Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!
{ 0 comments }
Hola Amigos!
Location: Buenos Aires
Status: My feet and legs feel like I’ve just walked Machu Picchu, reality is I’ve spent 5 hours walking around Buenos Aires clearly need more of it in coming weeks to prep.
After 45mins sleep on Sunday night (next time I’ll pack before it is a complete matter of urgency), I made it to the airport on time and with everything. The Brazilian who checked me in asked in Spanish ‘if I spoke Spanish?’ and looked at me pathetically when I said no. It was more that he probably only asking on thing rather than my language skills that I had the correct answer. I then discovered that the best way to get filthy looks is to be the very last person to board a fully packed flight (by choice), the lemmings on the plane glare at you and look more pathetic than the ones on public transport & most of them seems to whinge more.
Then it was onto Sydney, loving the capacity of the iPhone (& my time management) while I could sit and email as we said on the tarmac for 20mins. A sense of Deja vu swept over me as I retraced my steps through the terminal from 4 days earlier. Arrived then at the international terminal and learned a few things 1. Liquid can only be in 100ml not 150ml 2. They throw it in the bin then you walk 5metres and pay twice what you did out of customs for the exact same item (surely there’s a scam in that!) 3. The only place in the airport to buy film is the chemist &they only sell one type (apparently it’s too old school)!
The flight over was ok, the 3 hours sleep wasn’t enough and caught up with me on arrival in BA. I did have the added benefit of sitting next to a Brazilian lady and a 13 year old argentinian kid who’s been at school in aus for 5 months and was finally going home to his family.I managed to master or recall a few spanish phrases and if I continue at that rate will be an expert in weeks. I even surprised myself with my french abilility as a man entered the lift said Bon jour then let me out first and merci popped out of my mouth before gracias or thanks.
Buenos aires is a crazy city but I love it.the country around it was very green and seemed somewhat flooded, the city is chaos!10 ppl in a 4 seater car on 20 lane freeways, exit ramps literally which just hang and go no where, ppl walking aimlessly across the road (I’ve mastered the pretend your not looking, walk with confidence while keeping half an eye out and the cars pause for you act), massive wheel barrow full of vegies strolling along the streets and the dog walkers walking the 12 dogs and then trying to cross the road and dodge cars (most amusing).so due to my complete lack of sleep I went for a nap and woke up 5 hours later jumped online briefly and discovered Andy Scott is in Buenos Aires for a few nights so hope to catch up tomorrow (small world, particularly where facebook is involved). Then when to have a shower and clean my teeth before heading to bed and of course murphy’s law always prevails…the only cream not in a sealed plastic bag leaks everywhere, it could have been worse but don’t judge the cap on what you thing it’s capable of. It’s now in a sealed plastic bag!
Day 2 buenos aires I have walked this town silly.headed the long way round to the cemetry and found a fabric shop on the way which was fabulous as I discovered yesterday (yes day one of 5 wks) that my pack is disintegrating after lack of use for 10 years and right onto my back, shirt, pants etc, bought fabric from a man who said he didn’t speak English and then added words in and was amused when I said ‘senor, papaquito inglis?’ (a little, but way more than my Spanish).will keep you posted on how that gets attached later. Walked through the cemetry which has massive strucutres with stairs underground from some and saw Eva perons burial spot. Then headed through some of the parks which are rather grassy and sparse but with massive trees including figs also found the biggest flower you’ve ever seen 40m across by 30 high a gift from an artist. the mechanical structure opens and closes each day.then strolled the busy streets and shops some more before my legs could take it no more. The architecture is an eclectic mix of old and new and eurpean and falling down – culture at its best. Its interesting the argentinians ive spoken to think im european (thank god not US, but not sure why European) and most of the tourists are fairly rude (damn tourists, not sure what i am then, hang on im nomadding). A few ppl headed on the boat trip arrive tonight so will catch up with them and keep you posted on further progress.
NJ x 🙂
— Nomad Jen Somewhere in the Southern Hemisphere{ 1 comment }
