I arrived and the bus ride was pleasant. I suppose being waited on, with wine, and reclining chairs make a huge difference. My only problem is my damn long legs. Can´t do too much without more leg space. I did sleep and the bus wasn´t full and overall, I would recommend bussing around Argentina. I did watch some stupid movies, though...De ja vu, Die Hard 4, and Little Man--this one was in spanish and dubbed in spanish, too. It made no difference, it was a retarded movie.
I leave for the wine region on Saturday mostly since I want to maximize my time there. I bought my bus tickets, all in spanish and felt very proud of myself. I found a hostel where they speak english and it almost feels like cheating. There were two older ladies traveling together but they weren´t too hip on the 4th story flight or the space factor in the rooms. They were a little too negative on life for me, but they left.
Bariloche is renowned for its chocolate and of course, the lake. Let me tell you...from where I am sitting, it is amazing. I hope to sleep late tomorrow and enjoy a beautiful day and then head to Mendoza on Saturday. My spanish is improving because it has to. The know it all from yesterday doesn´t speak good spanish is what I realized when I left. She has been traveling in South America since November and so I felt bad for her that it is almost February and she can´t communicate well with others. That is probably why she talked my ear off and made me crazy.
On a side note--Happy Birthday, Dave Beemer....I e-mailed you early, but of course, the public notice was necessary. Remember, I always have the day right!!!
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
trade offs...
In exchange for an item i was in desparate need of, I had to listen to this chick talk about herself for the past 4 hours. She is never wrong. I think I would like to send her a book called--for those of us who are never wrong and love to hear ourselves talk. Seriously, she is making me crazy. And of course, she isn´t ancient--she told me this last night--she´s just 23. Lovely!
I am off to the south with a new agenda and positive happy thoughts of better people. I understand common courtesy, but no, not everyone wants to listen to your opinions of what you think you know all of the time. She had a view of everything and wouldn´t contemplate a difference. Frustrating...enough of the negativity.
I had a pleasant evening with the lovely Braziliian girl and shared a bottle of wine. She is interesting and I liked that she made me feel comfortable with my spanish. I am definitely being forced to learn more.
Ciao!!!
I am off to the south with a new agenda and positive happy thoughts of better people. I understand common courtesy, but no, not everyone wants to listen to your opinions of what you think you know all of the time. She had a view of everything and wouldn´t contemplate a difference. Frustrating...enough of the negativity.
I had a pleasant evening with the lovely Braziliian girl and shared a bottle of wine. She is interesting and I liked that she made me feel comfortable with my spanish. I am definitely being forced to learn more.
Ciao!!!
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
solo en espanol...
I am trying to think in spanish as a way to help my vocabularly-understanding. It is a bit frustrating that no one speaks english, but in the long run, it is very helpful to me. I mean, really, I have 6 more weeks here and should be a pro by the time I return to Denver. Watch out Bull & Bush kitchen---i will now understand your insults-mockeries.
I met a couple from New Jersey today at the Museum of Fine Arts. They were retired and mentioned that they had met several people from the US and were surprised. I am not. I mean, the dollar is strong here and it makes sense to travel here. Plus, they are in an area where everyone is a tourist, thus, they run across many native english speakers. For example, there are Christian Dior Stores, Hugo Boss, etc in the Recoleta. Yes, it is trendy and yes there are Americans. I prefer the more native route with locals.
I went to the Evita Museum and it was brilliant. I read the text in Spanish and enjoyed the tribute to Eva Peron. I am convinced that I need to read more spanish and I will improve. I am hoping to meet Shari in Costa Rica and have no issues with the language. I want her to drive though. I am a horrible manual driver and fear for other drivers when I am on the road!!!
Maybe I will dream in spanish tonight.
Manana, yo ir a sur para 24 horas....very fun for me. I will miss you all, but hopefully will check this before I leave. My bus leaves at 1 pm....
I met a couple from New Jersey today at the Museum of Fine Arts. They were retired and mentioned that they had met several people from the US and were surprised. I am not. I mean, the dollar is strong here and it makes sense to travel here. Plus, they are in an area where everyone is a tourist, thus, they run across many native english speakers. For example, there are Christian Dior Stores, Hugo Boss, etc in the Recoleta. Yes, it is trendy and yes there are Americans. I prefer the more native route with locals.
I went to the Evita Museum and it was brilliant. I read the text in Spanish and enjoyed the tribute to Eva Peron. I am convinced that I need to read more spanish and I will improve. I am hoping to meet Shari in Costa Rica and have no issues with the language. I want her to drive though. I am a horrible manual driver and fear for other drivers when I am on the road!!!
