “The Traveling Blues” has been created as a travel guide so that you too can recreate our EXACT TRIP the next time you venture down to the Rio de la Plata. Right down to the very specific and nuanced encounters with hospitable strangers! May the forced fun be with you.

The 2015 KMMR™ Guide to Buenos Aires

The most complete travel companion to replicating an incredible vacation

KMMR- The full guide to all the nuances of their vacation in Buenos Aires. — KMMR- Kristy, Marea, Mandi, & Ryan (photo does not reflect order of trademarked name)

Continue reading Guest Bloggers Ryan and Mandi: A Guide to Buenos Aires