Hogar, dulce Hogar
Trip Start
Jul 29, 2007
1
9
Trip End
Dec 2007
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Friday, December 21, 2007
Much time and traveling has passed since my last travel blog but I would like to think I can still finish my reflections about Argentina. Up until yesterday I was still making my journey home. The end of my trip from about Thanksgiving onwards was all filled with highlights. I decided a week before I left that I would be a crazy person to have been in Argentina for over four months and never see Patagonia. On an impulse I bought a plane ticket to El Calafate in the Santa Cruz province and flew out on Thanksgiving. For me, it really was a day to be giving thanks for so many things. I was in this beautiful place with crystal blue lakes and jagged snowy peaks. I met a few nice girls traveling around from the United States, including a fellow Santa Clara student which just goes to show the strong jesuit bond of my school. I was not with my family or friends, in fact I was all alone but in that moment I was very happy.
In Patagonia, I spent about 3 days touring the Perito Moreno Glacier and El Chalten which is a small mountain town at the base of the Fitz Roy range. The massive glacier is named after the first man to map the territory of Southern Argentina. The jagged triangular Fitz Roy peak is named after captain Fitz Roy who navigated Darwin around South America. I was able to hike to the base of Fitz Roy which was such an enjoyable and scenic day of walking. I ran into some delays getting out of Patagonia which seems like a dream come true because I got to stay in this breathtaking place but for some reason being that far down south with long stretching desert plains in between me and civilization, made me feel trapped. Aerolineas Argentina gave passengers no explanation for the delay more than it is in Ushaia (The southernmost city in the world) and it should be coming tomorrow. They gave the passengers vouchers and I got to stay one night in luxury at a nice lodge...or so I thought. In my large king size bed that I was boasting was not anywhere near a hostel, I think I developed bed bugs. Aren't you glad I never hold anything back in these travel blogs?
16 hours later, after hearing a mob of angry Argentines spit hot fire at the poor airline representative we were on a plane back to Buenos Aires. For the next week I finished up all my classes and began to pack up my life in the city. My best friend Megan, and two other guy friends came down to travel and play for the next two weeks of the trip.
For me, the end of the trip was always an adventure. At night in the city we went out to some pretty wild clubs including a drag show for the DU kids first night which probably frightened them for the unkown more than excited them but at least they got to see how crazy the nightlife can be in the city. Our next destination was Punta del Este, Uruguay to soak up the sun at the beach. I think we were all ready to get out of the city because it was hot, I kept getting ripped off by cruel and unjust taxi drivers, Blake dropped his wallet on one of the million buses in the city and I mean come on, we are from Colorado, enough of this city and concrete jungle business, lets see some real beauty, por favor!!!
Punta del Este was just the ticket. We stayed in this really laid back, colorful hostel which was practically empty except for us and the hippies that ran the place. We rented bikes each day and biked around this cute little beach town which was also half empty because it was not hight season when we were there which was actually a blessing. We got to celebrate my friends 21st in this great lofty restaurant with a fabulous dinner and plenty of wine to go around.
The five of us traveled back into Buenos Aires attempting to take an 18 hour bus ride that same night. After what I would say was the 200 yard dash from the ferry station to the bus station with 20 pound packs on our back, we didn't quite make the cut and had to schedule another bus time for the following day which only took about 2 hours of standing around, bouncing from bus company to bus company and huffing and puffing at one another to finally schedule our departure. For that night in the city, Megan and myself stayed in a quaint little hotel in Recoleta that was actually without any windows in the room but we both decided a bed was a bed and a lot better than the alternative. The alternative was following three wild and crazy boys to go out all night and then stumble back to the bus station for a really comfortable sleep on the grimy floors of Retiro while passengers from all over South America are stepping over you to reach their destination. If anyone would think that Megan and I would consider doing that over paying a little something for a bed and hot shower would really not know us whatsoever. Luckily, we all met up the next day before our bus left and rode in luxury all the way to Salta.
I was thrilled to get to go to Salta because I had heard such great things about this province in the upper Northwest of Argentina. The city of Salta was always buzzing with people and lights. The people were really dark and beautiful, being more indigenous than most you would see in Buenos Aires. While the boys devoured plate after plate of "chivito" which consists of a piece of meat topped with cheese, eggs and ham, Megan and I satisfied our hunger by figuring out what we could do in and around the area. We ended up renting a car for two days which we quickly named Carol and traveled to small, authentic villages like Cachi, Angostaco and Cafayate. The scenery was beautiful with red rock canyons, green vineyards right in the middle of desert and a national park of cacti.
All the laughs, adventures and experiences that we took with us on our trip were so special for me. I am so thankful that I have such great friends that can afford the time and money to come share what has been such an important part of my life for the past few months. I left Buenos Aires in a flurry of anxiety and anticipation because I was finally ready to come home to snow and those that I love so dearly. For someone who has always been considered to think in terms of the grass is always greener I am proud to say that I could not be happier to be home in this moment. Although I will miss all that I saw and did in Argentina, I know my love for Latin American language, people and culture will bring me back and take me even more places than I could ever imagine. My love for this language has not only been a trust worthy travel guide but also a guide for whatever it is I hope to do in my life. I hope this last message finds you healthy and happy during the holidays and I wish everyone a very happy holidays and hope to see you all soon!
Besos,
Kate
