After three nights at the Estancia in Uruguay, we drove a couple hours to the Argentine border, crossed it, then took a 14-hour bus ride back across northeast Argentina – then into Brazil – to visit Iguazu Falls.

The uploads for this post were more than a little glitchy due to not just bad, but weird wifi, so my chronology is a bit off.

This batch shows our first encounter with Iguazu Falls on the Brazilian side. Having been a tourist destination for decades, they done a good job building walkways and viewpoints in spectacular spots. Nonetheless, working around the selfies can be tricky, just ask the coatis…!

This batch starts with our first visit on the Brazilian side, then includes dinner that night and part of the next day where we crossed to the Argentinian side and took a little train and a long walk to see the Devil’s Throat! We also saw some toucans and more coatis…!

A bit of the town of Iguazu Falls – Foz do Iguaçu – and more comida…

More of the Devil’s Throat, after which, we walked in another direction to take in more view points on the Argentinian side…

Many more view points on the Argentinian side. Lots of opportunities for a spectacular demise…?

Our last big experience of Iguazu Falls was to take a jet boat up the river and into the spray. Saw some monkeys long the way! Braved the cold & wet and, and the prospect of a damp iPhone, but enjoyed the wild ride and the upclose & personal experience of getting even more soaked. Note the pix of the 30 minute jungle ride to and from the boat dock…

This last batch shows the three corners at the confluence of two rivers – Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay – as well as another awesome dinner. Got a couple shots of the falls from the plane to Rio, as well as a glimpse of Sao Paulo where we had a connection…

ooo

After about a week in Argentina, our tour has taken us back to Uruguay. Instead of Montevideo, this itinerary goes first to Colonia del Sacramento, one of the oldest towns in Uruguay. Next – and included in this post – we have an Estancia stay, so stay tuned (I should’ve said mucho mas!).

This first batch includes the ferry ride (done already in the other direction) to Colonia, our hotel, and an initial walk around the old town – touristy, but charming. Note the cars, the lighthouse, and the views from the marina…

More of walking around the old town of Colonia del Sacramento…

Some of us happened upon a drumming parade, and had to get involved.

Then, another tour group dinner at another interesting restaurant…

A clip of the drumming parade…

The next day, Sunday, was market day, so we went. After the farmers’ (etc.!) market, took a walk up the Rambla, a pedestrian route along the coast, then turned around and returned to the old town for lunch before departing Colonia del Sacramento. Note the big cheese, street art, kite surfers, old cars, antique shop displays, and mas…

It was a few hours drive to our Estancia stay, an older farm house equipped for agritourism – cooking classes and horseback riding. There were a coupla cows, a few sheep, an ant-encrusted mushroom, and semi-retired gaucho named Roberto. We spent three nights there, each one featuring a campfire before bed…

The next day Roberto taught us how to milk a cow – and her baby got in on the action. Then, we learned how to make empanadas – from rolling the dough to stuffin’ ’em. Afterwards, we had the first of three beefy lunches (the empanadas were snacks for later)…

After lunch, we went horseback riding. Coincidentally, I’d already made friends with my particular horse, Christina. (Lunch is squeezed between horse encounters and riding.)

In fact, the cow production has declined in this part of South America, replaced by paper pulp production, manifested by the eucalyptus forests we rode through. Nice, but not natural; note the lumber at the end of this batch…

This batch starts with the empanadas we made, but mostly is of a sunset walk featuring some pastoral vistas…

The next day – our second full one at the estancia – we went to the now-defunct Anglo meat factory in Fray Bentos, a company town designed exclusively for the mass production of tinned meat.

More from the old Anglo meat factory in Fray Bentos. Not great imagining the life of the cows (killed with a hammer) – or the workers (killing, carving, packing, and doing all sorts of hard manual labor in a noisy, non-union shop)!

Yet more of the defunct Anglo meat factory in Fray Bentos.

Note the picture of the guy (twice) who, during his 40+ year career at that desk wore grooves into the wooden floor exercising his legs. Can you find them? Can you imagine…?

