Jaquilyn Shumate Photography – Tacoma Portraiture & Collage Art Seattle & Tacoma Editorial & Portrait Photographer

Check back later this week for Part Two: Buenos Aires.

Travis: I lived in northern Argentina from 2003 through 2005 while serving a mission for our church. While living, working and serving there, I fell in love with the culture and the people. I have always longed to return. Fortunately enough, Jaquilyn shared this dream. We’ve wanted to return for years, and like so many dreams, there were always things that got in the way. Earlier this year, we finally made the decision that nothing would get in our way, and we immediately booked tickets.

We knew we couldn’t go without Lucia. It would have been hard to be without her, and we firmly believe that adventures bring families together. We knew we had to do it simply — backpacks, a stroller and our cameras. Nothing else. Our approach was to experience the culture as a family, not tourists. We stayed in apartments and hotels that had a homelike feeling. We established a few goals of what we wanted to see and do, but left our schedule open and flexible for change.

After traveling a full day, we arrived in Buenos Aires. We ate some empanadas and alfajores (gluten free for Jaquilyn) and went to bed. Early the next day we traveled north to Salta, my favorite city in the world. We spent a few wonderful days in Salta and Purmamarca, Jujuy, before returning to Buenos Aires. We ate lots of beef, met up with several friends, hiked, explored and photographed the area. Salta is known for its beauty (Salta la Linda), colonial architecture, indigenous culture and picturesque location at the foot of the Andes. Its people are friendly and warm, hospitable and engaging. Jaquilyn and Lucia fell in love with the city that I adore, and we look forward to our return.



Two lifesavers — our Bob stroller and Tom Bihn Aeronaut backpack.






















Jaquilyn: The greatest orange juice of my life.












The glamorous life of changing diapers.





This kind señora blessed Lucia.












Travis: My good friend, Marito, and his lovely wife Marina.

































Travis: My new friends, Eduardo and Luisina, visiting from Buenos Aires. We bonded over our shared love of Boca Juniors (La Mitad Más Uno!)

















We introduced our iPad to Lucia for the first time on our trip — specifically for times when it would help prevent a meltdown (like a two hour car ride without a carseat, an extremely rare commodity in South America.)




























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Canon 5D mkii and iPhone.