Maybe I will dream in spanish tonight.
Manana, yo ir a sur para 24 horas....very fun for me. I will miss you all, but hopefully will check this before I leave. My bus leaves at 1 pm....
with sleep...
Yesterday, I contemplated the rest of my time in Argentina. It was raining and so all I wanted to do was curl up with a good book and sleep/rest away the day. Instead, I went to lunch and was told that this woman could not understand that I wanted a menu in spanish. I asked her what the appropriate word was and she looked at me with no expression. I tried to ask a different way with the same result. Remember that I am speaking spanish here and so it is frustrating with my vocabularly. I knew that this woman was being difficult and so I left for a different place.
Later, I decided to stay at the hostel for a few more days and they let me switch into a room with a window and fan. i loved the coolness and found myself sleeping the rest of the afternoon away. It was raining and the museums that i wanted to go to were closed. I intend to go to the Evita Museum as well as the Fine Arts Museum. I look forward to doing that today after my trip to the bus station. I am looking at a 24 hour bus ride south. Can´t wait. I know that it will be spectacular. I just need to figure out when I will leave and possibly my return date to secure a bed at this hostel. The people are super nice and they have been patient with my spanish/english communication. In some ways, I wish that I could extend my trip solely for the purpose of learning more spanish. I would be forced to since no one speaks english here.
I met a guy from Chicago last night and immediately asked him if he had been to the Map Room. He said no and so I told to check it out when he returned to the States. I had a blast there last year, and like the owners as well. Brandon and Mark have always been wonderful to me and so of course, I will send people to their bar as much as possible.
I also spent about 3 hours with a Braziliian girl, named Renatta. She is super nice and helped me with my conversation skills. I definitely understand more than i can speak and so it was nice practice for me to speak with a person who was nice and patient. I felt comfortable stumbling through the translations. I think we are going to meet for some wine later today and hopefully I will continue to learn the arts of spanish.
Well, I am off to douse myself with OFF and have a medialuna for breakfast. Take care and enjoy some strong coffee. They have not made me a decent cup yet.
Later, I decided to stay at the hostel for a few more days and they let me switch into a room with a window and fan. i loved the coolness and found myself sleeping the rest of the afternoon away. It was raining and the museums that i wanted to go to were closed. I intend to go to the Evita Museum as well as the Fine Arts Museum. I look forward to doing that today after my trip to the bus station. I am looking at a 24 hour bus ride south. Can´t wait. I know that it will be spectacular. I just need to figure out when I will leave and possibly my return date to secure a bed at this hostel. The people are super nice and they have been patient with my spanish/english communication. In some ways, I wish that I could extend my trip solely for the purpose of learning more spanish. I would be forced to since no one speaks english here.
I met a guy from Chicago last night and immediately asked him if he had been to the Map Room. He said no and so I told to check it out when he returned to the States. I had a blast there last year, and like the owners as well. Brandon and Mark have always been wonderful to me and so of course, I will send people to their bar as much as possible.
I also spent about 3 hours with a Braziliian girl, named Renatta. She is super nice and helped me with my conversation skills. I definitely understand more than i can speak and so it was nice practice for me to speak with a person who was nice and patient. I felt comfortable stumbling through the translations. I think we are going to meet for some wine later today and hopefully I will continue to learn the arts of spanish.
Well, I am off to douse myself with OFF and have a medialuna for breakfast. Take care and enjoy some strong coffee. They have not made me a decent cup yet.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Palermo
I met Gretchen and her two boys in the Palermo yesterday. I decided to walk there since it was a beautiful day and because I figure that i can learn more about the city by walking. I found this cute little cheese shop with wine which ultimately drew me in after our lunch. No cheese, but the wine was fantastic!
She took me to the Palermo which is an up and coming area in Buenos Aires. It was trendy, hip and I felt out of place in my traveling clothes with my back pack. Not much to comment on here. I am almost ready to burn most of my belongings, but for now, I need them.
Anyways, lunch was great and i enjoyed meeting Bryn´s cousin. I know her sister, Heidi, from Denver and it made me homesick for not only family, but friends, too. My friend, Teja from Slovenia, told me that at the 3 month mark, she was homesick and I think she is right. I definitely had twinges of wanting to see familiar people in my life. Plus, I miss some of the most mundane things--Burt´s Bees face cream, good peanut butter, shampoo and yes, normal feminine hygiene products. They do not have the ones that i prefer here. I understand the not having organic ones available, but couldn´t they at least have some variety?
