Belèn de Escobar

Today (1/23/14) is about as hot and humid as I've ever experienced.  My iPhone says 97* but with the humidity (40%), I am sure it is hotter.  

Marci left early for meetings so I decided to visit the fitness center.  They had the usual elliptical trainer, stationary bicycle, treadmill.  They also had the new  "power plate". The fitness trainer assisted me.  The concept is a vibrating platform used a exercise equipment (I had read about in the WSJ) .  The base vibrates, about 25-50 times per second; super fast.  This is suppose to tone and strengthen muscles while you perfom a few exercises, squats, arm pulls. The vibrations shorten your workouts.   The trainer suggested only 30 seconds per arm, squats and then finally abs by sitting on it.   She explained it to me in Italian 

The sitting part vibrated all up to my nose however she warned me.  I wondered if this was anything like electric shock therapy.  Maybe the CIA invented this.  It wasn't painful but certainly  like an electric shockish or maybe what electric proding cows into their corrals is like.  It was hard not to bust out laughing.  Hey I'm game and will try it again.  Certainly takes no pain, no gain to a different level.  

I grabbed a taxi later in the day and met Marci at the GOOGLE office.  She wanted to visit her 'offsite' where her event was to be held.

It was in Belèn de Esobar, 40 minutes outside of BA.  Our hotel had called a taxi for me and his english was pretty good.  On the way there he chatted about the traffic, this is BA vacation time for most.  Marci met me and since the taxi driver hadn't left yet, we asked him if he would drive us to this place.  Although he admitted he wasn't sure where it was, if we had a map he would try.  Marci showed him the map on her laptop and said the magic words GOOGLE & he was game.  

Now, bear in mind, in the taxi on the way, I had already vetted him (hotel called him, decent english speaking, nonsmoker, clean cab, named Leonardo Souto, married etc) & I

knew that we needed an honest taxi driver.  So 45 minutes later best friend taxi driver....                             He pointed out various points of interest .  The port, the River Plata, Uruguay across the river.   

In that 45 minutes we saw all that and at least 3-4 polizia had pulled over a few trucks with containers .  I noticed that coming from the airport  as well.  I guess spot inspections for illegal goods I  bet.  This was a toll roads, but we also saw a family of 3 on a motorcycle.  No helmets, toddler of about 3  years in the middle, (baby sandwich!) and when we were off the highway a donkey cart pulling 2 people ( no this was not a sweet little tourist ride.) My mind just spins.  I was thinking how desperate one has to be.  in the  US we are so lucky, we have no idea, we are so naive

Leonardo stayed in the cab during  Marci's visit.  We offered him water and something to eat but he declined .  Still so very hot outside though so upon returning to the hotel the thunder storm started and the torrent of rain.  Just in time.