We started the day by seeking out a language school because we want to take Spanish lessons (Translation: I NEED to take Spanish lessons).  I feel like all I do is listen, smile, say "Sí" or "Está Bien."  Maybe I'm exaggerating a bit.

We then went to La Universidad Nacional de Córdoba- the National University of Córdoba, and found the lab where we will be working while we are here.  Valería, Andrea, and Pía are all PhD students that will be working with us and teaching us what to do.  We got to the lab early so we asked Valeria and Pia (in broken Spanish) what restaurants around the school are good.   They were very sweet and walked us to a favorite of theirs called Alfonsia.

I ordered Ňoquis de Papas or potato Gnocchi.  I figured that I wasn't being picky by choosing a food that is relatively familiar to me because a lot of Argentines are of Italian descent, so Italian food therefore, is Argentine food. I also had seen Giada de Laurentiis make them on the Food Network and had always wanted to try them- they were good and enough for lunch the next day.  The Ňoquis were thicker and softer than a regular noodle and the bolonese sauce was good.  

I had read in the travel book before coming that being a waiter in Argentina is a profession, not just a job to get you through school; it is very obvious by the service that this is true.  When ordering drinks (specifying with ice) they bring them on a nice tray, the ice in a bucket with tongs, they set each drink down one at a time, place the glasses down, open each bottle of water and pour separately. The whole process is kind of graceful and relaxed- very unlike a rushed American waiter trying to get the food out before people complain.  The waiters also take the leftover food into the back and package it up nicely for you- it doesn't appear to matter whether or not the restaurant is a fancy place or a student hang-out.

We went back to the lab after lunch and met Valeria, Andrea and Dr. Sérsic.  We spent time talking (or at least trying to) and getting to know one another before they started to outline what our individual projects are.  Everyone seems really nice and willing to help us with the language- they know enough English, and we know enough Spanish to get the basic idea.

After we finished at the lab, we walked around some of the many shops and came upon the church/cathedral of San Francisco.

It was very beautiful- there were pigeons in the courtyard, and people dozing on the benches under the shade.

The inside was very beautiful (for course credit one of my "tasks" will be to research Baroque/Neoclassical architecture so I can sound like I'm somewhat educated when I report back on my day).

We started in the general direction of La Plaza San Martin (where we were yesterday) and found a really neat store with wallets, purses, bombillos de mate (more on mate later), and a bunch of other neat things all made in Argentina.   I found a nice leather wallet for about 13 US dollars- which is great because it was made with genuine Argentine leather- I'm holding out for the right purse.  A big, fancy, leather purse.  We met a very nice gentleman (50s or 60s) who asked where we were from, told me I was "linda" (lovely) and gave us each a friendly kiss on cheek when he left.  I like Argentina, it's good for my ego.

We walked passed a confecteria and Amanda stopped for a pastry and I a water because let's face it, I do not need to be eating pastries, ice creams and fancy desserts every time I turn a corner.

I did steal a bite though... it was chocolate and dulce de leche with a flaky, fattening crust.

This is a view of the road we take to get home from down town.  

On our way home, we got our first catcall from a car full of guys while we were waiting to cross a busy intersection....