Hola bloggers,
Well I am in Europe but I am not in Barcelona!
I went to the airport in Buenos Aires without a reservation but armed with the knowledge that there would be two Iberia flights leaving for Madrid and also an Aerolineas Argentina flight and of course armed with the old credit card. I already knew that there weren't any flights to Barcelona direct from Buenos Aires. I tried to get on all three flights to Madrid (not all at the same time as that would obviously be impossible .......and not physically - I have not lost it that much - I just tried to purchase a ticket for said flights in a very polite and calm manner). However, all flights were full. ARGHHHHHHHHHHH.
I told them that I knew about the row of seats that they always save back for air stewards and begged for one of those ...............................but they told me all those had gone too. I calmy asked for a seat on the next flight to Madrid in the morning but was informed that there aren't flights every day to Madrid. For example the next iberia one would be next sunday! Hmmm. There was a moment when one of those things that you count time with when you play piano started to swing around in my head - it was swinging between a decision between tears and rage. However, it only lasted about three seconds before good old Initiative (the superhero) swooped in on the situation and blurted out to the ticket office attendant " give me any ticket to anywhere in Europe that is leaving tonight!". The ticket man looked a little startled - "I thought you wanted to go to Spain" said he. "Yes I do want to go to Spain but you can't get me there can you so I want to go to Europe - anywhere in Europe - and I will work out how to get to Spain from wherever you send me." Aha - now the man understood! Thanks Initiative.
So, I am in Rome!
I was hoping to get a connection to Barcelona as soon as I landed in Rome but was again faced with the no room at the inn routine (Its Easter isn't it not Christmas).
I am booked on to a flight tomorrow evening at 6.50 pm which should get me to BCN at about 9pm. As I landed in Rome at 5pm today - I have approximately 24 hours. Shame I've been here before because I am now wishing that I was stranded in a new place that I could explore for a day. Not to worry. I am currently residing in the Hilton at the airport where thanks to all the points accumulated at the Leicester Hilton (thanks Alliance & Leicester) I am being treated very well and have been upgraded to a suite which has a library in it of all things - as well as the lounge, bedroom, bathroom and dressing room. The pool has been christened, I have steamed myself in the turkish bath, dined in the restaurant and I am all geared up to buy some Gucci sunglasses tomorrow in Rome. Quite good this being stranded lark!
Spirits wise - I am reasonably calm about my dash across the world. My biggest worry at the moment is that I need more clothes bringing over from England. Hmmm - Dad?
S xxx
Monday, March 28, 2005
Sunday, March 27, 2005
England 4 Northern Ireland 0
Hola Bloggers,
Just to say - well done England!
Oh and what´s up with Rio Ferninad´s hair?
They call Rooney "Baby Rooney" here when they are commentating. Very amusing - I know he´s young but he is more like a bull than a baby.
S xxxxxx
Just to say - well done England!
Oh and what´s up with Rio Ferninad´s hair?
They call Rooney "Baby Rooney" here when they are commentating. Very amusing - I know he´s young but he is more like a bull than a baby.
S xxxxxx
moving on
Hola Bloggers,
Get ready for this one ..................I am going to the airport in about three hours to try and get on a flight to Spain. I don´t have a flight but I am sure that I can buy one at the airport.
No I am not through with South America and no I am not sure about what I am doing - but South America will be here forever and Jose Ramon will not be! I think you all know that Jose came out here for a week. Well he left yesterday and for various reasons I am going to follow him and give life with him a shot for a while. Some of you know the story, most of you don´t but cut a long story short - I broke his heart with something that I told him last week and we more or less ended our relationship. Anyhow, I have realised that men like him don´t come along very often. Men come along very often - I have never had a problem in that department but I know that Jose is very special and I want to give it shot with him. He is still in the mood to continue a relationship with me at the moment but if I stay here and let him be alone for very long then he is going to slowly change how he feels about me - due to the dramas of last week. Its only natural that that will happen. So, I think that its now or never.
It might not work out and I might be back here in a week or too. If that happens then thats cool but at least I will know I gave it a shot. I am not travelling on a shoe string - I can afford to fly backwards and forwards so there´s no big deal there.
