January 3rd seemed like it took forever to arrive...then, the day finally came! By the time 9:00 am rolled around, I had my bags packed and we were headed to the Raleigh- Durham International Airport where I was leaving my parents, for what I was sure was going to be the trip of a lifetime! (Picture to left: Miami, FL night life)
The sun was just beginning to set, and there I landed in Miami, Florida, with a backpack, purse, and a suitcase that was already beginning to show signs of wear and tear, but it didn't hold me back. If only I could find the hotel shuttle, my trip to Argentina with 70 other state officers was going to be official. After 30 minutes of wandering around the packed airport, I found some friendly faces wearing FFA shirts, of which just so happened to fly on the same airplane from RDU as me. The Virginia State officers were smiling, happy, and just as ready for this trip as I was.
Tuesday the 4th we were in orientation all day...learning the rights and wrongs of being in a foreign country, and different mannerisms that would be necessary to know before the next mornings travel. For dinner we dined on the top floor of our hotel where we looked out and saw the lit up skyline of Miami....
Wednesday...FINALLY arrived and we were ready to board the plane and get this trip on a move. 4:30 am is usually greeted with a tired moan and "just 5 more minutes" but not today, everyone was in the lobby waiting to board charter buses....nine hours and a few airplane meals later, the intercom spoke to us with the voice of the piolet "Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to Buenos Aires Argentina...Enjoy your stay!" There was a round of applause as the crowd exited the plane. (picture to the right of a view of the Buenos Aires skyline from Hotel de Presidente Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires Ar
We filed through customs, claimed our baggage, and met our two tour guides, and charter bus drivers...as we drove to our hotel, we were greeted with the Buenos Aires night life, with music on the streets, resturaunts busy with people, and the skyscrapers highlighted with lighting.
Thursday greeted u
s with warm weather and a day full of adventures. We traveled to beautiful Pergamino...visiting a farm dedicated to the production of corn, soybeans, and wheat as well as a full size cattle operation. This farm is owned and operated by Alejandro Calderon, his wife, and three children. He took us to his machinery shed where we were blown away at the modern equipment and the conditions of the area! We ended the day off in the Pampas, in the Sanra Fe province just a few miles from Rosario. (Picture to right: Elizabeth and I with Ms. Calderon and his two children)
s with warm weather and a day full of adventures. We traveled to beautiful Pergamino...visiting a farm dedicated to the production of corn, soybeans, and wheat as well as a full size cattle operation. This farm is owned and operated by Alejandro Calderon, his wife, and three children. He took us to his machinery shed where we were blown away at the modern equipment and the conditions of the area! We ended the day off in the Pampas, in the Sanra Fe province just a few miles from Rosario. (Picture to right: Elizabeth and I with Ms. Calderon and his two children)
Friday's Adventures took us to Terminal 6, one of the world's largest crushing and port terminals. I was thrilled with the opportunity to meet with a Bunge representative where we had the privilege of taking a tour of the Terminal 6 facilities. The afternoon greeted us with a tour on the Parana (Yes, like the fish... :)) River via a cruise boat. The captain took us to a private lagoon, where we had a few hours of free time to swim around and catch some sun rays before heading back to the mainland.
Saturday was spent in the Melincue-Venado Tuerte area and was dedicated to a horse farm known worldwide for their polo pony breeding of stallions and mares! We spent the afternoon on a three generation farm in Santa Isabel where we were served every cut of beef possibly imaginable...After a fun day of travel we went back to the resort to enjoy a little bit of the local life, some of us went canoeing on the river, and some spent some time enjoying the sun at the pool in Melincue. (Picture to Left: Sunny, beautiful, Melincue!)
