But stuff breaks.

There’s a Bob Dylan song in which the old man croons, “Everything is broken.” Sometimes I feel this way about my stuff.

What’s wrong with my stuff?

Why does all of my stuff seem to break?

Because everyone’s stuff breaks.

Truthfully, we’ve had pretty decent luck with our Airstream.

Problems? Sure, we’ve had some issues.

Our Moen kitchen faucet broke. I mean, the handle just snapped off in my hand. No, I’m not that strong.

The Moen faucet handle itself is made of robust heavy metal (and I'm not talking about Iron Maiden). But alas! It's all held together by a flimsy plastic connection.

Our power jack broke. The crucial gear inside the jack mechanism is apparently made of styrofoam, because it breaks whenever the wind blows hard, or a mosquito lands on it. Ever tried to manually crank a power jack? It’s not a lot of fun.

When this baby fails, the 15-second job becomes a 15-minute one.

Our cabinet door latches break. They are made of a special plastic that is both expensive and guaranteed not to last. We try to keep extra latches on hand. They cost about $7 a piece, and you typically get about three uses before they snap like dry twigs.

Our day/night curtain shade plastic rings break. They must be made out of the same “special” plastic – perhaps from recycled bubble wrap?

Once the bottom of one of our bedroom storage drawers fell out. Kristy’s father Harry repaired the damage. Harry actually improved on the factory’s work by installing about ten times the number of holding screws into the drawer. It’s now incredibly sturdy. We can haul cement blocks in the drawer and it won’t fall out.

Our stereo broke. In electronics parlance, I guess we should say that it “died.” Harry plugged a new one in its place.

Our refrigerator didn’t break. It shipped with a flaw that threatens to start a fire, a nasty one not of the camping variety. So even though it wasn’t broke, we had to get it fixed. (A clear exception to the old axiom, “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.”)

Then there was that pernicious water leak. Nothing like wet carpet under bare feet to put a damper on your cozy camping cocoon.

Are you frightened? Don’t be. Our Airstream has been fine, and overall seems to be a well constructed piece of kit. Airstreams really are built by hand. At first glance this seems charming and reassuring, but it also means that minor construction variances abound.

Everyone’s stuff breaks. I guess my driving message here is that you’ve gotta make like a Boy Scout, and BE PREPARED.

Carry a well stocked tool kit.

Carry some extra door latches, jack gears, and whatever seems to be made of absurdly fragile material. (Better yet, if possible locate a more sturdy replacement.)

And if you aren’t handy with those tools, you better find some friends who are!

Recently when cleaning our Airstream, I came across a crumpled old list I’d made several years ago. The list includes items we planned to pack before embarking on our Long Long Honeymoon. I’m not usually so organized. I must have really been excited and/or worried about our trip.

Uh oh! I think we forgot the Ohm meter...

Did we bring all this stuff? Maybe not everything, but I suppose we brought most of it. We also brought a number of items that didn’t make this initial list! Hmmmm, I think we’ve found a topic for a future video…

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Sadly, our all inclusive resort did not “include” wifi. So we’ve been off the Internet for the longest stretch of time in more than a decade. While at first I suffered a few withdrawal symptoms, it was probably a blessing in disguise. We felt a little more removed from the outside world.

Although our Long Long Honeymoon website is dedicated to RV travel, how about some island globetrotting pics?

Air travel’s got nothing on RV travel. The airport experience has steadily declined in glamor and enjoyment over the years. How can I phrase it delicately? Oh yeah… IT SUCKS. Although we live less than three hours from Jamaica by plane, the total process of getting to Negril takes more than 10 hours! This is the travel time once you consider travel to the airport, check in, one connection stop, a change of planes, multiple security checkpoints, x-rays and body cavity searches, baggage collection, customs, and a steamy, bumpy 90-minute bus ride to the resort. WHEW.

