Friday, March 20, 2026
Update 22
We are now in Flores, a barrio of BA about 30 minutes from downtown. We came here to volunteer at a day care center sponsored by Mensajeros de la Paz (Messenger of Peace/ M of P). It's not the riches area for sure. We didn't know until we walked in who was served in this center…it's the poor elderly many of them living in the streets, hotel rooms or on someone's couch. The center serves lunch and has activities 3 days a week. The seniors get about $200 a month social security and food is not cheap here. Lujan, the acting director warmly welcomed us & gave us a little background on the center's NGO & needs of those who are served. We will be helping serve lunch & just spend time visiting and our translators made that possible. The ladies happily chatted with me laughing often and telling me about their lives. Rog played triominoes with a couple guys and listened to Leon, who spoke English tell him what he thought of the war in Iran. I found a jenga game on a shelf so had fun playing that with a couple guys. Lunch was spaghetti. We'd eaten before we came so I didn't eat but Rog can always eat. After lunch was cleaned up, a lady came to do Yoga with them. I sat by the oldest lady who was so sleepy that she kept almost falling off her chair. My job was to help her stay on her chair & do as much yoga as possible. Coffee, tea, yogurt & cookies followed and then everyone got back their own plastic take out dish that was filled with tomorrow's lunch. All in all…a good experience. Lujan told us as we were leaving the people were excited to see new faces…us too! It was only about 3:30 when we got back so just walk around the town checking it out. We stopped for a pizza before heading back to our hotel. Our evening entertainment wasn't so great as I got an email saying my storage on my email was full & so I wouldn't be able to send or receive any more email. I tried. Sure enough couldn't. My brilliant Bekah fixed it…after an hour & a half phone call in which she patiently guided her un-techie mom through multiple steps…and she was sick with a crappy cold on top of it! Almost made me sick! How's us old folk suppose to figure out these new fangled technology stuff??? Who do you call?? Ghostbusters?? For me…Bekah!!
The center was closed the next day so we spent time outlining the rest of our trip…kind of. Then we went shopping for games, toys & coloring books to take to the center tomorrow. Also found bubbles & fingernail polish. Bet we'll see lots of smiles tomorrow! Next we headed to the local museum that the website said was open…wrong. Flores is the town where Pope Frances grew up & we did get to go inside the church he attended. It is said he was in the confessional when he was inspired to enter the seminary. Found a spot for dinner & ordered a lasagna to share. As usual, it wasn't what we expected. Picture tough, thick noodles filled with ham, chicken, beef, spices and topped with a creamy white sauce. Rog happily ate more than his share. We played several games of cards before bedtime.
Next day…remember we were excited to see the smiles when we brought the toys & games….wrong again. We got a text about 9 am letting us know there was an electrical problem at the day care center so plan on a short visit. So we were there at 11 when it opened with all our toys….and only 5 elderly, the director & the cook showed up. We did have fun with those 5 while the cook packed up a lunch for them to take home. Everyone left at 1. Lujan apologized many times. So home we go picking up some empanadas for our lunch. Then Rog researched the subway here & an hour later we were headed via subway to go on a tour of the gov't building in BA. Website said tours everyday. No problem getting there but when we came out of the subway tunnel, there was a huge army presence complete with trucks & tall barricades all around the gov't building. We asked if the gov't building was open for tours…got a firm no. Heard chanting & saw TV cameras so figured it was a demonstration. (Later saw coverage on the TV). So we skirted that area & headed for the twin building of one we toured in Montevideo. Had a delicious crepe loaded with dulce de leche & a bowl of ice cream in the restaurant on the 15th floor.
Great view. In 1923 it & its twin were the tallest buildings in South America…but not now. Another easy subway ride took us back to Flores. Subway was clean & pretty quiet except for a couple vendors jumping on & off and a musician playing a harmonica. It always interesting to see how our days will unfold! Gotta be flexible!