I have thought about what I am doing and the objective of my trip was to try and obtain fluent Spanish, to live life in a totally different way to how life is as a lawyer in London and basically to stop working for a while. So, my objectives can all still be achieved in Barcelona. There is lots to see in Spain and there is no reason why I can´t travel there rather than here for a while. Also, there is no reason why I can´t return to South America. Its been here a long time and I don´t think it is going anywhere. In fact my Dad is all geared up to do Machu Pichu with me - so if I end up staying in Barcelona a while then I am sure that Dad and I will fly out to Peru in a few months time.
Don´t worry about me. Everything is cool - I just need to do this or else I will forever wonder what life could have been like with Jose and I feel that I will loose my chance at finding out if I don´t go now. Thats all. I don´t want to regret not taking a chance on him.
I don´t know if I will come to England at all while I am in Spain (I might only be there a week!). I don´t want to come to England mainly because I am not ready to go back to England and it might feel like my trip is over if I come to England - and I don´t want that. We´ll see though. There are lots of people who I would love to see - maybe you can come to Barcelona (babies and all)! I need to concentrate on working out things with Jose Ramon first though - as nice as you all are!
Stay tuned for the next installment - maybe I´ll be flying to another continent!
S xxxxx
Get ready for this one ..................I am going to the airport in about three hours to try and get on a flight to Spain. I don´t have a flight but I am sure that I can buy one at the airport.
No I am not through with South America and no I am not sure about what I am doing - but South America will be here forever and Jose Ramon will not be! I think you all know that Jose came out here for a week. Well he left yesterday and for various reasons I am going to follow him and give life with him a shot for a while. Some of you know the story, most of you don´t but cut a long story short - I broke his heart with something that I told him last week and we more or less ended our relationship. Anyhow, I have realised that men like him don´t come along very often. Men come along very often - I have never had a problem in that department but I know that Jose is very special and I want to give it shot with him. He is still in the mood to continue a relationship with me at the moment but if I stay here and let him be alone for very long then he is going to slowly change how he feels about me - due to the dramas of last week. Its only natural that that will happen. So, I think that its now or never.
It might not work out and I might be back here in a week or too. If that happens then thats cool but at least I will know I gave it a shot. I am not travelling on a shoe string - I can afford to fly backwards and forwards so there´s no big deal there.
I have thought about what I am doing and the objective of my trip was to try and obtain fluent Spanish, to live life in a totally different way to how life is as a lawyer in London and basically to stop working for a while. So, my objectives can all still be achieved in Barcelona. There is lots to see in Spain and there is no reason why I can´t travel there rather than here for a while. Also, there is no reason why I can´t return to South America. Its been here a long time and I don´t think it is going anywhere. In fact my Dad is all geared up to do Machu Pichu with me - so if I end up staying in Barcelona a while then I am sure that Dad and I will fly out to Peru in a few months time.
Don´t worry about me. Everything is cool - I just need to do this or else I will forever wonder what life could have been like with Jose and I feel that I will loose my chance at finding out if I don´t go now. Thats all. I don´t want to regret not taking a chance on him.
I don´t know if I will come to England at all while I am in Spain (I might only be there a week!). I don´t want to come to England mainly because I am not ready to go back to England and it might feel like my trip is over if I come to England - and I don´t want that. We´ll see though. There are lots of people who I would love to see - maybe you can come to Barcelona (babies and all)! I need to concentrate on working out things with Jose Ramon first though - as nice as you all are!
Stay tuned for the next installment - maybe I´ll be flying to another continent!
S xxxxx
Friday, March 18, 2005
Mi casa es ............bloody ace!
Hola Bloggers,
Just moved into the new house in San Telmo and it is sooooooooooooo amazing. I have been running round it taking photos. Its so nice. You go through the gate from the street into a courtyard where various´ doors open on to and where there are big plants and trees (as its open air. There is a series of three sets of french doors to my house - all with shutters. The downstairs floor is the lounge, dining kitchen area and it is so inviting. The Kitchen is all very white and chrome and modern and as kitchens and bathrooms should be in my book (have you read my book?). The walls are exposed brick, the window frames are exposed original pine and the floor is stone - throught the whole house. Amazing.