Our flight departed at 6:30 AM. Do the math: we started our day at around 4AM! We caught sunrise from above the clouds. We were struggling from a severe case of Not Enough Sleep.

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But once you finally reach the resort, it’s really nice. You’ve got 4 and 5-star dining experiences pretty much anytime you want. Typical breakfast: gravlax with croissant, cream cheese, capers, onions, tomatoes, scrambled eggs, bacon, and just for fun, some French toast too. A distinct upgrade over my usual lonely cup of coffee! Sheer civilized decadence. When you finish your meal, you just stand up and go — no paperwork to sign.

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The waters in Jamaica are incredibly warm — warmer than the swimming pool. At our resort, they were also calm. The bay was dotted with fishermen, wave runners, and privately owned boats.

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The resort staff did a wonderful job tending to the property. The sand was soft and the beaches were raked daily.

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Beach chairs at the ready! No reservations required, mon — just pick where you want to sit. Grab a fruity drink and you’re all set. Our room was located in those small yellow buildings on the right.

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This is one of the main swimming pool areas in our resort. If you look closely, you can see bar stools in the water around the central bar area. The swimming pool bar was fantastic!

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I must admit, it’s pretty fabulous to swim up to the bar for a “free” drink. Our favorite new drink was a hummingbird, which tastes like an alcoholic smoothie. It’s got a real banana in it, so I’m sure it’s, um, healthy.

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We love to snorkel, and snorkeling was an “included” activity at our resort.

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Kristy, the brave snorkeler!

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Here’s a glimpse of what we were seeing under the sea. We saw fish, stingrays, sea slugs, sea urchins…

…coral (or is it some sort of disembodied alien brain?)…

…and the occasional starfish!

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When you go to Jamaica you spend a lot of time underwater. I only surfaced for gulps of air and fruity drinks.

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Am I the only person who takes photos of food? This was an entree of Jamaican jerk chicken. It’s basically a grilled chicken served with a spicy Jamaican sauce. As you can see, the resort did a nice job with food presentation.

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Kristy seems to be enjoying her dinner. Wine is also “included” so long as you stick to the perfectly fine house brands.

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We did venture off the resort. This photo was taken at Rick’s Cafe, a famous local hot spot. Rick’s offers fantastic views of the sunset, and ongoing entertainment as amateurs and pros engage in cliff diving. This poor girl must’ve been drunk, or working on a book titled “How NOT to Cliff Dive.” She did a 40-foot “dive” in an almost horizontal position. The loud “POP!” sound when she hit the water elicited groans from the audience. Although it’s treated as casual entertainment, cliff diving is actually quite dangerous and plenty of tourists have been injured. Some call this place “Risk Cafe“…

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We also had a few fruity drinks outside the resort. Here’s a drink of planters punch at Ricks. They say this stuff is “a way of life” in Jamaica. Yo ho ho, and a bottle of rum…

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When we first started documenting our travels online (before we bought our Airstream), we were focused on international travel. We may someday launch a sister site to Long Long Honeymoon that explores this side of things. Or we’ll just create an “international” category right here.

Sure, this “all inclusive” stuff is over-the-top indulgent. Most of our travel has been of a much more modest, budget conscious variety. Ask Kristy about that one-star hotel in Milan, Italy with a shower so dirty she refused to set foot in it! Someday I’ll tell you about the hostel in Krakow, Poland, I departed due to fleas. And the first time we camped, we didn’t have an Airstream — we had a $35 tent from Walmart!

The point is that travel is rewarding, whether you are experiencing a flea-infested Polish hostel or a five-star Jamaican resort. I cherish those moments in Europe just as I do the ones we shared in Yellowstone. Now we’ll add Jamaica to the list. Domestic travel and international walkabouts are complementary experiences. If you are a person who enjoys exploring our planet and its inhabitants, why limit yourself?

The world is a smörgåsbord – sample a little of everything!

