The city that never sleeps...
Trip Start
Jan 07, 2010
1
6
10
Trip End
Mar 24, 2010
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Thursday, January 28, 2010
From Montevideo I took the bus to la colonia and then the ferry to Buenos Aires... It was crazy reliving that route because my first big trip out of the country was to Buenos Aires 4 years ago with my very good friends Camilla and Kate. We spent a day in la colonia and took that same ferry across the river mouth...
But this time I decided to stay in Palermo instead of San Telmo because I was told it was safer for a girl traveling alone (arent you proud of me for taking the safer option? ;) ) and that it was closer to the better Tango venues.
The first hostal I went to was full to capacity, so we went to the hostal that was recommended by the owner... The Gecko... this hostal isnt in the lonely planet but it was quite impressive... it was three stories, nice beds, and good people... The owner is hilarious.. from the moment I got there all flustered he was making fun of, and well everyone else there.. but in a playful ive known you forever type of way.. which was nice... he insisted that I go with a big group that was leaving minutes after I arrived to a local swimming pool. I almost said no, but I felt like I hadnt swam in awhile so it would be nice to get a few laps in... and so I packed my bag with my goggles and swim suit and sunscreen...
and then when i got there I was overwhelmed with the amount of people... The pool.. or should I say pools were huge.. but it was more like a local amusement park than anything else... and there was nowhere to actually swim... it was just filled with people wading in the water.. so i ended up mainly just napping under a corner of shade by the slide..
the best part of the experience though was the medical exam.. before you go into the pool you have to get inspected by a nurse.. they check your toes for fungus and your hair for lice. I got to admit I was a little nervous when they were checking my scalp because when I was living in TJ with the kids I got lice.. luckily I passed.. I mean how embarrassing would that be if you got denied to go into the pool and then had to tell all your friends? It was reassuring though when I did take a dip to know that everyone there was relatively clean
That night a few of us from the hostal (me, Katie another female traveling sola from australia.. see Im not the only one!, Murloe a fiesty woman from Holland volunteering in Ecuador, and a couple of brazilian guys) went to go check out a tango show that was part of the tango festival... unfortunately it was jam packed and couldnt get in so we went and ate what was their version of pizza...
it was crazy though because it was this pizza place that i remember passing by daily from the last time i was here.. and thats when my trip down memory lane began...
a couple days later after a night of dancing tango and staying up till 5 in the morning i took the bus to san telmo which is where we stayed the last time i was here. I was so surprised to see my old friend Ashka Yanna.. an indigenous man who sells necklaces in the square.. in his same spot.. it was nice to see him looking so happy and healthy... we talked for a little bit and he actually remembered me... last time I was here he became my guide and walked me all around la Boca and the surrounding areas and even taught me how to make necklaces...
but this time a guy named Mikey became my guide... He also sells jewelry, but is a viajero like me... We started talking because he called me over to ask if I was in Mancora Peru last year... I asked him how he knew that and he said that he remembered me... its crazy how small the world is and how our paths our constantly crossing with other people.. I guess he remembered my face because I look like the mother of his child... which isnt that surprising because in Peru I felt like everyone thought I looked like someone they knew...
So we spent the afternoon walking through la Boca and talking about our adventures and passions and talking about the importance of faith.. I feel like hes going through a dark time in his life where he doesnt want to be alone, but the path hes been chosing leaves him alone... it was hard to say goodbye to him because I didnt want him to feel abandoned again.. but one thing God has been showing me lately is the power of choice... while in many cases we dont chose the life we were born into, we do chose how we react to that life and how we lead that life. As much as I wanted to be there for him, only God and his own self will could help him.. regardless I was glad to have met him because he has a great soul...
The next day I went to a soccer.. i mean futbol match... with the crew from the hostal... I knew that the fans here were intense, but i didnt realize how intense... the opposing team cant even sit with the home team because they are afraid of fights breaking out.. Murloes was explaining to me that back in Holland you cant even get on the same bus as the opposing team.. they actually have a different bus route! So the game was filled with cheers and boos as the two teams played... there was so much emotion in the crowd that you couldnt help but cheer and stand in applause with them... adn then at the end when the home team lost, we had to wait for the opposing teams fans to leave before we were even let out... it was super intense.
So in BA I danced, I reconnected, touched new lives, and saw a futbol match... oh and I left out I became a big fan of empenadas.. the queso y choclo especially... so it was a good couple of days...
I left for Mendoza sad to leave but excited to see another town in Argentina...
There I went on a wine tour and went to a chocolate factory where the make the chocolate right there on the spot.. it was sooo delicious!! What was cool about this chocolate factory is that they only sell from their little mom and pop shop in mendoza, so its super local...
i also went dancing and met a man named Raul.. he reminded me of my grandpa and he took me under his wing right away.. he said that tango was his dance, and that hed been dancing for 40 years! He taught me a lot.. and was upset I was only staying for a night... I think our paths will cross again though.. were already staying in email contact.. its good to keep your contacts around the world because you never know when you might need them, or when they might need you. Connections are essential in this world.
Well, I will write again soon. love you all mucho.
michelle
