Living as a Nomad- A Few Highlights From This Past Year

Tomorrow’s flight to Argentina is the start of our third year as nomads. While we spend much of the year renting other people's houses, in Buenos Aires we are returning to a nice hotel in the center of town. This is the view from our balcony last year.

The view of a political demonstration on 9 de Julio (the widest street in the world (14 lanes). We expect to have the same suite (3 rooms) and same view at the hotel this year.
This photo just shows half the width. It almost too wide to take a photo of the whole thing at the same time. 

Staying in a hotel in Buenos Aires started off as an accident. A friend had offered us the use of their condo but we decided to move to this nearby hotel instead and stayed for several months. We liked it so much that we are returning there this year. They say the pool and hot tub have opened which would great if it is true. We know they were built- we saw them last year, but the government is inefficient and they could not get them inspected so they could not be used.

This year we have few firm plans after our time in Argentina and have only a one-way ticket to Argentina with no return date. We have an idea to stay in South America for two months and then head out to Asia but will revise that plan if this Coronavirus becomes a worldwide pandemic.

Last year we also started the year in Argentina, with stays in both Mendoza and Buenos Aires. Mendoza province borders the Andes Mountains which separate Chile from Argentina. The Andes are actually an extension of a mountain chain that starts in North America and travels down both continents and I never tired at looking at them.

The beautiful snow covered Andes

Our trip to South America started with a cruise from California to Chile (you can scroll back through this blog to see photos from our stops in Peru, Mexico, and Costa Rica). One highlight of the cruise was a tango orchestra onboard who performed every night. We were the only tango dancers. It was rather terrific dancing in such a pretty space.

  We disembarked in Chile and flew to Mendoza, Argentina. While we did not drive across the Andes, we did drive along them for several hundred miles. Mendoza is the home of a huge wine-growing district, the second tallest mountain in the world, the eighth tallest volcano, hot springs, and Canon del Atuel, called the little Grand Canyon.

Horseback riding in the Andes with a friend of a friend. 

Driving along the Andes in Mendoza. The eighth tallest volcano in the world is hidden in those clouds.

Franklin at the hot springs at the foothills of the Andes in Mendoza Province

The one-lane steep road through Canon del Atuel, the Little Grand Canyon in San Rafael, Argentina. 

Our friends live in Vista Flores, a few hours outside Mendoza city and have acres of fruit trees. We were there for the plum season and the start of peach season. My friend, Susan is no longer the only gringo in this small pueblo. Richard Gere, the actor just bought a home there.

Argentines love to BBQ. And an asado (BBQ) means steak. Lots of it. 

I feel the real attraction to the Andes and I’m perfectly willing to go back later in the winter if we have the time.

Last year we returned to Portland, Oregon in February to attend a tango festival and expected to spend the rest of the winter in Scottsdale. But home rentals were so expensive at that time of year that it was cheaper and more fun for us to just fly back to Buenos Aires again for another two months.

The Obelisk,  the symbol of Buenos Aires.

We saw a ballet at the beautiful Teatro Colon

El Beso, a popular tango venue

Our flight back to Scottsdale was in the middle of April.  It is a good thing that we returned when we did as in my last week, I broke my kneecap. I thought I had just bruised it.

We only stayed in Scottsdale for a week of appointments and repacking.  We left our hot weather clothes in Arizona and headed out for six cooler months in the Pacific Northwest starting with a nice road trip through California.

Vineyards in California

Redwoods in Northern California

US One along the California Coast 

In Portland, we stayed on a houseboat and enjoyed life along the Willamette River. I usually dance a lot Portland but this time I spent my time going to physiotherapy for my knee and observing wildlife instead. Franklin discovered that he had sustained an injury while in Buenos Aires as well and has been working on that injury for the past nine months as well. But we feel set and ready for more travel now.

The houseboat on the Willamette River

I watched this family of Canada geese and their eggs for weeks. 

Our view of the river at night from the houseboat

Over the summer we headed up to Vancouver Island. But first we stopped at our legal home, Redmond, Washington for the fourth of July and a great small town parade.

Then a ferry ride to Vancouver Island for the summer.

We took a boat ride to deserted islands for Franklin's birthday

More wildlife

Of course, we went to Butchart Gardens. 

Suburban wildlife in Victoria

Every summer for four years we have visited the international sandcastle competition. This one is not finished yet. 

The Victoria Parliament building at night

Victoria harbor with the Parliament building in the background.

In September we headed back to Oregon. We rented a house near a creek with lots more wildlife. 

Nutria. Similar to beaver but a different tail. 

I was still in the mood to travel but Franklin was not. So he stayed in Portland and I went to France for two weeks for a bike and barge trip around Dijon with a side trip to Strasbourg and Colmar. 

 I ended my trip to France with a day in Paris. Here is Notre Dame after the fire.

I returned to Portland. Lots of tango and more wildlife.

Tango in the Park in Portland

A nutria going out to dinner in a communitty garden. 

A photo from Halloween, 2019

Some trick or treaters for Haloween

Then we drove to Albuquerque, New Mexico.

We made a detour at Arches National Park, one of Utah's most scenic parks. 

then we headed into Scottsdale for the winter. 

The

Because of dust from the farms west of Phoenix, Phoenix and Scottsdale get spectacular sunsets almost every day. 

I just posted photos from Southern Arizona and Nogales, Mexico in the last week so I won't repeat them here. It has been a very photogenic year. I hope you have enjoyed sharing my 2019 journey here on the blog.