Thursday we met Sole in person! I had reached out to Mensajeros de la Paz (M of P) last fall asking about volunteer opportunities. On 12/26, I got a message from Sole asking to set up a virtual call in early January. She is the volunteer coordinator for M of P & spoke English! She'd been an exchange student in Pennsylvania while in high school. (I think she's about 30 now). We hit it off immediately! Since we had already set up volunteering for 3 week with the M of C sisters in Zarate, I asked her to set up another week wherever which is how we ended up in Flores. I'd chatted with her several times while in Argentina. Thursday the day care center is closed so we are spending the day with Sole. We still had some donated funds that friends had given us to spend here so yesterday I asked Sole for ideas. She did some checking & said the most crucial need right now was medication for Ricardo since the state has quit paying for seniors RX. We agreed & so we met Sole & the director of a retirement home at a pharmacy. So yes, we bought lots of drugs in Argentina. Hogar San Jose in Ciudadela is in terrible shape but the 43 residents are very well cared for and treated with much love. We got to meet Ricardo and hear his sad story: he was found in a landfill near dead with no legs three years ago. He knew nothing about his family. Today he is cheerful & one of the most loved residents. He had huge tears in his eyes when Sole told him "our USA friends" had donated money to buy the medicine he needed. He hugged each of us warmly …so I'll pass that hug on to our friends who donated $$ for us to spend as we see needs. (You know who you are!). Because we were visiting, the residents were treated to a Bingo Game. (Imagine Bingo in SLOW MO). I was the first winner and donated my winning candy bar to Ricardo…cause it was his lucky day!! After about an hour, we put away Bingo & dinner was served. The cooks refused to let us help in any way but instead served us a special meal of roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, squash & salad. Then a cake was brought out with one lit candle as today is the 91st birthday of Hogar San Jose. Happy birthday was sung while I danced with the director & a feisty lady danced with Roger. Cake was delicious with Dulce de Leche filling, of course. We visited awhile & then everyone headed to their rooms for a nap. Sole offered to take us to a nice park near her home so off we went. Traffic was horrible & Sole made a wrong turn so it took us over an hour to get there but it was a rewarding time of great conversation. Sole's real job is in international relations and mostly just computer work. She does the volunteer coordinator job as a side job because she loves helping others. Her husband is a Marine officer so they've lived in several places. She loves to travel & with her job, she gets to do lots. She is adding Michigan to her future travel plans! I definitely have an Argentinian friend! Sole dropped us at the park which was lovely. We got cold drinks & some French fries before heading back to our hotel. Several phone calls & a couple games of cards filled up the evening.
Friday was our last day of volunteering at the day care center. We were glad to see 14 show up & had lots of fun playing the new games & coloring. The bubbles & balloons added to the party atmosphere. The cook let me help prepare the Milanese (most common Argentina dish). After she served it, we encouraged everyone to clap for her & blew bubbles at her. She deserved it! When dinner was over, we played more games until a young lady came. She is involved in the theater & volunteers here monthly. Today she read them a story using much expression & then asked them to tell how they relate to the story. (Thank goodness for translators or we'd have no idea what was going on.). One gentleman began to sing & soon many joined in. What a special gift the lady gives! Then it was time for all to say goodbye. We took a group picture, hugged and felt good about our time together. Nothing outstanding but a deep down feel of satisfaction fills my soul.
Tomorrow we'll be back to being tourist.
The center was closed the next day so we spent time outlining the rest of our trip…kind of. Then we went shopping for games, toys & coloring books to take to the center tomorrow. Also found bubbles & fingernail polish. Bet we'll see lots of smiles tomorrow! Next we headed to the local museum that the website said was open…wrong. Flores is the town where Pope Frances grew up & we did get to go inside the church he attended. It is said he was in the confessional when he was inspired to enter the seminary. Found a spot for dinner & ordered a lasagna to share. As usual, it wasn't what we expected. Picture tough, thick noodles filled with ham, chicken, beef, spices and topped with a creamy white sauce. Rog happily ate more than his share. We played several games of cards before bedtime.