Why? Because life should be a long long honeymoon…

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Happy Independence Day to my fellow Americans! As I write this blog update, we are camping in Canada. I’m almost 40 years old, and this is the first time I’ve been outside our country on this important day. It feels a little strange to be outside the United States on the 4th of July.

Kristy in Washington D.C.

And yet perhaps it is also strangely appropriate. How so? It may sound counterintuitive, but one of the key reasons why I travel abroad is to learn more about the United States. It’s all about perspective. I’ve never traveled to another country without gaining a greater appreciation of my own country. Visiting other countries has made me better appreciate the United States, its unique history, and the incredible opportunities it offers. Even while visiting Canada, our friendly North American neighbor, this holds true.

On the Manhattan ferry that runs past the Statue of Liberty...

From 1992 to 1993, I earned $120 a month teaching English in Czechoslovakia. This was shortly after the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of communism in Central Europe. Although much was changing in the area, much had not yet changed. I lived in a Stalinist housing project called Petrzalka, and got to experience communism and socialism firsthand on a daily basis. Government intruded at every turn, and a visit to the grocery store was about as efficient as a trip to your local DMV. I had to wait in six lines just to get a soda. (No joke!)

Decking out the NYSE with Old Glory.

After returning from overseas, I remember feeling not only an enhanced sense of pride in the United States — but also gratitude. I began to understand that many of our patriotic indulgences are not only understandable but justified — we really are blessed to be citizens of such a unique democratic nation of constitutionally limited government — the first such republic in the history of mankind. Our greatest challenge as a nation is to be good stewards of what we’ve inherited, and not spoil the original intent for future generations.

Looking up at a red, white, and blue Empire State Building.

Although we’re a little homesick for traditional 4th of July festivities (I’m thinking fireworks, barbecue, and beer), our thoughts are with the United States on this day. Happy 4th of July!

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First and foremost, Argentina is a HUGE country with diverse terrain. It’s got mountains. It’s got beaches. It’s got salt flats. It’s got deserts. It’s got a renowned wine region. It’s got glaciers. And don’t forget the exotic wildlife like ostriches and penguins.

It’s got world class cities. Buenos Aires is amazing. Fine dining and entertainment. Shopping and museums. Sure, you already know the beef will be great. But so is the pizza, and sushi, and pasta.

The distances between destinations are expansive, and if you make this trip you really should plan on investing a lot of time. We were advised that three weeks might serve as a minimum trip length, but one could wander for months and not see it all. There’s no end of interesting places to explore.

If you want, you can pick up your rental RV in one city drop it off in another. This way, you can plan a north to south (or vice-versa) itinerary that hits the highlights without backtracking.

What Argentina lacks, as of this writing, is a comprehensive infrastructure that supports RV travel. Yes, there are some dedicated RV campgrounds. But full hookup campgrounds are a rarity.

Most RV camping in Argentina will be of the dry variety. You just find a nice view and park. The national laws are quite supportive of this practice. In this respect, Argentina is boondocking heaven. You can travel the country with confidence that you will always find a place to camp.

That’s fine and dandy, but for a few constraints. The RVs in Argentina are smaller than the rigs we typically own in the United States. Personally, I have no problem with a smaller rig; in fact, the smaller sizes are advantageous since they are easier to maneuver. But these rigs have one key compromise that the traveler must consider.

Due to the generally rough road quality in rural areas, most Argentine RVs do not have black water tanks. The RVs are instead equipped with small portable toilets. As you’ll see in our video, these have their limitations. Honestly, I’m not sure how you’re supposed to handle certain — ahem – toilet necessities when boondocking in the wilderness. There are compromises, and then there are COMPROMISES.

Go ahead, say it: “Sean, you soft & lazy American wimp! Are you really worried about the toilet? Where’s your sense of global adventure?”

Let me put it this way. Whenever we travel south of the border, I tend to encounter a few “stomach” problems. I know, I know… I need to load up on antibiotics and let them work their magic. But anyway, if you have any sort of digestive ailment, these portable toilets are not going to do the job.