Today, I hope to go to the Eva Peron museum and walk around the Recoleta area and figure out when I will head to the Mendoza. I would like to go to Iguaza Falls, but OFF is doing nothing in terms of protecting me against mosquitoes. I am a walking advertisement for bites at this point. Any suggestions on how to end this crisis???
Enjoy the snow and cold. The weather here is humid and very much like growing up in the midwest for summers. I prefer a more dry heat, you know???
She took me to the Palermo which is an up and coming area in Buenos Aires. It was trendy, hip and I felt out of place in my traveling clothes with my back pack. Not much to comment on here. I am almost ready to burn most of my belongings, but for now, I need them.
Anyways, lunch was great and i enjoyed meeting Bryn´s cousin. I know her sister, Heidi, from Denver and it made me homesick for not only family, but friends, too. My friend, Teja from Slovenia, told me that at the 3 month mark, she was homesick and I think she is right. I definitely had twinges of wanting to see familiar people in my life. Plus, I miss some of the most mundane things--Burt´s Bees face cream, good peanut butter, shampoo and yes, normal feminine hygiene products. They do not have the ones that i prefer here. I understand the not having organic ones available, but couldn´t they at least have some variety?
Today, I hope to go to the Eva Peron museum and walk around the Recoleta area and figure out when I will head to the Mendoza. I would like to go to Iguaza Falls, but OFF is doing nothing in terms of protecting me against mosquitoes. I am a walking advertisement for bites at this point. Any suggestions on how to end this crisis???
Enjoy the snow and cold. The weather here is humid and very much like growing up in the midwest for summers. I prefer a more dry heat, you know???
Sunday, January 27, 2008
heat + mossies=no sleep....
I relocated to a hostel about 2 blocks from the first one. I like it here, but it is so flipping hot that I cannot sleep. I feel, at times, that I am on a safari and will not be cool again.
I explored part of the city yesterday after my siesta. I am able to sleep during the day due to the quiet and coolness of the hostel. I think since everyone parties here at night that it is due to rising body temperatures. Anyways, I walked to the Plaza de mayo which was the meeting place for the mothers and grandmothers who wanted to know where the disappeared were during the Dirty Wars of the 80's. To me it is a sacred place, filled with emotion, inspiration and history. I started walking there and most of the streets were blocked off which I felt was odd since it was a saturday night. Anyways, as I approached the plaza, I see Jonathan Rhys Meyer, an actor, and realize that they are filming a movie in front of the plaza and that is why they have blocked off the road. I was surprised and felt it was wrong only due to the importance of that particular plaza to me.
I enjoyed watching people approach the plaza and be moderately confused as to why the streets were blocked off.
I had awesome pizza the other night, near my hostel. It was awesome and super cheap. I think that it was 85 cents a slice.
I am figuring out when I will head to the Mendoza as well as when I will go to Cordoba or Iguiza Falls. It is a quandary since there is so much to do and I only have 3 weeks.
I am meeting Gretchen today. She is a distant relative and I am excited to speak english with someone from the states. Although I met some others from New Jersey yesterday and they basically annoyed me since they refused to try to speak spanish. Actually, they assumed as I was from here which i did not understand. I mean, i have not met many tall blonds from Argentina. Most people assume that I am German which works out sometimes. I can just act like I do not understand when they approach me with i love you...Well, take care. I am enjoying the free internet provided by most hostels as well as the breakfast. For the most part, everything is fantastic in that realm.
Cheers!!!
I explored part of the city yesterday after my siesta. I am able to sleep during the day due to the quiet and coolness of the hostel. I think since everyone parties here at night that it is due to rising body temperatures. Anyways, I walked to the Plaza de mayo which was the meeting place for the mothers and grandmothers who wanted to know where the disappeared were during the Dirty Wars of the 80's. To me it is a sacred place, filled with emotion, inspiration and history. I started walking there and most of the streets were blocked off which I felt was odd since it was a saturday night. Anyways, as I approached the plaza, I see Jonathan Rhys Meyer, an actor, and realize that they are filming a movie in front of the plaza and that is why they have blocked off the road. I was surprised and felt it was wrong only due to the importance of that particular plaza to me.
I enjoyed watching people approach the plaza and be moderately confused as to why the streets were blocked off.
I had awesome pizza the other night, near my hostel. It was awesome and super cheap. I think that it was 85 cents a slice.
I am figuring out when I will head to the Mendoza as well as when I will go to Cordoba or Iguiza Falls. It is a quandary since there is so much to do and I only have 3 weeks.
