Today, I took my first day trip out of Buenos Aires.
I went to see gauchos, South American cowboys, at Don Silvano Ranch, just 60 km outside the city.
The day trip took me to a cowboy ranch full of horses and people in cowboy outfits.
Most of the people there were mainly Spanish-speaking, with a few Germans and very few who spoke English. So, I just followed the crowd and communicated with gestures.
We were welcomed with a small pastry and a glass of wine. Then, we went for a ride on some rather large donkeys. I assume the laws are quite different from those in the UK because we rode without helmets, but I was fine, as always. The ride followed a circular route around the ranch.
Afterward, we had about 45 minutes to explore and take some photos. The ranch felt very authentic, with old tractors and farming equipment that added to its charm.
When the free time ended, we were taken into some old buildings and shown how they make the beds. The talk included a brief discussion about the country’s famous drink, mate, which is like herbal tea.
Next, we had an Argentinian BBQ that included plenty of steak, chicken, and sausages. The beef looked nice, though it was a bit tough to enjoy. While we ate, the staff entertained us with music and tango dancing.
After the meal, I decided to join in and dance. Everyone clapped, and a girl came up to dance with me. And, of course, I couldn’t communicate with her—“Do you speak English?” “No.”
After the meal, we had another half hour to take photos, and I came across a small shop inside an authentic tram, straight out of a Western movie.
After a great day, the gaucho horse show began. It featured horse racing on barren land where the dirt turned into clouds of dust. The racers were lassoing objects and hitting a flag. I took a video of it.
During the event, the main rider said that if a girl kissed the horse, she would also need to kiss the rider.
Throughout the day, I was using Google Translate a lot, and people seemed to enjoy it.
There was also a school trip at the ranch with juniors who had come for the day.
On the ride home, I continued communicating with the others through Google Translate.