I have just received an email telling me that the boat has arrived here in Buenos Aires.
Yee hah.
Now just to get the bike...
Tuesday, 29 January 2008
Monday, 28 January 2008
Carnaval de Gualeguaychu...
It is raining here in Buenos Aires. The first real rain I've seen here.
I've finished my Spanish Classes for the day and have a bit of time to write...
I'm trying to think of how to describe what has been happening over here and am having a bit of a mind blank but definitely never a dull moment. Every day always seems to be full to over flowing. I am not complaining and 'enjoying the ride' - although the 'ride' so far still doesn't include a bike.. :-(
I have been spending quite a lot of time with a number of friends from Xpanish (my Spanish school) - city tours (BA certainly has an interesting history), going out for a lunch/ dinner/ a few drinks - any excuse. We are a bit of an international (well English speaking anywy) bunch with Australians, English, Americans and even a Canadian.
This 'fellowship' culminated with a weekend in Gualeguachu. 'Crazy' is the first word that comes to mind. Carnaval de Gualeguaychu was mentioned on Thursday and an impulsive decision was made to go, leaving on Friday afternoon for the Saturday night carnaval. Four of us decided to hire a car while the three girls arrived on Saturday by bus.
Mike, Elaine, Me, Christina, Steve, Jessica
James Jess Errr..Guealeguachu is a city of around 70000 people with up to around 30000 extra people on weekends during Carnaval season. It is about 200kms north of BA near the border of Uruguay. I loved the feel of the place and enjoyed being the only English speaking tourists there (I'm sure there were some but we never met any).
The Carnaval itself didn't really get started til late at night (nothing new there..) and didn't finish until the wee hours of the morning (nothing new there either..). Very hard to describe but a ton of fun. Loud, bizzare, crazy. Ofcourse I have read about Carnavals before but it was great to experience one first hand.
Sunday was spent resting and returning back to Buenos Aires...
So now I'm back here. My bike is supposed to be here from Australia but it still hasn't arrived - well I haven't heard anything. I plan to give the company in Perth a ring tonight since they didn't respond to my last email. I'm not really too worried yet but I am starting to get itchy feet and just want to get out and start riding through some open country - just me, my bike, Gods wonderful creation and the local people...
Anyway, gotta go.
Got people to meet for coffee..
Monday, 21 January 2008
Colonia and Montevideo, Uruguay
Colonia...
is an old town - nice atmostphere
Very interesting to see if you can avoid the tourists
In Monte Video
Lunch
Not a great photo but, well, I needed to add some people shots..
Yes, I am eating well and meeting some great people..
Yes, I am eating well and meeting some great people..(part of the group from my Spanish classes)
I wont write any more as this keyboard is not being nice.
Chau
Tuesday, 15 January 2008
Week One
I have now been in Buenos Aires for one week and it has definitely been one rollercoaster of a week. Buenos Aires is one interesting city to visit. It has everything - glitz, glamour, dirty streets, beggars all live not far apart. It is quite a busy place (much busier than what I am used to anyway) and doesnt seem to sleep. Having dinner at 9 or 10 is the norm and you dont go out at night before 12... Over all I think the city has a positive and exciting vibe - you dont always know what it is going to happen next.. The people I have met have all been very friendly and helpful.
Spanish - yes. hmmm. Definitely has made for some interesting times. My homestay is with a woman (Bianca) who has been really great. She is about 60 and ever so helpful (I think she was trying to tell me the other day that she has adopted me as her son..). However when I arrived (last Saturday) She knew no English and I no Spanish. You can imagine.. Needless to say lots of handsignals have taken place, pictures drawn, phrase books perused - lots of fun. So yes, a rather steep learning curve. The course is going well. I think learning and understanding how to use the verbs is going to be an important key in learning this language. What has become apparent, though, is that it seems very unusual for someone (especially one who has attended university) never to have learnt a foreign language..
Health: yeah barely a day here and I was already feeling off. Put it down to Jet lag etc. however my stomach bowels still are not 100 per cent (I wont go into too many details...) after 6 days. Dont know. Trying to make sure to stay hydrated.. It hasnt stopped me from doing too much though it hasnt helped my appetite. It will improve.