So what happens at 3AM when nature calls? That’s when things get … interesting. Most public restrooms will be closed at that time. (Ask me how I know!) Say what you will, but my idea of a fun adventure story isn’t titled Quest for the Toilet.

Maybe I am soft, but a key upside to RV travel in North America is towing your own bathroom. I’m not a huge fan of public restrooms, especially at 3 o’clock in the morning.

The entire RV industry in Argentina is only ten years old, and it’s growing. So I suspect they’ll address this issue sooner or later. But even if the rigs have black water tanks, where will you empty ‘em? Dump stations are a rarity. You can dump gray water any place you please, but the same obviously doesn’t hold true for black water. Thank goodness.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying that the portable toilet should be a deal killer. But I think you should be aware of the situation so you can plan for it. Load up on those antibiotics, come on down, and have a great time. Your best bet may be staying in campgrounds with on site facilities, and boondocking near gas stations.

As for Argentina itself, we found that it lived up to its advance billing. The dollar goes a long way, the people are warm and friendly, and the country is vast.

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We discovered Ruta|Sur the same way anyone else might: we Googled ‘em. Or more specifically, we Googled “RV camping in Argentina” and bingo! There was Ruta|Sur near the top of the page.

I was pleased to discover the company website offered an ENGLISH presentation. Being able to actually read and understand information is a big plus! Encouraged, I completed a simple online form on RutaSur.com, clicked “send,” and went on about my business.

The next day, my telephone rang. I glanced down at the Caller ID screen on my phone. It read “OUT OF AREA.”

Little did I realize just how far “out of my area” this phone call originated. That’s right — it was Ruta|Sur on the line! Or to be more specific, it was a man named Oscar Martinez.

“Hello,” said an Argentinian voice. “This is Oscar calling from Ruta|Sur in Buenos Aires. I am calling to discuss a motor home rental. You sent the form from our website…”

I was impressed. Not only was there a quick follow up to my inquiry, but it came via telephone — and from a man speaking excellent English!

So Oscar and I discussed RV camping in Argentina. We made arrangements to meet in Buenos Aires.

Upon arriving in Argentina, Kristy and I met with the Ruta|Sur folks on multiple occasions. I feel we got a good impression of the company, and of the RV business in Argentina.

Something Americans must understand is that RV camping is a young business in Argentina. The entire industry is only about 10 years old! So you can expect a few rough spots as it grows and develops.

Ruta|Sur itself was founded in 2005, and the company is blazing a new trail. Business is going well. In less than five years the company has grown from a single RV to a fleet of 20. The RVs themselves have grown in size and complexity also.

There are no RV dealerships in Argentina, so the rigs are purchased from small independent manufacturers. I’ll write more about the RV options in the next episode, but suffice to say that the motorhomes are much smaller than what we typically use in the States. This is not a criticism; it’s just a fact. The modest 25-foot Airstream which Kristy and I call our “home on wheels” would be a mansion RV in Argentina! So if you are planning an RV trip in Argentina, just be prepared for a unique experience.

With regard to Ruta|Sur itself, we found a company in strong health and good spirits. These guys are legit, and they delivered on every promise.

Ruta|Sur actually goes far beyond most ordinary rental companies in terms of services provided to clients. They don’t just hand you an RV and set you loose in Argentina with no support. They help you plan your journey (with advice on the best itineraries), and offer crucial support services. For example, you can rent an optional local cellphone with which you can take advantage of Ruta|Sur‘s 24-hour support line. If you are traveling in a group caravan, Ruta|Sur may even provide you with a traveling mechanic!

The majority of Ruta|Sur‘s customers are European. We can debate the reasons. Personally, I think for most North American travelers, an RV visit to Argentina falls squarely in the “adventure” category. Yes, it’s definitely a step outside the norm (and you’ll have to venture outside a couple of comfort zones), but I can see it being a rewarding one.