During the excellent tour, conducted by Nicholas, shown above, we encountered a nice doggie and some pretty birds…

Here’s a last random batch of our “estancia turistica” and some bush whacking around thereabouts…

This last batch is of one more cooking class, some lunch, and I drive back into Argentina for a 14-hour bus ride. Yay?

I know, another doozy. More editing, more cutting room floor, less is more. We can talk more about it in elsewheres…!

It was worth it to go to another part of town to check out La Boca, a neighborhood, perhaps working class, on the southern end of BA. However, the festive buildings were just paint, and it was kind of a tourist trap. But the people watching was good, particularly when I came across a school that was getting out and all the mommys & daddys were there in the street to collect their children. Enjoy…

More walking leads to more photos of interesting buildings, and to discovering cool spots like this bookstore which the proprietor said was the oldest in Latin America. In addition to a vast collection of antiquarian literature, he had a knack for display in the way I like – messy maximalism. And there was art, and there were young people looking at books…!

What is it about churches? My distain for the opulence of Catholic iconography has softened with the idea that the humble parishoner may find their faith exalted by such displays, but still, such ostentation ain’t about Jesus – leastwise as I understand the Beatitudes…?

Anyway, there’s more stuff in this batch. A slavery exhibit in the oldest edifice on the Plaza de Mayo, along with some needlework. The rocks at the base of the statue represent Covid casualties, all in front of the Casa Rosado or main government building, the center of Argentinian politics. And why not stop for a drink in charming old cafe, and some sausage in a charming old Mercado de San Telmo…

This batch acknowledges trees, more church action, an educational admin office, another charming cafe, and more random grace…

On the way to an amazing Italian restaurant, the amazing museum about the history of the revolution appeared, the Museo de Historico Nacional. In addition to the many paintings and artifacts, I witnessed the changing of the guard in the shrine dedicated to Jose de San Martin, the liberator of the south (like Simon Bolivar, the liberator of the north). Research…?

A destination restaurant, even if you don’t eat, Napoles is worth a visit! The rest of this batch is the long walk back to the hotel and some low intensity police action…

The almost last walk around Buenos Aires focuses on the Congress/Parliament building and the Palacio Barolo, a beautiful old office building nearby. Check out the website. Just walked in and took an old fashioned elevator to almost the top where two floors of stairs takes you to the outside overlooks and a restaurant/bar…!

Movie shoot on the way back. And the first dinner with the Intrepid tour group…

The tour barely touches BA, before heading off to Uruguay. Stay tuned…

Yes, the air is good, BTW!

A lot of the cultural venues in BA take Mondays off, so had to wait until Tuesday to do to the Museo de Arte Latinoamericano de Buenos Aires.

This first batch starts with some short stops along the way, then the majestic entrance, followed by some items up on the second floor (that I was not so enamored with – what do you think?)…

The floor was a bit more interesting. The Museo de Arte Latinoamericano de Buenos Aires (MALBA) includes a couple of original Frieda Kahlo paintings, along with at least one Diego Rivera, and other good stuff…

This skull was my favorite work in MALBA, done by Mondongo, an art collective (two guys), and filled with compelling imagery. And there’s more…

Another long walk took me to the much smaller Museo Sivori. Voila, and the neighborhood…

More walking and some light comida…

The next day I went to one of bigger museums in BA – the Museo Nacional des Belles Artes. Get ready, there’s a bunch (this is the first of three batches)…

In fact, there were quite a number of big name artists, from Rembrandt and Picasso, to Monet and Modigliani. Can you find a few…?

And, this batch includes a whole series on the Conquest of Mexico – depressing, yet necessary to experience…

More classics of various genres here in the Museo Nacional des Belles Artes (can you find Goya?)…

Next, a very cool bookstore in an old theater, and the walk to Teatro Colon…

The historic Teatro Colon, and a brief glimpse of a ballet…

After a few days of AirBnb, switched to the Two Hotel, our Intrepid meeting point. Then, a walk about the neighborhood, including another big church. And, BTW, school group field trips seem happening everywhere…

Yup, there’s more – soon…

Usually, I try to capture the iconic sites of a town or the premier tourist destinations in a city first. For this post, that’s only partly true. Since I’m staying in Buenos Aires for several days, I thought I’d ease into it.

