The COLD has settled

Now, with the word cold, you might think I mean the weather, because I often talk about the weather.  This time, I'm talking about the annoying sniffles, headache, and slight cough type of cold.  Yes, I picked one up somewhere in the last few days.  Of course, starting with just a sore throat and now taking its time moving through my head.  Charlie (the other half of this crazy adventure) has told me, April, it's stress.  He says, we have one important thing come up and you obsess over it and get sick.  Just because that has happened a few times, doesn't make him right.  But, in this case, he's right.  I have learned since leaving the U.S. that my body really dislikes stress.  I guess while living in the U.S. with my fast paced jobs and life, I never took time to realize. Now, however, my body is used to a different lifestyle, one that involves very little stress. It expresses its extreme dislike for stressful periods by making me sick.  

Starting with that, it leads me to talk about healthcare here because that was a major question and concern with Charlie and I living in Argentina.  Our first encounter with the health care system was back in May of 2008.  We had just arrived with a full car, 2 siberian huskies, ready and excited to move to Cafayate.  We were lucky to find a wonderful place to stay for a few days a little outside of town, Cabanas Don Rene (I would highly recommend to anyone wanting an actual little house with kitchen, several bedrooms and room to roam around in the desert) while we secured a more long term rental.  Unfortunately, on day 3, Charlie got sick.  So sick, we had to make a trip to the emergency room at 2 a.m.  We arrived at the new hospital just on the edge of Cafayate and as soon as we entered they took him right in, not even asking for documents, insurance or anything. The doctor saw him immediately and started treatment.  The hospital was very clean and comfortable as we stayed in one of the rooms for the next 7 hours.  They were attentive, the only thing I kept having to ask for was toilet paper and water.  Everything settled down fine and we left with only  $90 peso (or about $30 U.S.)  bill.  Which, in the U.S., with an emergency room visit, overnight stay at the hospital - I hate to even think about the bill!

The moral of the story, our first experience with the hospital and healthcare system was very favorable.  Likewise, we have friends that moved here from Canada that recently had an emergency room experience and they were pleasantly surprised and happy about the service, cleanliness, and attentiveness of the hospital and its staff.  

Beautiful Cafayate - Sunny day with clouds rolling in

It's 1p.m. and I'm sitting outside on the patio at Restaurante Colorado.  I just finished a fresh salad and am now playing on the computer watching as the afternoon clouds crawl in.  How can life be better?   It has been raining quite a bit lately, the Cafayateans say it is very strange. Being my first summer here, I have nothing to compare it to, but just as the day peaks its sunny hottnes, the clouds roll in and cool everything down with an afternoon shower and then the evening breaks the afternoon clouds and the stars shine bright for a perfect "fresca" evening.  Some say it's the best climate in the world.  I have yet to travel the entire world, so I hesitate to confirm this but I'll have to say, I have not been disappointed.  Even the amazing hail storm (again extremely rare) we had the other day was awesome in its severity.  Nature making sure we all understand who is really the boss.  Sadly, hail is a unwanted enemy of vines and vineyards and since we are in the middle of vineyard country, it is sad to see the leaves crushed and the almost harvestable grapes drooping on the vines, destroyed for this years harvest.  A small square of the town was hit hard; vineyards, flowers, and gardens alike.  With the rain though, the surrounding mountains, usually dry and more brown than green, are lush and rivers that are named seca (dry) for a reason are running high, at times almost kayakable.  Well, as time continues to eek closer to 2 p.m., it's time for me to enjoy one of the best (and at times frustrating) times in Argentina, siesta.