A few days at San Martin.

Sunday, August 23rd 2026

Dear Reader,

My days at San Martín were gentle and soothing. They went something like this: wake up, get a cup of hot coffee which Adrien had already made and was enjoying by the fire in the office. Roll out my yoga mat and do some stretching. Then have breakfast, go on a walk, and get to work.

Lunch provided a welcome break. Afterwards, I’d lie down on the sofa for a while with my feet up reading the novel I picked up at the airport: Bel Canto by Ann Patchett. In the afternoons I’d practice piano, and do my voice exercises.

The parrots provided a steady sound track to my days. Hundreds of them perched in the trees, squawking and screeching at each other all day long.

Adrien took me to see the field of mustard flowers. Bees buzzed around the yellow flowers filling up on pollen to take back to their hives across the river.

The air was full of the sound of their buzzing.

The buzzing bees.

We’ve just gotten back to Salta. It’s slightly cloudy, though not cold thankfully. Tomorrow morning we have to meet with our immigration lawyer. We have a few more things to attend to before leaving again on Thursday for Gualfín. We’ll spend the weekend there because the patron feast day is to be celebrated on Saturday.

Crossing the Calchaqui River on the way back to Salta.

More to come.

Abrazos.

Mariah