I eased in on the bus – from Montevideo. And the bus mighta been more plush than the boat – the ferry that is to which one transfers at Colonia Uruguay before crossing the bay(?) at the Río de la Plata to Buenos Aires Argentina (BTW scholars, it’s part of the Southern Cone region of South America.).

The last two pix are of the secret box locked to a tree across the street that has the key to the AirBnb with the great view of the Cemetery of Recoleta, which will conclude this longish post…

This batch starts with a restaurant next to the apartment, has the Cemetery again, during the day, and a preliminary walk around the Recoleta neighborhood, and then a secondary walk around another neighborhood, specifically San Telmo that features a fun Mercado, etc…

Arriving Saturday night, the next day, Sunday, was an opportunity to experience an antique fair and a lot of handicraft shopping. Lots of appreciation for the art of the display (especially when maximalist!)…

More in and around San Telmo…

The local church…

And one of the joys of travel is stumbling upon something unique. Down one street was an event of some kind with a huge school bake sale – or was it a contest – on one side of the street, and a home utilities display (water meters, monitoring gadgetry, various pipes & conduits, etc.) on the other. This batch continues up the street with more vendors, etc…

More vendor booths, the weekend antique fair in Plaza Dorrego, and local shops. And some local characters, like the accordion player who seemed cool until we talked about politics. Check out the lady extracting a particular from one of her displays, and the guy in the funny hat making coffee with hot sand. Old books, old records, etc…

More characters and images in and around San Telmo.

One of the marquee visits in Buenos Aires is La Recoleta Cemetery, a sprawling 14 acre neighborhood of lovely, multi-storied domiciles, and very quiet! Check it out (but be careful, ’cause you can’t check out!)…

Actually, there are many famous (or at least rich) Argentines staying in Recoleta, but perhaps the most famous is Eva “Evita” Peron (Duarte). After some shots of her family compound, there’s more of the Cemetery. Know that each “tiny house” has a deep basement…!

Inside the view from the AirBnb – fascinating. But the loud neighbors living nearby compromised the solitude of Recoleta. Before you feel like you “live” there, I’ll end this post and start again elsewhere…

Ready for another trip?

How about South America?

A few minutes into October (midnight:05 on the first) 2025, I took the first of three flights on Avianca (laying over in San Salvador and Bogotá) to Montevideo, Uruguay.

The first shots are from the plane window, looking at clouds, down at the coast of El Salvador. Then airports, parts of Colombia, and finally Montevideo…

An easy Uber ride to the Smart Hotel and I was in the midst of the old town.

Arriving too early to check in, I left my luggage and started walking…

Scholars, as you know, I likes me some interesting architecture, street art, and serendipity.

Like the last batch, this one has a group of students on a field trip, and some random passers-by…

Montevideo was a bit sleepy in the morning as people gradually got out into the day. I revisited a couple of these places over the next two days, and they were a bit busier.

Inspired by the great weather and wanting to get some exercise, I walked way out on to an old jankety jetty, watched some poor fisherman watching the brown water for even poorer fish – who probably were not there, having succumbed to the predation – or the pollution?

Ah culture, sometimes not so cultured? How about horticulture instead? From the slovenly to the sublime, this batch includes some historical photos of old carnavals, more street art, some uniquely random street vendors (selling tourist & flea market stuff), a trip into the local cathedral, and ends with the view from my lovely hotel room…

After a nicely early check in, and a shower, and a nap, I sallied forth again in another direction to explore Montevideo. This batch features more of my jams, but check out the suggestive statuary (a large vase) and another historical street display photo of a past protest again Bush! I particularly enjoyed the motorized beach cruiser and had a nice conversation with the junk artist/street vendor in the last photo…

In addition to public statuary, I enjoy the varied facades of urban buildings that reflect contrasting architectural styles. Ran across what seemed to be a book fair – all in Spanish – in tents and a public building that featured some classic replicas. This batch ends with a kerfuffle (mostly yelling match, but some attempted MMA swings) between some scruffy urban urchins (bum fight?)…

I was encouraged to try the steak in Uruguay, so I did! It was good, but the baked cheesy spinach might’ve been better? More random art pix, etc…

The Mercado del Puerto was an interesting spot, especially for carnivores! But the Moebius book, record, art, and antique shpwas more interesting, as was the neighborhood thereabouts…

Had to get my museum nerd on, so I started with the National History Museum. As expected, there were more than a few military leaders represented, some patriotic sloganeering, and more than a few weapons of war (tools for human interaction?). Want more context? Let’s check out the History of Uruguay.