In fact, we spoke with a German gentleman who had just returned from a 2-month journey throughout Argentina in a Ruta|Sur RV. He raved about the experience! (More on this fellow in our next episode.)

As for Ruta|Sur, I can only report a positive experience with the company. They strike me as a close knit, hardworking group, and they are focused on keeping clients happy.

My primary contact, Oscar, is a wisecracking Argentine native with a love of barbecue and Creedence Clearwater Revival. He is a fun character and I genuinely hope we get the opportunity to spend more time together someday. Who knows… perhaps Kristy and I will return to Argentina again, and invest some quality time exploring the country.

In PART 3 of this special series, we’ll see what happens when we go camping in a Ruta|Sur RV!

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From a design standpoint, it secured its claim to fame by becoming a featured display in New York’s Museum of Modern Art (MOMA). It’s sleek, it’s round, it’s pleasing to the eye. It’s just so darn … cute.

Do RVs get any more cute?

From a camping standpoint, the Bambi’s pluses and minuses all relate to its size.

On the plus side, you can probably tow a Bambi with a bicycle. They are the lightest trailers that Airstream makes, so you needn’t worry about buying a gargantuan big rig truck to enjoy the thing. And they include just about every crucial amenity an RV’er needs.

Europe's Bambi 422: Somehow, they squeeze an entire house into about 10 square feet.

The down side? Hey, it’s a pretty small space. You probably wouldn’t want to fulltime in a Bambi. But for weekend trips, tailgating, and all around fun, the Bambi is tough to beat!

When Kristy and I first began RV shopping, we considered picking up a vintage Bambi. At the time, we were looking at RVs for the purpose of simple weekend trips. Of course, we eventualy chose something larger to accomodate our more ambitious plans, but I can appreciate the appeal of the Bambi.

Airstream has launched a new Bambi model in Europe, the Bambi 422 (apparently Europeans like numbers). Airstream makes special models for European use, to best navigate the more narrow roads of the Continent. The Euro models are also lighter in weight, to better accomodate those cute little European tow vehicles.

Who knows, perhaps one day Kristy and I will hit the European highways towing one of those sleek European Airstreams. It would be a fun and natural extension of our overseas camping adventures.

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I’m happy to report that our return from Argentina went without a hitch. It took me several days to bounce back (I must be getting old!), but I’m now rested and ready to work on TheLongLongHoneymoon.com. Stay tuned for fresh video of a distinctly Argentine flavor.

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My overall impression of Buenos Aires is overwhelmingly positive. The city reminds me of Manhattan, Rome, and Paris in many ways. But it’s much more affordable (and in some cases, more friendly) than those cities.

One fond glance back at the city.

Until recently, Argentina was a very expensive country to visit. It used the American dollar as currency. But in 2001 the country switched currencies to the Argentine peso; this made it a much, much more affordable destination for those spending United States dollars. As of this writing, one dollar buys 3.4 pesos. Last week we had a delicious bottle of house wine for 9 pesos. That’s less than 3 dollars.

Unlike Manhattan, here in Buenos Aires available taxi cabs are absurdly easy to find. We typically wait less than a minute before catching a cab. I mean, it’s totally ridiculous how many cabs are circling the blocks in this city. And the typical fare around town is between 10 and 15 pesos (3 and 5 dollars). If I lived here, I don’t think I would bother owning a car (unless it was a tow vehicle for RV camping, of course ).

If you need something, you can usually find it just around the corner. And sometimes it’s even easier to obtain than in the good ole United States.

Here’s an example that hits a little too close to home. While some people learn the tango in Argentina, I’ve been practicing my “Aztec Two-Step.” Yes, at some point over the past week, I contracted some form of Montezuma’s Revenge. An antibiotic treatment was in order, since I REALLY didn’t want to spend an 11-hour flight to Dallas with my legs crossed, or worse, camping inside the shoebox-sized airplane lavatory.

