Hey, everybody, I’m back! Hope this message finds all of you well in the new year. Here’s a recap of what we have been up to, in case you’ve missed my many Instagram posts between mid-December and now.
The end of any year is an intense time for my family and me, and writing my blog has gotten short shrift as of late. In Argentina, school lets out for the summer in December, after extensive exams for the older ones, and our kids have vacation for three months. Add to that equation celebrating the holidays with special traditions and activities, and you’ve got yourself a full plate!
Snow Polo, Stretches of Beach and Fam First
If you follow me on Instagram, you will have seen that Nacho, Artemio, Alba and I went to Aspen right before Christmas for the St. Regis world snow polo event. While Nacho participated in that, I was feeling honored at a beautifully curated exhibition of my photographs at Taylor Daine Goulet Gallery of Aspen.
Our little foursome left the Colorado snow to join Hilario and Aurora for Christmas. Nacho’s family was waiting for us on the long stretches of beautiful beach in Jose Ignacio, Uruguay. It’s a surfers’ paradise and the ideal destination for unwinding.
For New Year’s Eve off we all went with my mom to our farm, “La Ilusión,” where we keep our baby and green horses.
It felt important to spend a longish stretch of quality time with all parts of our family, since we travel so extensively most of the year. Work is a priority for me but as I repeatedly avow, family must always come first.
His Own Story
At the end of the year we said adios until mid-March to my eldest son Hilario who has just turned 18. He will spend the American winter in Palm Beach playing polo on our horses with our friends from Virginia, Bill and Darrin Ballhaus, who own the polo team Beverly Equestrian.
The fact that Hilario is not going to be with us all the time anymore is a little like someone pouring ice water down my neck! A shock to the system. But looking on the bright side, it’s natural and good that he has begun to write his own story. We keep in touch a lot, happily, and I’ll have the solace of seeing him in person as soon as next week. Every little bit of contact is a blessing with kids this age, right?
January 2018, Wellington Florida
Queensland and Patagonia Adventures
As if all these goings on weren’t enough, in early January Nacho took Aurora with him to the Magic Millions Polo event in Queensland, Australia. Then they went on to Sydney for a dad-daughter adventure Down Under. Check out Nacho’s IG { here } for some fun pics.
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- Nacho Figueras in action (yellow)
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- Hugh Bowman and Nacho Figueras
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- MAGIC MILLIONS POLO AT THE SPIT ,MAIN BEACH NACHO FIGUERAS IN ACTION
While the two of them were away, I took Artemio and Alba to Patagonia, where I hadn’t been since I was a teenager, for a Blaquier family reunion. My dad, my siblings, and my stepbrother and stepsister were all there with their families in tow.
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- the kids hiking with us
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- me and my dad
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- after swimming in the ice cold creek
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- riding the mountains
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- eternal snow even in summer
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- a little chapel on the foot of the lake
During the Patagonia stay, I was able to slip away to scale peaks on horseback on my own. It was an exciting and memorable adventure for me, and I can’t wait to do it again soon with Nacho. Did you see the additional images of the jaw-dropping Patagonia scenery that I posted on IG?
Hunkered Down
All of us except Hilario are currently hunkered down at La Ilusión for awhile, getting back to the basics of our life. Nacho, Aurora, Artemio and Alba are playing chukkers (a period of seven-and-half minutes of polo), with us, and Nacho and I are training our horses to become polo players.
When I’m alone, I spend big chunks of time blissfully working in our young stone fruit orchard and being with our beloved horses. We relish being in this place where Nacho and I dream of living when we’re older, with our kids and, we hope, their kids and their kids’ kids!
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Dear Delfina , I enjoy your stories so much , I never had children not by choice but I’m ok with that because I know god gave me other gifts that I treasure , I love nature and animals I draw paint read and try to enjoy life to its fullest, you inspire me to be a better me . Your positive outlook is so refreshing. I am in the mist of publishing my children’s books and the horse who wore glasses will be my first. That is the one I sent you and soon it will be in book format this I am excited about . I hope to see you again this summer be well see you on Instagram xo love lisa
YOu are my favorite person to follow on instagram. don’t tell Nacho, whose account is nice but not quite like yours. I’m so happy to find this page now to read more. I had an Argentinian boyfriend long ago and traveled to Cordoba before I married my now Greek husband and I love Argentina. I teach communication and media studies and am teaching a class on social media in democracies right now which has me consumed with trying to understand how digital tech is shifting us as people and as a society. The sheer fact that I am writing this long post to you, a woman I’ve never met, but yet feel I know because I follow on Instagram, is fascinating to me. Well anyway, thought I’d say hi! I never post or comment online but felt compelled for some reason. thanks for keeping my Instagram feed light and fun!
Hi!! how nice of you to say hello!
social media is changing constantly and changing our society so much. I sometimes fear it will isolate us in side a whole community and that we will only live thru the screen. I find myself sometimes too absorbed on the phone and try to limit it as much as possible the use of phones at home or in certain situations (dinner/lunch) I find is curucial to not loose eye contact.
we will have to adjust to this new era.
x
Hi! NOw that’s a bundle of wonderful adventures!! If I had to pick one for me I wouldn’t know what to choose! Hmmm… perhaps horseback riding in Patagoina. I’d Love to go! I also love chilling in that orchard/cornucopia you have in your farm (my one yet-fabulous plant is outside in the cold… sigh, and my h took over the succulents…)
Hang in there with your son and his own camino, he looks like a great kid, enthusiastic and ready! Big hugs to you when you feel that ice water situation. I remember when I was a college prof. My Freshmen (18 yr olds) were always so excited when their parents went to see them. I remember one time even seeing a golden retriever who came along with the parents to visit in “parents weelkend” (once a semester in the US) lol, people are amazing.
Thanks for sharing your adventures. Theyr’e fun!
Xo,
L.