In addition, there was a display of the photographs from journalist Nancy Urrutia…

Next (after admiring a 1909 ceramic facade building and the Ministerio de Desarrollo Social), I went to the Romantic Museum. Lots of beautiful stuff, well displayed. And, I should mention, all are free…!

Finally (but there could have been more), the Museum of Decorative Arts in the Palacio Taranco. Greeted by a fellow tourist throwing down on the piano, this was perhaps the most impressive of the three. One is swept up the the unique palacio with its lack of symmetry and position in the neighborhood, at the same time entranced by the ornate elegance within. Great art, great ambiance, and this batch ends with a view from the balcony…

A final random collection of from the walk back to the hotel. Perhaps I’ll add some video clips, but if not, thanks for coming this far…!

I write the last bit of this post using the wifi on the bus driving to the ferry port on the way to Buenos Aires. Parting shots may be included later or in the next post. But this is enough for now, no…?!

(Post-post point: I’m adding some more comments & galleries here on Oct. 2nd since the original post on Sept. 10th [BTW my bro’s b-day] since my summer jammed up until the SoAm trip I’m on now.)

I’m still working on alternatives to this here lil’ ol’ blog – randomvail, but as one does in the summer (retirement!), I’m not working very hard. But I have been phoning in the photos, so here goes (again!)…

After PAFF, I delivered one of my raffle pieces to Veronica & Cole Mazariegos-Anastassiou at Brisa Ranch. (They each put a raffle ticket in my pot’s envelope writing their entire last name twice – earned it!)

Right after that, I met my precious sister Nancy at Pie Ranch and we frolicked from the farm stand straight out to the beach (perhaps not seeing some signage in the process).

BTW, the headless barn owl was likely the victim of great horned owl. The Google Maps screenshot shows our route, and I’m showing this beautiful, seldom seen, slice of the Cali coast. For my foreign friends, the houses on Año Nuevo island have been unoccupied for decades, and the old ranger house is more recently unoccupied. Then, we went for dinner – did I mention it was my birthday…?

One day, Charlie and I drove to Alameda to return a drum set to his buddy AJ. Turns out he lives in a charming Victorian with a wonderful library and lots of cool furniture (his Dad – immigration lawyer & malt maker – must rock!). Then, we went to lunch at Homeroom, an all mac + cheese restaurant in Oakland started by a former HGM student, Erin Wade. Slammin’…

This summer of 2025 includes another bridge project to make the Roquena mountain bike trail a bit safer. (Actually, it’s known to older-timers as Brian’s Trail, designed and spearheaded by former LH resident Brian Simon, who returned the family to Marin years ago.

This project, spearheaded by Liam Hussey and a crew of volunteers, required several days to assemble, then move, then more assembly of an aluminum truss bridge to go over the scaffolding that I’ve crossed dozens of times without incident (but always thought I was going to die)…

On a lark, I went to the Palo Alto Festival of the Arts, since it came right after PAFF and right before the King’s Mountain Art Fair. Summer = art season? Anyway, I had two or three good conversations with some of the artists and captured the following images…

More of the Palo Alto Festival of the Arts…

This batch is PDR (pretty damn random)…! It starts with my paternal grandmother’s dad, Harry Perry (not to be confused with the Harry Perry of Venice CA), who was once a member of the Pennsylvania state legislature, and who scrutinizes me with that steady eye daily.

I like great blue herons, but not bans on ebikes! I like beautiful motorcycles and giving ceramics to friends. A bar in Ben Lomond? An old Slow sign I made. The newly resurfaced tennis court and an attractive fence. An even more attractive old school lowrider Chevy with a utility bed – so cool!