Upstairs is a very large double bedroom and mosaic shower room. You reach upstairs via a turet, again with exposed brick and original pine and massive windows. Go up another floor and you reach the main bedroom and study and bathroom. The shower is mosaic and big enough to fit about 8 people in (I might see just how many I can fit in after Jose has left .......joke!).
The best bit of all is the top floor. Its open air and has lantern lights all around it, its private - with wicker walls and plants and has a bar, bbq, fridge and BATH! It is indeed a bath - its not a modern fancy jacuuzi .... its like a stone bath (maybe a horse´s feeding thing originally) but tiled and all made wonderful with both hot and cold taps. It really is something else. I´m so happy. I don´t want to sleep for the next week - so that I have more time here. I can´t wait to show it to Jose - who arrives at 6.45 tomorrow morning. I want to show it to all of you. You are all cordially invited over any time this week - if you can make it.
The girl who rented it to me is really sweet as well. Its her boyfrined´s house and when he gets a tenant he goes and lives with her. She is very cool looking and studies design of parks and sells pure honey (She has offered to brig some round for me - there is a whole list of different types that I can choose from apparantly) .
San Telmo was originally an individual republic. I think its kind of where Buenos Aires started. Its very different to Palermo (where I lived before). Its much more south american here - its poorer and more bohemian and more real. Less European. Not sure what is going on across the street at the moment - I suspect it is some sort of giving out of food to the less fortunate among us. You wouldn´t see that in Palermo.
Oh a strange thing has happened. Well a theft has happened and there isn´t really anything strange about that ......its how it has managed to happen that is strange. I left 810 pesos on the table in my old flat last saturday afternoon (for Brad, my flat mate, to pay the rent). I then left the place and went to the country side. Anna our other flat mate came in later that day and added her money to it and then left the place on Sunday. Anna returned on Tuesday and the money was not there anymore, nor the long letter I had written to Brad. Anna was not surprised because Brad should have arrrived back from Columbia on the Sunday and taken the money. Except he didn´t. Anna left on Wednesday to go back to Sweeden. I got back later that day and, on realising that Brad had not returned from Columbia, assumed that Anna had put the money in a cupboard somewhere safe. So, I wasn´t worried - about the money - rather suspected that Brad had been gunned down in Columbia but that is another preocupation of my mind that we don´t need to get into.
I have finally got in touch with Anna by email to ask where she put the money .............and we have realised that it has vamooshed! Who could have taken it? The keys had been downstairs with the porter but it is more than his job is worth to enter a flat so I really don´t think he is to blame. I grilled him as to who rang our buzzer on the days in question and on perusal of the log book we have deduced that a woman (I have the name but won´t disclose it) went up to the door at 11.30 and left at 11.35. Maybe she had keys - maybe she nipped in and took the money? But who is this mysterious woman? I suspect that when I tell Brad the name it will be one of his chicks - and that avenue will be closed off. Hmmm. Very strange. I am just waiting to see what Brad is going to say about this and whether he is going to make me pay twice! If so I might offer to split the difference and say I´ll pay half again. Afterall if he had arrived back when arranged then the mystery might not have occured. Hmmm very strange.
Right I am going to go back over the road and prance around my new house and play joss Stone very loudly and I might even try out the roof top open air bath. So there.
S xxxxx
Just moved into the new house in San Telmo and it is sooooooooooooo amazing. I have been running round it taking photos. Its so nice. You go through the gate from the street into a courtyard where various´ doors open on to and where there are big plants and trees (as its open air. There is a series of three sets of french doors to my house - all with shutters. The downstairs floor is the lounge, dining kitchen area and it is so inviting. The Kitchen is all very white and chrome and modern and as kitchens and bathrooms should be in my book (have you read my book?). The walls are exposed brick, the window frames are exposed original pine and the floor is stone - throught the whole house. Amazing.
Upstairs is a very large double bedroom and mosaic shower room. You reach upstairs via a turet, again with exposed brick and original pine and massive windows. Go up another floor and you reach the main bedroom and study and bathroom. The shower is mosaic and big enough to fit about 8 people in (I might see just how many I can fit in after Jose has left .......joke!).