So I needed to see a doctor, right? Nope. I just walked into a local pharmacy, said the magic words “infirmo” and “cipro” while gesturing to my stomach. Bingo! The pharmacist immediately handed over a 5-day dosage of Ciprofloxacina Richet, a powerful anitobiotic that should nuke whatever invasive critters are having a fiesta in my lower intestines. After three days of taking cipro, my life has returned to a much more pleasant state.

I’m sure my sister Beth (a physician) could rattle off a dozen valid reasons why these antibiotics shouldn’t be sold over the counter. But for me, doing so solved a bad situation quickly. I’ve never been quite so happy when leaving a pharmacy. Gracias, Farmacity!

The incident raises a point with regard to travel in Argentina and elsewhere abroad. There’s more than one way of doing things. Sometimes (arguably most times) we get it right in our home country. Trust me, I am as red-white-and-blue patriotic as the next guy! But sometimes we could learn from the way others do things. Often it’s not a case of “better” or “worse;” it’s just different.

With regard to RV camping, those of us in the United States are truly blessed. The industry has developed over the course of many decades. Heck, Airstream itself is almost 80 years old. We now have the infrastructure (in the form of campgrounds, dump stations, dealerships, and media companies) that supports our desire to travel by RV.

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We’ve learned a lot on this trip. We’ve also shot several hours of video and a couple thousand photographs. But my goal is to keep it simple, and hone down this mountain of material to 3 or 4 focused short videos. We’re not delivering the comprehensive guide to RV travel in Argentina, but we are showing you what is involved, and making recommendations based upon our own experience.

We will arrive back in the United States on February 17. After the obligatory 12-hour period of post-travel lethargy, we’ll strive to get some fresh video material online in short order. As always, thanks for checking out The Long Long Honeymoon.

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In Tigre we camped in one of Ruta|Sur’s camper vans. One of the upsides of RV camping in Argentina is that you can park your rig ANYWHERE, within reason. Argentina is very receptive to what we call “boondocking,” or dry camping. Once you find a nice view, you park. That’s it! You are allowed to camp almost any place you like.

We parked our Ruta|Sur camper van right alongside the river in Tigre.

Tigre is a fun little town filled with assorted river activities. If you are within eyesight of the water, you are guaranteed to have an entertaining view. The waterfront is a nonstop collage of activity as water taxis, cruise ships, kayaks, row boats, and speed boats all compete for your attention.

In the background: a man and his oar!

We returned our motorhome to Ruta|Sur this afternoon. Their staff is really fantastic — they are friendly and helpful and make you feel welcome. Kristy and I barely speak any Spanish, but we have had no problems communicating with the Ruta|Sur team. They really make an effort and we appreciate it!

Kristy and Leandro check out the back of our Ruta|Sur motorhome. We slept on the lower bunk!

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I will post a LOT more material about our Argentina adventures in the video portion of our blog. But I wanted to put a few photos online here on my sidebar blog, while I have the chance.

Tomorrow Kristy and I hop aboard a ferry. Next stop: Uraguay! We’re taking a day trip to the historic town of Colonia. We won’t have time to camp in Uruguay, but we’re excited about seeing something new.

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Yesterday we had a fine visit with the folks at Ruta|Sur (Road South), an RV rental house here in Buenos Aires. They are a young, growing company and their office has an upbeat spirit of enthusiasm. We learned a great deal about RVing in Argentina. Here are some notes from our visit.

The RV industry itself is a young business here in Argentina. It’s only been around for about ten years! Ruta|Sur itself has been in business almost five years. During that time, its rental company has grown from one used motorhome to 20 different (and mostly new) motorhomes.

Since the business is still getting started in Argentina, there are no RV dealerships here. None. Nada. Zilch. So all motorhomes are custom built jobs. As you might imagine, this has made parts and maintenance an ongoing concern.