This batch starts with another nice picnic dinner with Ruby & Boman overlooking Pescadero State Beach. It proceeds to capture some snipets of the King’s Mountain Art Fair…

Dr. Burr suggested we go sea kayaking to see some whales off the coast of Pacifica. No whales that day, but it was a great paddle and we experienced the majestic San Pedro Rock frosted as it is with millennia of guano, lots of sea birds, a couple of sea lions, and a nice cuppa at Soul Grind when we were done (without tipping over!). Note the abandoned beach pads, honoring old locals, and home through the tunnel around the Devil’s Slide. Here’s a useful site for sea kayaking: https://www.bask.org/!

Retired now, summer is really never over, but that’s enough for now. I’m gradually getting ready for my next trip to South America, but I might squeeze in one more before then. Thanks again for your patience…

Now, thanks for experiencing more! I’m adding to this post three weeks later…

This new batch is mostly from a bike hike I took up Old Haul Road from Memorial Park to Portola Redwoods State Park and back with a detour.

Starts with the Loma Mar Store, notes some redwoods & redwood stumps with the notches left by the lumberjacks, includes some signage at Portola, then some unauthorized shots taken on the Butano Ridge Trail (parallel to Old Haul from a connecting, but closed, hiking trail).

A biker event was happening in Memorial when I got back, including the orange pickup (which goes with those Banana Slugs, no?). After that GPS admission (screen shot), I include a map that I bought in Portola Redwoods (again) that has “Pie Ranch” on it…

After a successful kayak in Pacifica, Allen & I did another short run up and down the Santa Cruz Harbor…

On September 20th, we went to the Pie Ranch Harvest Dinner. But first, I stopped by the Pescadero Barn Sale, seeing this cool Riviera. Included here is the “circle up” before the dinner, then some dishes, the symbolic pie making ceremony, the crowd, and a parting shot of the new farm house…

This last super-random batch starts with our precious pool, a cool Triumph in town, and a frisky squirrel. Thanks for reading more then looking closely…

Please check out my friends Greg & Shawn at the latter’s 50th birthday party pickle ball event (on our newly redone CLHG tennis court)! Then, check out the new barn window/artwork featuring the family and a frame given to me by our neighbor Hillary.

Dramatic clouds one day, and a dogtag I found in our yard! Kerry Wing, Alan, and Rob playing at Alice’s one Thursday, a heron at the pond, and Ruby & Boman’s house up in the Middleton tract. Four versions of new art strategy – drawing on paintings, and a horse in the ring.

Veronica came home after her Alaskan adventure and Charlie did too, for a hot second, so I got this great pic of the kids together in the kitchen. And this batch ends with a sign on Highway 1, which I’ve noted over the years and finally got a chance to capture it when stopped for roadwork one day…

OK, now I’ll stop. You are my hero! And soon, there will be more as I’ve just taken a bunch of cool shots here in Montevideo Uruguay.

Enjoy! Be well! And HAVE FUN!

Happy Birthday to Catharine of Bohemia, Orville Wright, Ogden Nash, Coco Chanel, Malcolm Forbes, Frank McCourt, Bill Clinton, Kyra Sedgwick, Satya Nadella, & me. :(I’m 66): Like Barbie, the Cuban Revolution, the states of Alaska & Hawaii, Nepalese women’s suffrage, Lee Kwan Yew’s Singapore, UNCOPUOS, and the end of Billie Holiday, the Marx brothers TV show and the Dalai Lama’s Tibet back in 1959.

Here’s some stuff I’ve snapped since returning from Armenia earlier this month (the day my Uncle Byrns would’ve been 100 – August 4th). First up, a hike with Dr. Burr in the La Honda Creek Open Space…

A trip to the beach, naked ladies, signage, etc…

The Pescadero Arts & Fun Festival & the South Coast Artists’ Alliance show happened! Here are some signs, this year’s actual offerings, and art lover friends…

Here are some pix of the SCCS Fashion Show hosted by Ben & Dave…

A recent haul from the library and me sporting some B-day presents…

Hopefully, I’ll figure out how to add some videos (that aren’t time lapses) to show Charlie’s fiddling with Bundy Browne at PAFF, etc.? In the meantime, I’ll go ahead and post to mark the day.