Next day…remember we were excited to see the smiles when we brought the toys & games….wrong again. We got a text about 9 am letting us know there was an electrical problem at the day care center so plan on a short visit. So we were there at 11 when it opened with all our toys….and only 5 elderly, the director & the cook showed up. We did have fun with those 5 while the cook packed up a lunch for them to take home. Everyone left at 1. Lujan apologized many times. So home we go picking up some empanadas for our lunch. Then Rog researched the subway here & an hour later we were headed via subway to go on a tour of the gov't building in BA. Website said tours everyday. No problem getting there but when we came out of the subway tunnel, there was a huge army presence complete with trucks & tall barricades all around the gov't building. We asked if the gov't building was open for tours…got a firm no. Heard chanting & saw TV cameras so figured it was a demonstration. (Later saw coverage on the TV). So we skirted that area & headed for the twin building of one we toured in Montevideo. Had a delicious crepe loaded with dulce de leche & a bowl of ice cream in the restaurant on the 15th floor.
Great view. In 1923 it & its twin were the tallest buildings in South America…but not now. Another easy subway ride took us back to Flores. Subway was clean & pretty quiet except for a couple vendors jumping on & off and a musician playing a harmonica. It always interesting to see how our days will unfold! Gotta be flexible!
Thursday we met Sole in person! I had reached out to Mensajeros de la Paz (M of P) last fall asking about volunteer opportunities. On 12/26, I got a message from Sole asking to set up a virtual call in early January. She is the volunteer coordinator for M of P & spoke English! She'd been an exchange student in Pennsylvania while in high school. (I think she's about 30 now). We hit it off immediately! Since we had already set up volunteering for 3 week with the M of C sisters in Zarate, I asked her to set up another week wherever which is how we ended up in Flores. I'd chatted with her several times while in Argentina. Thursday the day care center is closed so we are spending the day with Sole. We still had some donated funds that friends had given us to spend here so yesterday I asked Sole for ideas. She did some checking & said the most crucial need right now was medication for Ricardo since the state has quit paying for seniors RX. We agreed & so we met Sole & the director of a retirement home at a pharmacy. So yes, we bought lots of drugs in Argentina. Hogar San Jose in Ciudadela is in terrible shape but the 43 residents are very well cared for and treated with much love. We got to meet Ricardo and hear his sad story: he was found in a landfill near dead with no legs three years ago. He knew nothing about his family. Today he is cheerful & one of the most loved residents. He had huge tears in his eyes when Sole told him "our USA friends" had donated money to buy the medicine he needed. He hugged each of us warmly …so I'll pass that hug on to our friends who donated $$ for us to spend as we see needs. (You know who you are!). Because we were visiting, the residents were treated to a Bingo Game. (Imagine Bingo in SLOW MO). I was the first winner and donated my winning candy bar to Ricardo…cause it was his lucky day!! After about an hour, we put away Bingo & dinner was served. The cooks refused to let us help in any way but instead served us a special meal of roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, squash & salad. Then a cake was brought out with one lit candle as today is the 91st birthday of Hogar San Jose. Happy birthday was sung while I danced with the director & a feisty lady danced with Roger. Cake was delicious with Dulce de Leche filling, of course. We visited awhile & then everyone headed to their rooms for a nap. Sole offered to take us to a nice park near her home so off we went. Traffic was horrible & Sole made a wrong turn so it took us over an hour to get there but it was a rewarding time of great conversation. Sole's real job is in international relations and mostly just computer work. She does the volunteer coordinator job as a side job because she loves helping others. Her husband is a Marine officer so they've lived in several places. She loves to travel & with her job, she gets to do lots. She is adding Michigan to her future travel plans! I definitely have an Argentinian friend! Sole dropped us at the park which was lovely. We got cold drinks & some French fries before heading back to our hotel. Several phone calls & a couple games of cards filled up the evening.
Friday was our last day of volunteering at the day care center. We were glad to see 14 show up & had lots of fun playing the new games & coloring. The bubbles & balloons added to the party atmosphere. The cook let me help prepare the Milanese (most common Argentina dish). After she served it, we encouraged everyone to clap for her & blew bubbles at her. She deserved it! When dinner was over, we played more games until a young lady came. She is involved in the theater & volunteers here monthly. Today she read them a story using much expression & then asked them to tell how they relate to the story. (Thank goodness for translators or we'd have no idea what was going on.). One gentleman began to sing & soon many joined in. What a special gift the lady gives! Then it was time for all to say goodbye. We took a group picture, hugged and felt good about our time together. Nothing outstanding but a deep down feel of satisfaction fills my soul.
Tomorrow we'll be back to being tourist.
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