My Secret Adventure (Part 9)

August 29, 2011

When one travels frequently, one then accumulates friendships all over the world.  While I know this is a welcomed dilemma and thanks to inventions like Skype it is much easier to keep in touch these days, nonetheless there is nothing better than quality face-to-face time.

One of the friend’s that I unfortunately do not get enough face time with is Julie (my co-conspirator in this surprise trip).  She and I met six years ago in my favorite Manhattan boutique Calypso.  She was the manager there and on one of my numerous trip’s to the store she struck up a conversation with me.  That conversation ended up lasting for several hours and then further blossomed into a a very deep and meaningful friendship sisterhood.  The thing that bonded us immediately was we both had boyfriends (at the time) who lived in Buenos Aires.  Soon after our initial meeting, she moved there to marry her Porteño, Seba.  Thus, on my trips to visit my own Porteño, Lucas, I would make sure to plan extra time to spend with her as well. 

Julie exudes fabulousness from every pore.  Time with her is treasured and just like her name she truly is a jewel.  She also happens to be my favorite chef.  Whenever I receive an invitation for dinner at casa de Watson-Gomez, aka Julie’s house, I always accept!

While Julie went to work in the kitchen, Seba, Lucas, and I conversed about life with glasses of Malbec in our hands and electronic-tango playing in the background.  I remember sitting on their couch thinking how grateful I am to experience these unforgettable moments of great food and drink with great friends; it is such a powerful combination.

We did have an unexpected guest though, Señor Hachi.  None of us had the heart to tell him that it was an invitation only dinner.

As the food began to fill the table, I, of course, had to document every delectable dish with my camera.

On a side-note, most Porteños do not begin eating dinner until around 10PM.  Even that is considered on the early side.  Be prepared to dine very late while in Buenos Aires.  We did not sit down to eat until almost midnight.  Also, Argentinians are massive meat-consumers.  So, a girl knows that she is loved, when two Porteños agree to a vegetarian meal for my sake.

Along with dessert, Julie created her own dulce de leche cocktail that was sinfully good.  The recipe is quite simple: dulce de leche liquor, cream, three ice cubes, and dulce de leche and brown sugar to rim the glass.

Then it was time to play with our beloved Hachi.  I cannot put into words just how much joy this dog brings to me.

As if the night were not special enough already, Julie presented me with a surprise present — continuing the theme of the trip.  After my wedding, she took my wedding bouquet home with her and preserved it for me.  In my mind I thought it had been thrown out!  It was an incredibly touching moment and the perfect way to end the perfect evening.

Some of these photos, which have been credited, were taken by Seba.  He recently became enchanted with photography and has created a website dedicated to it.  I highly recommend checking it out, as he is very talented.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

Andi Perullo de Ledesma

I am Andi Perullo de Ledesma, a Chinese Medicine Doctor and Travel Photojournalist in Charlotte, NC. I am also wife to Lucas and mother to Joaquín. Follow us as we explore life and the world one beautiful adventure at a time.

More Posts - Website - Twitter - Facebook

76 thoughts on “My Secret Adventure (Part 9)

  1. Agnes

    One of my favorite posts Andi (after the skinny dipping one of course :-D). Beautiful photos, beautiful words, beautiful sentiments.

    Have a great week ahead 🙂

    Reply
    1. Andi Perullo Post author

      Awww, thanks a million darling! I like my skinny dipping in the Amazon River post too haha!!! So happy you enjoyed my words and photographs. Have a gorgeous week yourself!

      Reply
    1. Andi Perullo Post author

      Yep, I’ve been one for over a decade now! Can you even believe that I married an Argie??? Thankfully, we never try to convert each other, though will be interesting when we have children haha! Julie is SUCH an incredibly thoughtful person!!!

      Reply
  2. Chris

    Thanks for bringing us along on your journeys far around the world and those close to home. Great to see how much fun you can have, even on a “low key” night… These are the days I look back on and love.

    Reply
  3. Miss K

    I think it’s wonderful that you take so many photos of your food. It all looks delectable! Do you do this in restaurants too? I always want to but am afraid it would be rude.

    Reply
    1. Andi Perullo Post author

      I didn’t in the past, but I’m starting to now if the food is sensational. I didn’t have the right camera either for indoor shots with darker lighting, now I do. I’ve never been in a restaurant that seemed to mind, so I think if you feel inspired to take some pics you should!

      Reply
    1. Andi Perullo Post author

      OMG she is absolutely incredible in the kitchen! Wait until you see my next post about her cooking. You will want to invest in a restaurant where she’s the head chef!!!

      Reply
  4. KatieB

    That food looks delicious, I’m drooling!! If I lived anywhere near Argentina I would be on Julie’s doorstep begging for an invitation to dinner right now ;0)

    Reply
    1. Andi Perullo Post author

      And she would absolutely take you into her home in a heartbeat!!! I hope to one day live near her, so that I can invite myself over for dinner all the time haha.

      Reply
  5. Tours of the Vatican

    Gorgeous photos – I’ll bet that food was every bit as delicious as it looks – I feel like I could take a bite out of those olives right now!!

    Heidi

    Reply
    1. Andi Perullo Post author

      Julie needs to start a fan club for sure! I’m blessed that she came into my life. I really should have had Hachi be a part of my wedding don’t you think? I’m totally going to make myself a dulce de leche martini tonight.

      Reply
  6. Lisa Francesca Nand

    How could I have missed this blog! Its incredible. Your design is impeccable, and you know exactly what to do to make people flock to your side! I also like the perspective you brought to this subject. It’s as if you have an idea that many people just have not seen before. It’s so good to read a blog like this.

    Reply
  7. Leslie

    You are spot-on… 10 PM is an early dinner in Buenos Aires. I always keep a snack handy when visiting friends, because we might not eat until midnight (on a Tuesday no less)!

    Reply
    1. Andi Perullo Post author

      I couldn’t agree more! It takes me about 2-3 days to get used to it — I’m usually starving those couple of days, but then I end up loving it. I find it to be sooo unhealthy though!

      Reply
  8. Krista

    It makes my heart happy to hear of your dear friend. 🙂 I’m currently visiting one of my dearest and best, a true sister, in Germany. She doesn’t have a sweet dog like Hachi, but she’s got the cuddliest baby I love to pieces. 🙂

    Reply
    1. Andi Perullo Post author

      YES!!! She is beyond extraordinary in the kitchen. I wish that I would have taken better photos, but I was SO focused on eating, Hachi, and the wine haha! Oh gosh I miss Hachi sooo much!!!

      Reply
  9. Camels & Chocolate

    Senor Hachi has such a distinguished name for a gentleman of such stature 😉 I hope you brought him home with you!

    Scott was just saying last night, he wants to get a Yorkie so we can mate him with Ella and have Morkies (they’re precious)! Maybe Senor Hachi has a stud fee? HA.

    Reply
    1. Andi Perullo Post author

      The story behind his name is very touching! Julie needs to do a blog post about it some time. I believe that Senor Hachi unfortunately can no longer help in the baby making department, otherwise I would TOTALLY pimp him out to Ella, as she is certainly most worthy and truth be told I want to be Auntie to some Morkies sooo badly now!!! What a name!

      Reply
  10. Pingback: Weekly Travel Blog Links — LandingStanding

  11. Pingback: Ask Andi Anything + Giveaway (Part 2) | My Beautiful Adventures

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *