The last weeks of Janaury

The end of the month...already such great experiences here...

To start, Uruguay was a dream.

After several hours of planning, “the girls” and I left Buenos Aires last Thursday, ready to escape the city for the beach. The trip started with an hour ferry ride from Buenos Aires, across the massive river “Rio de la Plata” to the city of Colonia, Uruguay. We immediately hoped on a bus for a 4-hour ride the city of Montevideo. We spent the night in a comfy hostel on a busy street- my official entrance into the world of hostelling. Woke up the next morning to catch another 4 hour bus up the eastern side of the surprisingly very small country of Uruguay to our final destination- Punta del Diablo, a old fishing port turned cute, quaint, beach town. We arrived around noon in this “whoa-cool-this-is-gonna-be great,-look-at-the beach!” haven, and started are search for accommodation i.e walking throughout the beach houses and poking our heads in asking if they knew of anywhere to stay. At one point we were on the search for someone skinny with long hair named Estaban who seemed to have several places for rent. We never found him, but we did wander up to a nice guy whose girlfriend’s mom rented a house on the other side of town. Perfect. We ended up in funky house 10 mins from the beach with the nicest and most helpful neighbors. The next two days were a blur of sunbathing, long walks, hours of spanish study, good conversation, seafood filled empanadas, incredible swims, windy, sandy days and cool nights. On Sunday, we returned to Colonia via Montevideo with a few hours to spare before our ferry left back to B.A. I took off to explore the streets. This city is named for its colonial style buildings, left over from those great Spaniards. It was such a fun hour of finding the greatest little areas with incredible restaurants, lots of cute-moped-riding couples, and beach view of a great sunset.

(See pictures on facebook)

We arrived back in BA in the wee hours of the morning and ramped up for the week of classes. The week was marked by intensive study for our final exam with a few great outings to museums,shops and a few new restaurants.

As of yesterday,I am finished with my January course. I received my passing grade and took that classic class picture with the professor. All too cute. 2 of “my girls”, the Australians are going back home in the next few days, so the 4 of us celebrated and said goodbye last night. Marks the end a fantastic month, lots of memories with the girls, rich time in the country. February awaits.

Things done, places been...

Some things I have done in the last week...or so...

-Tried their local beer Quilmes: quite good.
-Went to the city of Tigre - a small town north of Buenos Aires. Took a river taxi up for a few miles and stop in the little neighborhoods and such along the way. Spent the whole day with Joanne and another crazy Australian lady in a little town called Tres Bocas: a network of houses along the river with such a chill vacation-y feel. No cars, just little paths, through the trees and bridges along the stream to get from one house to the next. Everyone was fishing or swimming, boating or kayaking, laying out. Such an amazing relaxing time. We had a great meal there and just sat in lawn chairs by the river.
-Spent a morning with Elsa walking in park and talking.
-Went to the artsy little town of San Telmo full of old colonial buildings and a great market.
-Listened to Tango and watched the dancers in the streets
-Saw the "Pink House" which is their White House and the Plaza de Mayo where much of the political movement takes place. 
-Went out with "the girls" to try a few new restaurants.
-Saw a two different crazy, rhythmic, Stomp-like dance/drumming performance that were incredible.

-Went to the famous town of La Boca- a southern neighborhood in the city- great tango dancing, historic houses and a fun market.

Some funny little things I have noticed:
-Soda water is the norm. You have to specify if you don't want bubbles.
-Things are a bit inefficient. At the bank there is the person who directs you to the floor you want.  The person at the bottom of the stairs who welcomes you. Then the person who you actually deal with. And the person who gives you a receipt.
-Dog walkers- a common and noble profession.

-There is no rule for dog defecation in the street. Its a new game of hopscotch walking down the street.

-Also have to watch yourself from up top- people like to water their plants on the balconies.
-PDA is EVERYWHERE. In the buses, trains and subways. On the street corners. In the parks. And sometimes the couples will just stop while walking down the street, go at it for a few while you walk around them and then keep walking. Haven't learned how to make that one not distracting.
-They love their beef and pork. Chickens and turkeys are largely forgotten.
-Hair styles: Little trails and patches of hair growing long on men is quite in. But only on the back of the head.
-The clothes and shoes are fantastic.
-Can't decide if the bidet is for me.

1/16/09: In General...

At this time two weeks ago I was sitting next to Jim from San Diego on a Continental flight realizing that I was actually, finally, in the air to another continent.  

My flight and arrival into Buenos Aires, Argentina was flawless with Fernando, a friend of a

 friend, finding me in the midst of dozens of people at the airport, loading my stuff in his car and driving me into the a part of the city of Buenos Aires called Belgrano.

My current home is apartment 17 A on a more residential street lined with apartment buildings. I live with Elsa, 73 year old widow, who among many things is incredibly talkative, feisty, generous, outgoing and has the greatest cackle of them all. And by apartment number 17 A, I mean, Elsa's apartment is on the 17th floor which means I get a beautiful view of the city, an incredible breeze in my window and a quieter version of the street noise. 

I walk 1o blocks to my intensive Spanish classes at the University of Belgrano every day. 

There are 11 students, all girls, in my class- most from USA, 2 from Australia, and one from Italy. I have been hanging out

 with the Australians and a 2 of the American girls. 

One of the Australians is a girl named Joanne, who is my go-to and travel partner. She and I walk to and from school together every day, explore the city, etc.

There are such distinct and different parts of the Buenos Aires each with their own characteristics. The older parts with the colonial style buildings, the artsy areas with the pubs, the richer parts with the lovely cafes...so fun to explore.

The people are incredibly friendly. Any stops for directions have turned into little conversation about where we are from, and recommendations about where do go. I have felt so welcome by the people I have met.

So much more to explore and do, but for now I am enjoying the heat, the sun, the walks in the parks and constant bombardment of Spanish in my brain.