That's only half the lambs prepared for the asado - the rest are cooking on the other side of the patio
Yesterday at R's conference, the scientificos and "accompanying persons" (that's me) went on an all-day tour on Lake Nahuel Huapi and the adjoining national park. Unlike most of the last week, the winds were light yesterday, and we cruised in a protected bay of the lake, alleviating any lingering concerns about seasickness amongst the passengers.
Entering the Blest arm of Lake Nahuel Huapi
The glacial origins of the lake show in the steep sides of the lakeshore and the color of the water. It's so deep, it doesn't freeze, and in the summer, people kiteboard, sail, and swim, in the refreshing water temps of 50-60F.
Rainbow in the falls at high noon
We disembarked in the temperate rainforest of ancestral cypress trees to walk up hundreds of wooden steps to a waterfall. Some of the group hiked around the bay on a trail muddied by the snows earlier this week. We did not - I wanted to have more time with the camera gear.
Hotel Puerto Blest, founded in 1904
The boat made a quick cruise across the head of the bay for our lunch. The cooks prepared a traditional asado barbeque for 150+. Besides the lamb, we were offered two kinds of sausage, bread, salad, and several types of wine from Argentine Patagonia. Having only heard of wine from the Mendoza region of the country, I was impressed by its quality. I wouldn't expect less, with the reputation of the meeting organizers on the line in front of their friends.
Gene and Matt
Gene was on R's dissertation committee eons ago, and yesterday reminded R that it still isn't too late to revoke his diploma if R made any more jokes at Gene's expense. Matt organized the barbeque for the committee. Matt's a Texas home-boy now exiled to California.
A real tango singer and a world-reknowned scientist
Nick is the Argentinan in the group of organizers, though he has lived in New Orleans for a very long time. Later in the afternoon, he and friend Kira did some pretty fancy tango footwork for us.
How we do (did) it in Texas
The musicians played Glen Miller and some country swing music in between the tangos. Joe, another of the meeting organizers, and his wife Mary, took a spin in between the picnic tables. Joe and Mary were long-time Texas residents, now showing them how to do it in Ohio
Who invited the fox to the 'que?
The Argentians called it a porro, which in my dictionary translates as fox. It came in for some meat. Must be a regular visitor in the park, since they painted it on their buses. We rode back into a sunset, many a siesta-taker on the return cruise.
