gauchos.

(written last night)

Today (Friday), we got the chance to get away from the city and travel to Estancia Santa Susana, one of the local ranches, to experience a bit of gaucho life. As a proud Texan, I guess it was time I saw some "real" cowboys! The countryside was just like any other country (likened in my mind to China and somewhat of ASB, since we were in Seguin), with lots of horses(!) and open space. We got to ride horses (albeit at a very slow rate) around, after which I got to taste asado for the first time. :) Here, asado = really delicious roasted meat, usually accompanied with sausages. I tasted blood sausage! It looked burnt, it was so black, haha. A very interesting taste...not sure how much I'd be able to eat at once, but it was pretty good. Also got to see Argentinian tango for the first time. So intense and beautiful :) Afterward, the cowboy also did some tricks of his own (what I would call gaucho tap dancing, haha) to live music by another man playing the guitar and singing. Live music and food! :)
Afterwards, we watched a short show where two gauchos competed in a race-type competition where they tried to hook a small ring on a stick as they charged under a frame (refer to my pictures...I try to use those to compensate for my poor explanations XP). Before we headed out, I got to ride with one of the gauchos around the pen at a pretty fast pace :D kind of like after the Medieval Times-ish show in China last summer. Wheeee! Like I was telling my classmates, two things make me swoon: horses (and taking me riding on one :D) and/or serenades. X) Mmmm. A girl can dream, right?

Though we got to travel to a ranch, I still wonder about the daily life of a gaucho, back then and also now. Do they eat lots of meat every day still? What do they do besides chores and tours? Hmm. I may never know. But still, our first real outing was a lot of fun :)
And! I have yet to try mate (Argentinian herbal tea), since we were supposed to get it today. But! My host mommy told me a place where I can find some...that will come in another post, hopefully.