The best bit of all is the top floor. Its open air and has lantern lights all around it, its private - with wicker walls and plants and has a bar, bbq, fridge and BATH! It is indeed a bath - its not a modern fancy jacuuzi .... its like a stone bath (maybe a horse´s feeding thing originally) but tiled and all made wonderful with both hot and cold taps. It really is something else. I´m so happy. I don´t want to sleep for the next week - so that I have more time here. I can´t wait to show it to Jose - who arrives at 6.45 tomorrow morning. I want to show it to all of you. You are all cordially invited over any time this week - if you can make it.
The girl who rented it to me is really sweet as well. Its her boyfrined´s house and when he gets a tenant he goes and lives with her. She is very cool looking and studies design of parks and sells pure honey (She has offered to brig some round for me - there is a whole list of different types that I can choose from apparantly) .
San Telmo was originally an individual republic. I think its kind of where Buenos Aires started. Its very different to Palermo (where I lived before). Its much more south american here - its poorer and more bohemian and more real. Less European. Not sure what is going on across the street at the moment - I suspect it is some sort of giving out of food to the less fortunate among us. You wouldn´t see that in Palermo.
Oh a strange thing has happened. Well a theft has happened and there isn´t really anything strange about that ......its how it has managed to happen that is strange. I left 810 pesos on the table in my old flat last saturday afternoon (for Brad, my flat mate, to pay the rent). I then left the place and went to the country side. Anna our other flat mate came in later that day and added her money to it and then left the place on Sunday. Anna returned on Tuesday and the money was not there anymore, nor the long letter I had written to Brad. Anna was not surprised because Brad should have arrrived back from Columbia on the Sunday and taken the money. Except he didn´t. Anna left on Wednesday to go back to Sweeden. I got back later that day and, on realising that Brad had not returned from Columbia, assumed that Anna had put the money in a cupboard somewhere safe. So, I wasn´t worried - about the money - rather suspected that Brad had been gunned down in Columbia but that is another preocupation of my mind that we don´t need to get into.
I have finally got in touch with Anna by email to ask where she put the money .............and we have realised that it has vamooshed! Who could have taken it? The keys had been downstairs with the porter but it is more than his job is worth to enter a flat so I really don´t think he is to blame. I grilled him as to who rang our buzzer on the days in question and on perusal of the log book we have deduced that a woman (I have the name but won´t disclose it) went up to the door at 11.30 and left at 11.35. Maybe she had keys - maybe she nipped in and took the money? But who is this mysterious woman? I suspect that when I tell Brad the name it will be one of his chicks - and that avenue will be closed off. Hmmm. Very strange. I am just waiting to see what Brad is going to say about this and whether he is going to make me pay twice! If so I might offer to split the difference and say I´ll pay half again. Afterall if he had arrived back when arranged then the mystery might not have occured. Hmmm very strange.
Right I am going to go back over the road and prance around my new house and play joss Stone very loudly and I might even try out the roof top open air bath. So there.
S xxxxx
Thursday, March 17, 2005
thoughts from the city
Hola Bloggers,
Back in the city now. I was thinking today about what has stuck in my mind about the villages in the country that I saw ...... and I kept thinking about the school uniforms. They were very strange. They are quite strange here in the city but not as strange as they are in the villages. Here in the city the girls all seem to wear quilts. Some are most definitely quilts (am I spelling that right? I don´t mean duvets - I mean scottish jobbies). Anyway, I´ll go on. If they are not adorned with massive safety pins and wrap over kind of things then they at least have a chequered pattern. There must be some reason for this (but I don´t know it). In the country, well, in Chascomus and another place called Almes (I don´t think I am qualified to speak for all uniforms in the whole of Argentina), they wear Van Gogh style smocks. Very odd. Invariably about six sizes too big - we all know what the mothers will be saying each morning (you´ll grow into it!).
Another thing - there was no such thing as diet coke in the villages I visited. Did I mention this in the last posting? Its not that I can´t live without diet coke .....but I can´t believe there isn´t any anywhere in a whole village when there is plenty of fat coke. Surely if you are getting a delivery from coca cola you get diet too. Its a no brainer. Maybe they think its fancy modern towny stuff. I don´t know. I missed it. I´m getting fat enough with all the dulce de leche I didn´t need fat coke on top (but obviously drank it instead of water!).
