Sketches from South America

The ferry from Montevideo to Buenos Aires had very dirty windows. We couldn't look out on the Rio de la Plata, so I pulled out my sketchbook and drew something from the previous day instead—the café at Alliance Française where we'd stopped for croissants. Saint Germain, it's called. I had a delicious pistachio croissant. The jasmine was blooming outside and there were kids playing in a fountain.

The second sketch happened on our third day in Buenos Aires. We were about to move from our interim hotel to the one Paul's company had booked, but Paul wasn't feeling well so he stayed back to rest. I wanted to walk around a bit, explore the Retiro neighborhood. I found a shady spot with a view of this ornate rooftop—lots of detail, beautiful architecture. Later I learned it was the Palacio San Martín.

The third sketch was done a few days later in El Jardín Botánico. We'd spent the previous day at the Ecoparque seeing animals, which was wonderful but hot hot hot. The botanical garden was shady and cool. I took pictures of a flame tree with red flowers scattered on the ground beneath it, and right after, a group of school kids arrived and got excited about the same flowers, picking them up off the ground. It was really cute.

I sketched the greenhouse—wrought iron and glass, very ornate, housing tropical plants. It was a lovely spot to sit for a while.

I did the fourth sketch near the rose garden in Parque 3 de Febrero. After visiting the rose garden, I went to lunch to get gnocchi at a place I'd read about. Paul was doing work stuff, so I was on my own. While I waited for my food, I pulled out the sketchbook again and drew the alliums surrounding the patio.

I enjoyed a spritz with my gnocchi. Not a bad way to spend an afternoon.