Reality Tour, South America: Meeting the Porteños

This evening we split up into two groups and travel by coach to the homes of two Buenos Aires families where we have been invited to dine this evening. Home hosted dinners are something Collette does in various cities and countries it visits as a way to culturally immerse its passengers in the destination. It gives passengers a chance to meet and interact with locals in a personal setting (can’t get much more personal than someone’s home), ask questions, and see what their daily life is like.

After driving through some lovely Buenos Aires’ neighborhoods (I can’t wait for tomorrow’s city tour), we drop the first group off at what appears to be a modern, upscale apartment building. A woman in her 40’s is outside the coach and I watch as she warmly greets her newly –arrived guests. They soon disappear inside the lobby and the remainder of our group—which includes Debbie and me— head off to another section of the city passing soccer stadiums and even a Hard Rock Cafe.

Our host is Carlos and he meets us on the street which is bustling with restaurants. We are led into a small apartment building and even smaller apartment. Here we meet his wife, Susana. Susana is stylish (as all Porteños women seem to be) and gives all of us warm hugs. It is evident why she and her husband open up their homes to strangers on a regular basis. We later learn that they are in their early 60’s (but seem much younger) and that this is a second marriage for both. They are affectionate with each other and it is evident that they are very much in love.

But my first impression standing in a room that serves as both living room and dining room is that you can take in the whole apartment with a sweep of the eye. Off the living/dining area are a bedroom, bathroom, galley kitchen and an office whose entrance is blocked by a gate in order to keep their large dog from greeting us too fondly. He doesn’t appear that interested anyway observing us from his digs on an outside balcony.  After introductions, we sit at a round dining table and the meal …and conversation…just flows.

Random observations of our home hosted dinner

1. About dogs…Porteños love their dogs! Even with apartment living you will often see large breed dogs like what Charly and Susan have being herded by the dozen by paid dog walkers.
2. While the apartment is small, this couple seems to have everything they need… and more. Perhaps it is an American ideal to acquire stuff and then worry about where to put it…
3. I love that Susana serves meat loaf and oven potatoes. She is so unpretentious and really wants the evening to be about conversation, not food.
4. They share details about their grown children, their jobs (she is in real estate), and their recently acquired alfalfa farm outside the city.
5. And though outgoing and eager to talk, they are also good listeners interested to hear from each person in our group.
6. The evening ends much too quickly.

To our new friends, Susan and Charly, gracias for opening up your home and hearts to us–you both have been a highlight of our trip!

-Melissa

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posted by Melissa McKee

Collette Vacations

Tags: Argentina, Food, Reality Tour, South America

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