Jill sent the following update from Argentina:

I tried to get on the computer yesterday morning before leaving the Sofitel Hotel in B.A., but I could never get a free computer so I was not able to write before leaving the city. We are now at the Bella Vista estancia.

Day One:

The entire (small) group arrived yesterday and enjoyed a free afternoon before all meeting up for drinks in the hotel bar at 7:15, followed by a sumptuous dinner in the hotel’s French restaurant. Unfortunately, it was raining a lot on Saturday and the storm continued through Saturday night. So we had a quick change of plans on Sunday morning. We were going to leave the hotel at 10 a.m. and visit the open-air market in the city (where there are masses of antique shops and stalls, but impromptu tango dancing). But the heavy rain meant we had to cancel that adventure and wait until 11 a.m. to leave for our drive out of the city to Quilmos.

Quilmos is just south of the city and is famous for its beer. We passed by the large brewery on our way to visit Marcelo Decoud and his carriage collection (http://www.gracielagiacosa.com/The_Carriage_Museum.html). Although it was cloudy, the rain had stopped and did not interrupt our day any more.

We were warmly greeted by a large number of friends of the family, and we all enjoyed a glass of wine to break the ice. We then visited the collection, housed in a wonderful building copied from a barn in northern France. The property and collection were started in 1904 by the uncle of the present owner, and the nineteen carriages (plus eight more at another ranch), all in original condition, were very special. There were Dog Carts, an 1885 Spider Phaeton, an Argentine Break, a Tilbury, two Duc de Dames, an Omnibus, a Mail Phaeton. Some were Argentine made, but most were English or French (Binder). There were sets of Hermes harness, English and French harness sets, and all manner of other appointments.

Because of the rain, many of the invited members of the Agrupacion de Carreros y Cocheros de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (commercial carriage association of the province of Buenos Aires) were not able to get there, but five hardy soles managed to bring their horses and carts, and we all thoroughly enjoyed a full explanation of the vehicles: their original use, the reason for the colors on the vehicles, the harness, etc. Fascinating.

Several CAA members were able to demonstration their driving skills when the reins of the turnouts were offered to them! We then all enjoyed an Argentine barbecue (an asada), which was prepared inside a large barn (the first time they had ever barbecued over an open fire INSIDE the barn!!). Despite some language difficulties, we all got along famously and we exchanged gifts and thanks and compliments and then headed back to our B.A. hotel for another very comfortable night.