On the Ranch

Trip Start Apr 02, 2008

Trip End Ongoing

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Where I stayed

Estancia La Alameda

(Buenos Aires hotels)

Flag of Argentina Buenos Aires, Argentina
Monday, April 28, 2008

With Tango and Spanish under our belts, we decided to leave the city of Buenos Aires for another Argentinian experience, a weekend on a Ranch or an Estancia. La Alameda is located 150 km north of the City and was recommended to us by a woman we met on Ihla Grande, who�s a tour guide in Buenos Aires. La Alameda also appealed to us because it`s cheaper than most other Ranches.
So, we left BA on Friday morning. We got a lift with Lewis, a chain smoking driver, who must be about 80 and who hasn�t quite mastered the art of texting and driving at the same time. We eventually got to La Alameda, and along with some day trippers, we were welcomed with a glass of wine and some empanadas.
After a trip on a trailer around the grounds (all farmers should really start that lark, great money spinner), we hopped on two horses. From the photo, it may look like Michael mastered the art of dressage, but in reality the horse was trying to throw him off

ailbhe by the pool

. This was after it went galloping in a total different direction to the way we wanted to go, taking Grechy through trees and bushes..it was priceless. I laughed and laughed right until i hit the hay, so to speak. I am cruel.
Lunch followed dressage. Meat, meat and more meat, followed by a show. Young kids dancing about in traditional costumes - beats a summer job in McDonalds.
Then two older guys came out and sang..oh my god..like Johnny Logan and Gareth Brooks combined. Awful. We ordered another wine to help us through. Then the Guachos did a bit of stunt work on their horses. One of them involved me getting dragged around the grounds on cowskin, great craic!
That evening, the day trippers left and we were the only overnight guests on the Ranch, mortified that the chef and the waiter had to stay on for us. Juan the waiter was class, he taught us the Spanish for `butter`!
The next day we went for a cycle, annoyed the crap out of the pigs and went fishing on the lake. The fish took all the bait we had. Just as well we were the only ones at there, we cursed everytime we lifted our rods to discover empty hooks.
Two more couples arrived Sat night, very exciting!
On Sunday we went for another cycle

making friends on the ranch

. After about 10km i got a flat. Luckily we had just arrived in one of the only villages surrounding the lake and there was a man on a bike with a pump! He pumped up the back wheel. The three of us put our ears to it, only to hear "Hissssssssssssss". Even with the language barrier, we all understood what it meant - Puncture. We looked at the Ranch the other side of the lake..it would take all day to walk. So, he pumped it again and hey presto..no hisssssssss. Cycled back as fast as we could, before it went down again.
Lunch and the show for a second time. We slipped off and sat by the pool when the two lads got up to sing. Left for the city at 4.30pm with the Sunday day trippers - relaxed, refreshed and well fed. Highly recommendable!