I am meeting Gretchen today. She is a distant relative and I am excited to speak english with someone from the states. Although I met some others from New Jersey yesterday and they basically annoyed me since they refused to try to speak spanish. Actually, they assumed as I was from here which i did not understand. I mean, i have not met many tall blonds from Argentina. Most people assume that I am German which works out sometimes. I can just act like I do not understand when they approach me with i love you...Well, take care. I am enjoying the free internet provided by most hostels as well as the breakfast. For the most part, everything is fantastic in that realm.
Cheers!!!
Friday, January 25, 2008
continuation
I was distracted yesterday and so I forgot to mention a few things...
Worst rip off--
the shuttle to the airport from the backpackers. I arranged to be taken for 120 rand and so I left at 5 pm. Had I left at 6, it would have been 150 rand ($26). The guy drove like a maniac or like one of the black taxi´s taxi driver and when he dropped me off, he demanded 150 rand. I told him that I was told it was 120 and he said, I was wrong and that he was owed the money. It angered me but I had no recourse since I wasn´t given a receipt.
I took a few other cabs and really, I was taken in all of them. I overtipped and mostly did it to ensure that I would make it to my destination without being mugged or left in some shady area. I met locals who said they never tipped cabbies since they would get lost in order to increase the fare. I am not agreeing with that, but I know that I stood out as a definite tourist in these situations.
Best sandwich--
a shop on Long Street with a red awning. It was ham and cheese with dijon mustard and olive bread. It was all fresh and an amazing sandwich, really.
Best wine shop-- wine concepts in Stellenbosch. Remember that is where I got intoxicated at the wine tasting. It was awesome. I met great people and we danced. They just opened their establishment in November and I believe that they will be successful.
Best night of sleep-Stellenbosch backpackers
Best night of sleep on Long STreet--my last night when i watched basketball and was able to finally cool off.
Cheapest internet connectiono--5 rand an hour on Long Market Street, past the green market square, super cheap and the connection was fast.
There are ample markets, shops and book stores scattered along Long Street. i wouldn´t recommend staying there for those of you who appreciate sleep. I loved the atmosphere and had a blast. Of course, the dollar being favorable helped and I could have extended my stay there easily.
Well, now I am back to reality. I will relocate to a new hostel near the hotel. They offer tango lessons, free breakfast and internet. I hope to extend my stay there and also make time for a ride to Uruguay and the Mendoza. I have options and time, I just need to do it.
My boss is tying the knot tomorrow. Congratulations Dave and Lisa on your upcoming nuptials. Have fun and enjoy Hawaaii!!!
Worst rip off--
the shuttle to the airport from the backpackers. I arranged to be taken for 120 rand and so I left at 5 pm. Had I left at 6, it would have been 150 rand ($26). The guy drove like a maniac or like one of the black taxi´s taxi driver and when he dropped me off, he demanded 150 rand. I told him that I was told it was 120 and he said, I was wrong and that he was owed the money. It angered me but I had no recourse since I wasn´t given a receipt.
I took a few other cabs and really, I was taken in all of them. I overtipped and mostly did it to ensure that I would make it to my destination without being mugged or left in some shady area. I met locals who said they never tipped cabbies since they would get lost in order to increase the fare. I am not agreeing with that, but I know that I stood out as a definite tourist in these situations.
Best sandwich--
a shop on Long Street with a red awning. It was ham and cheese with dijon mustard and olive bread. It was all fresh and an amazing sandwich, really.
Best wine shop-- wine concepts in Stellenbosch. Remember that is where I got intoxicated at the wine tasting. It was awesome. I met great people and we danced. They just opened their establishment in November and I believe that they will be successful.
Best night of sleep-Stellenbosch backpackers
Best night of sleep on Long STreet--my last night when i watched basketball and was able to finally cool off.
Cheapest internet connectiono--5 rand an hour on Long Market Street, past the green market square, super cheap and the connection was fast.
There are ample markets, shops and book stores scattered along Long Street. i wouldn´t recommend staying there for those of you who appreciate sleep. I loved the atmosphere and had a blast. Of course, the dollar being favorable helped and I could have extended my stay there easily.
Well, now I am back to reality. I will relocate to a new hostel near the hotel. They offer tango lessons, free breakfast and internet. I hope to extend my stay there and also make time for a ride to Uruguay and the Mendoza. I have options and time, I just need to do it.
My boss is tying the knot tomorrow. Congratulations Dave and Lisa on your upcoming nuptials. Have fun and enjoy Hawaaii!!!
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