Goucho

A goucho is a BBQ, but Spanish style.  On Saturday, the whole Study Abroad group drove out into the mountains and had a goucho.  We drove by vineyards, but it's autumn here so leaves are falling and we didn't get to see all the pretty greens.  Where we went made up for not seeing green on the way.  We drove right into the middle of the Andes Mountains, where everything was waiting for us.

When we got there tables were set up all around the front yard of a B&B and a brunch was being served.  We had sweet rolls with coffee.  We were able to explore and then we went horseback riding.

Horseback riding is an adventure in and of itself.  It's very dusty in Mendoza and it sometimes reminds me of Arizona the way the mountains look.  We spent around four hours riding the horses and my butt hurt the next day because of it. 

After we finished horseback riding, we went back to the B&B and had a huge lunch.  They fixed a plate of vegetables and potatoes with lots of breads and empeñadas.  Next came the meat! Carne is a huge success here-pork, cow, lamb and chicken.  We had it all! I tried everything but I didn't like the rack of lamb too much.  We had a fruit cobbler dish for a dessert.

After lunch we just spent time talking and getting to know one another.  Dancers came out soon after and had people from the audience come and dance with them.  They did the dance that I am learning in my Tango class (another blog needs to happen for Tango class alone) and had on fun outfits. 

After the group danced we had another dessert of dulce de leche pie.  It was so delicious! We packed up and headed back home (a two hour drive) to sleep and spend time with our families.  We went out later that night to the bolicha (club).  The clubs don't open until about 2 or 3 in the morning so night life is actually morning life here in Argentina.  I don't go out that much for that reason-I need my beauty rest. 

Here are some pictures of the wonderful goucho I went to:

Looks like Arizona to me!

I have started to collect these so I can make a fun collage when I get home.

Some of the sweet girls on the trip from Baylor.

Boys from Baylor and Hawaii horseback riding.

It's very dusty!

I'm bringing up the rear because my horse was so slow.  That lady in front said I ´sat a good horse´?

Other girls from Baylor.

This is one of my three professors from the University.

All the dancers were fun to watch and take notes for my Tango class!

This is why I'm scared of dogs.

The dulce de leche pie we had for dessert.

Our vegetables and potatoes before the meat.

All friends from Baylor and Hawaii.

A fun goucho man!

This is how they had the tables set up for us.

That's me on a horse!

Caitlin and myself on the way to the Andes.

Beautiful mountains surrounding us.

They served the meat to us on that platter and we forked it off.  They just kept the meat comin'!

This is how they prepared all the meat.

I'm not sure which meat this was, but it was all delicious...except the rack of lamb.

 

It was a beautiful day at the goucho.  I've had many enjoyable memories to bring back with me.  The start of my second week here was a little shaky to begin with (I took the wrong bus and was an hour late to school) but now I'm feeling better about things. 

I'll be sure to blog again soon!