My camera. I wasnt sure if I was going to share this but, yes, after just 3 days into my travel of 1 year I have managed to loose my camera. There was only a 5 minute envelope between using it and then noticing it gone. Either I put it down (not likely) or it was deftly pilfered from my pocket. I was not impressed - this happens to others not me. Apart from being angry at myself for not being more careful there wasnt much more to do about it. Hopefully I have learnt something. After looking around BA for a new camera I have realised that someone now has a rather good camera in their possession - I couldnt even find it in the shops. Too expensive. Ellectrical good are very expensive here - especially imported. So Im not sure what I will do now. Will have to down grade a bit though I will try to stick to Olympus - I have spare cards and a battery suited for this camera. This really limits me so I am not sure. Might try the local version of ebay here - if I trust it.. (save over a 100 AUD)
Well I think I will stop there. It is 9.20 and time for dinner. Dont think I will eat too much though.
(if you picked up the lack of apostrophes in this blog, welldone. They dont work on this keyboard..)
Chau
Spanish - yes. hmmm. Definitely has made for some interesting times. My homestay is with a woman (Bianca) who has been really great. She is about 60 and ever so helpful (I think she was trying to tell me the other day that she has adopted me as her son..). However when I arrived (last Saturday) She knew no English and I no Spanish. You can imagine.. Needless to say lots of handsignals have taken place, pictures drawn, phrase books perused - lots of fun. So yes, a rather steep learning curve. The course is going well. I think learning and understanding how to use the verbs is going to be an important key in learning this language. What has become apparent, though, is that it seems very unusual for someone (especially one who has attended university) never to have learnt a foreign language..
Health: yeah barely a day here and I was already feeling off. Put it down to Jet lag etc. however my stomach bowels still are not 100 per cent (I wont go into too many details...) after 6 days. Dont know. Trying to make sure to stay hydrated.. It hasnt stopped me from doing too much though it hasnt helped my appetite. It will improve.
My camera. I wasnt sure if I was going to share this but, yes, after just 3 days into my travel of 1 year I have managed to loose my camera. There was only a 5 minute envelope between using it and then noticing it gone. Either I put it down (not likely) or it was deftly pilfered from my pocket. I was not impressed - this happens to others not me. Apart from being angry at myself for not being more careful there wasnt much more to do about it. Hopefully I have learnt something. After looking around BA for a new camera I have realised that someone now has a rather good camera in their possession - I couldnt even find it in the shops. Too expensive. Ellectrical good are very expensive here - especially imported. So Im not sure what I will do now. Will have to down grade a bit though I will try to stick to Olympus - I have spare cards and a battery suited for this camera. This really limits me so I am not sure. Might try the local version of ebay here - if I trust it.. (save over a 100 AUD)
Well I think I will stop there. It is 9.20 and time for dinner. Dont think I will eat too much though.
(if you picked up the lack of apostrophes in this blog, welldone. They dont work on this keyboard..)
Chau
Sunday, 13 January 2008
another short post
I have a lot I would like to share but frankly I am too tired and feeling a bit off so it will have to wait.
And there is a reason why I have NOT uploaded any photos yet....
more to follow.
stay tuned
wateva
i am going to bed
ps yes i am having a really really great time.
And there is a reason why I have NOT uploaded any photos yet....
more to follow.
stay tuned
wateva
i am going to bed
ps yes i am having a really really great time.
Wednesday, 9 January 2008
Arrived..
Hola
Well, I've made it! Found a place to stay an just chilling out for a bit. I arrived yesterday afternoon to a rather warm day/night, staying at a hostel close to the city centre. Went for a bit of a walk promptly getting lost - well ok I wasn´t trying not to get lost either and I was carrying a map, so technically that doesn´t make me lost does it??
Today I plan to check out a few well known sites starting with the ´Obelisk´.
Well, I've made it! Found a place to stay an just chilling out for a bit. I arrived yesterday afternoon to a rather warm day/night, staying at a hostel close to the city centre. Went for a bit of a walk promptly getting lost - well ok I wasn´t trying not to get lost either and I was carrying a map, so technically that doesn´t make me lost does it??
Today I plan to check out a few well known sites starting with the ´Obelisk´.
Thursday, 3 January 2008
Hello
Welcome to my blog.
The aim of this blog is to be able to share with my family, friends and anyone who is interested a little bit of what I am doing this year as I plan (DV) to travel from Buenos Aires, Argentina all the way north through to Canada on my motorbike.
Today is Friday and I fly out Monday so right now I am busy with those last minute preparations and starting to get rather nervous.
I don't know how often I'll be able to give updates but my intention is to keep it fairly regular (I'll leave it as ambiguous as that...).
Feel free to leave a comment or email me.
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