In fact, I’m considering bringing RandomVail.com to a close. It has been a decade since I started this blog, and it may be time to wrap it up? If this is the end, thanks for coming this far!

I’ll letchy’all know what happens next…

While on my tour to Garni Temple, I met a Romanian guy, Alex, married to a Russian gal, who recently moved from Buenos Aires to Madrid. We seemed to have a lot to talk about, so we did over dinner. He wanted to go to this restaurant, Dolmama, visited by a variety of celebrities, and it was excellent (and not unreasonable). Once again, this experience was proof that it’s not just the places you go and the things that you see, it’s the people you meet…!

I should do this in every country, but I had the time and most (but not all) the bills to take pix of Armenian Drams (not be confused with all the other meanings of “dram”). I was particularly moved to do this having learned the story of the guy on the 10,000 dram note: Komitas, a sensitive soul and famous musician who personally archived a whole lotta Armenian folk songs. (Here’s more about Komitas.) Doubtless, the other people on other bills have meaningful stories as well…

The next day, my last in the Caucasus before flying home the next night, I went to Erebuni Fortress. Like Garni, this was suggested by Chris Melekyan, Harut’s Dad. Unlike Garni, which was very well cared for, Erebuni, and the accompanying museum, need a little more love.

However, it is important in Armenian history, and hearkens back to the 8th century BCE. In fact, Yerevan gets its name from Erebuni and you can see that the planned city has a big street leading up to it.

Also, when I was there it was hotter than Hades which made walking through the ruins (exposed on a hilltop) a challenge. But building and ruling Urartu was probably more of a challenge…

It was tricky to find a taxi in the vicinity of Erebuni, but I managed, and went to visit Vernissage, and do a little shopping. Part tourist shops, part local flea market, it really is the best place to get some souvenirs of Armenia. The two selfies were with a couple vendors from whom I bought some items. As with many other places in the world, my favorite souvenirs are photos of souvenirs – it’s like buying everything…?

After Vernissage, I took a walk back to my hotel, stopping in the Beatle’s Pub, and then walked up into the neighborhood on the other side of the street. Nice cars next to sketchy digs…?

My destination on this mini-excursion was Lovers’ Park, and it didn’t disappoint…

A few more views of Yerevan, including my hotel and the street in the evening, before turning in. I was up in the night, off in a taxi, and home to Californa via Frankfurt…

Finally, some pix shared by Pavel post-trip – our group & his girlfriend et al. – and some last snaps heading home…

Always a relief to be home.

Next up? PAFF…

Next trip: So. Am.

Hasta pronto…

Back in Yerevan, same hotel, different room – see the view. Zoom into the second pic and read Saroyan. Blue thing = fountain (see the water frolic). Freshly carved Khachkars (BTW, every one of them is unique – even from centuries ago!)!

And, a walk to our farewell dinner, at which Pavel continued to educate us about the Caucasus…

Now that I’ve been on many Intrepid tours, I’ve had a lot of tour leaders. Here’s Pavel – thanks bro’!

My Intrepid tour over, I signed up for another one. I’d asked some Armenian friends from LAUSD advice, so I took it. Zepure Kivork said to use Hyur Travel Service. Chris Melekyan suggested going to Garni. So, I took a Hyur tour to Garni – and several other places. Just getting started that day…

Our second stop was another monastery – Geghard – featuring caves, carved rooms, and more features of the Armenian Apostolic Church, etc.

Next, we went to an amazing geological site – the “Synphony of Stones” in Garni Gorge, near Garni Temple.

After leaving the gorge, it didn’t take long to get to Garni Temple, identified as a pagan temple built by King Tiridates I in the first century AD as a temple to the sun god Mithra. It was rebuilt after an earthquake, but the adjacent Christian church was not. Also, visited a bath house built during Roman times…

Right after leaving the temple, we went to a restaurant for class on making Lavash, Armenian bread. Mostly, we ate some with herbs and cheese…!

This old Soviet radio/phonography deserved some acknowledgement…

There’s more!

Stay tuned…