Most of the rigs are a good bit smaller than what we use in the States. What Argentines call “motorhomes” we would call Class-B camper vans. The smaller size makes for easier maneuverability on narrow and rough roads.

Ruta|Sur not only rents the RVs, they also provide ongoing support services for their clients. If you rent an RV from Ruta|Sur, you can always call their office for travel advice and help. If anything goes wrong with the RV, you can just call the home office. They are always there for you in case of emergency, or if you just want helpful suggestions with regard to the best places to go.

They also offer optional cellphones and GPS units. As a foreign traveler who doesn’t speak the language, this would provide me with much greater peace of mind.

What about Argentinian campgrounds? Here’s where it gets interesting. While there are organized campgrounds, apparently it’s perfectly fine to park your RV ANYWHERE. See a nice spot with a lovely view? Just park, and that’s your campsite. Argentina is boondocking heaven.

What about dump stations? Here’s where it gets weird, at least coming from an American perspective. You can basically dump dirty water anywhere. They recommend that you use a ditch, but I’m afraid that “dump stations” are few and far between. This should be interesting…

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Our second video in this Argentina series may not be posted until next week. We’ve shot a lot of material, and it does it a slight injustice to edit too quickly.

Today we’re actually climbing aboard a Ruta|Sur motorhome and going camping! Stay tuned for updates, when we get a chance (and a wifi signal).

In the meantime, you can check out Ruta|Sur’s website here:

Ruta|Sur – Motorhome Rentals in Argentina

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Both involve elements of “roughing it,” although they involve distinctive sacrifices.

The cafe experience is essential to Buenos Aires nightlife.

When we camp, the sacrifices and compromises (in terms of water usage, living space, etc.) are obvious. We ration water and generator usage, and we concoct new recipes that make the most of our RV cooking equipment. But in a way, those very sacrifices are what motivate us to camp. It’s a shared experience that brings us closer to the world around us, and closer to our loved ones. The myriad compromises are — dare I say it — fun!

Similarly, there are sacrifices when traveling abroad. We take ourselves out of our usual comfort zone, and enter a different reality. Even the simplest tasks — making mundane grocery purchases, for example — are suddenly more complex. The sense of a shared adventure is heightened when neither you nor your spouse speak the local language.

People watching ... after midnight!

A few years ago, Kristy and I spent a couple of months in a small town in the Czech Republic. We were probably the only Americans in the town. We were certainly among the few who spoke any measure of English. All TV shows were in Czech and German. Talk about a bonding experience! Pretty much every day for two months, we conversed solely with one another. Kristy often refers to that adventure as our preliminary test for RVing.

There’s also a similar “buzz” of excitement that surrounds the best camping and travel experiences. For example, I’ll never forget the first time I visited Krakow, Poland. The city charmed with layer upon layer of history and culture (not to mention fabulous cheap beer!).

But the excitement I drew from that visit was not unlike what I felt during our first Airstream camping trip to Destin, Florida. I’ll never forget lying in the bedroom of our Airstream, listening to ocean waves crash upon the nearby shore. The context was completely different, but the resulting “buzz” of excitement was the same.

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This afternoon we are meeting at a local RV rental shop. I’ll be shooting video, naturally, and will give my best efforts to post a fresh one online by the middle of the week.

Once we return to the States, I’ll put our Argentinia videos through the editing ringer one more time. I’m never 100% satisfied with the fit & finish of our videos when I edit on the road. But hey, it’s only a couple of minutes of your time, right? Check back later if you want the fully approved, Grade A, product.

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Oh yeah, about those sidewalk cafes. The cafe culture is a central part of Buenos Aires life. What’s particularly unique about the cafes and restaurants here is their normal operating hours. Most restaurants don’t even OPEN for dinner until 8:30PM, and they don’t get busy until a couple of hours later. It’s not uncommon to sit down for dinner well after midnight! Kristy and I are night owls, so we are loving this aspect of Argentinian culture. We could get along quite well here.

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