It sounds like I am moaning today, or picking fault, I´m not .......................but it might interest you to know that it is absolutely impossible to purchase any foreign currency when armed with a visa and passport in Buenos Aires. Can you believe that? I need $1500 by 11am tomorrow morning in cash and you wouldn´t think that this would be so difficult ........but my head is a few hairs thiner today. Its just impossible. Only cash works. You have to take out Argentinian pesos from the bank machine and then change local cash for foreign currency. No credit allowed. That would be easy enough if the daily limit you could take out of the hole in the wall was sufficient! Its not! I have had to use two different cards and max them up and then I will have to do the same tomorrow and then change the cash into dollars. Farse! Due to crisis in 2001 when everything nose dived here. Bit over the top though!
By the way, I am not funding some massive drugs export. I know I live in Holloway but honestly I need the money for a rental of a fancy house in San Telmo (where they dance Tango in the streets - hopefully not under my window!) .
By the way, can you all have a minute of silence for my little car please. It has left my life forever more. Weep weep. My Dad has sold it for me. It served me well and will always be remembered. Bye bye brum brum.
Un beso
S xxx
Back in the city now. I was thinking today about what has stuck in my mind about the villages in the country that I saw ...... and I kept thinking about the school uniforms. They were very strange. They are quite strange here in the city but not as strange as they are in the villages. Here in the city the girls all seem to wear quilts. Some are most definitely quilts (am I spelling that right? I don´t mean duvets - I mean scottish jobbies). Anyway, I´ll go on. If they are not adorned with massive safety pins and wrap over kind of things then they at least have a chequered pattern. There must be some reason for this (but I don´t know it). In the country, well, in Chascomus and another place called Almes (I don´t think I am qualified to speak for all uniforms in the whole of Argentina), they wear Van Gogh style smocks. Very odd. Invariably about six sizes too big - we all know what the mothers will be saying each morning (you´ll grow into it!).
Another thing - there was no such thing as diet coke in the villages I visited. Did I mention this in the last posting? Its not that I can´t live without diet coke .....but I can´t believe there isn´t any anywhere in a whole village when there is plenty of fat coke. Surely if you are getting a delivery from coca cola you get diet too. Its a no brainer. Maybe they think its fancy modern towny stuff. I don´t know. I missed it. I´m getting fat enough with all the dulce de leche I didn´t need fat coke on top (but obviously drank it instead of water!).
It sounds like I am moaning today, or picking fault, I´m not .......................but it might interest you to know that it is absolutely impossible to purchase any foreign currency when armed with a visa and passport in Buenos Aires. Can you believe that? I need $1500 by 11am tomorrow morning in cash and you wouldn´t think that this would be so difficult ........but my head is a few hairs thiner today. Its just impossible. Only cash works. You have to take out Argentinian pesos from the bank machine and then change local cash for foreign currency. No credit allowed. That would be easy enough if the daily limit you could take out of the hole in the wall was sufficient! Its not! I have had to use two different cards and max them up and then I will have to do the same tomorrow and then change the cash into dollars. Farse! Due to crisis in 2001 when everything nose dived here. Bit over the top though!
By the way, I am not funding some massive drugs export. I know I live in Holloway but honestly I need the money for a rental of a fancy house in San Telmo (where they dance Tango in the streets - hopefully not under my window!) .
By the way, can you all have a minute of silence for my little car please. It has left my life forever more. Weep weep. My Dad has sold it for me. It served me well and will always be remembered. Bye bye brum brum.
Un beso
S xxx
Friday, March 11, 2005
End of Term
Hola Bloggers,
I am writing from the computers in my language school ....probably for the last time! I have finished all classes now, received my little certificate, had a goodbye lunch and made a little speech (in Spanish of course). So, that's it. No more structure to my life out here. From here on its a case of play it by ear. There is the slight possibility that I may take some classes in the sister school in Santiago Chile ....if I go there ......but nothing is planned. It would be nice to carry on studying - because I certainly don´t speak as well as I want to yet - but also I am looking forward to laying in bed and having a break from gramatical exercises every day. I think I need some physical exercise! I am forever eating chocolate, cakes, ice creams and dulce de leche and I never do any exercise. I do feel a bit lethargic and lazy and I can feel a few pounds creeping on.
I am planning on going to see some Gaucho action over the next few days. I am going to look on the internet later tonight and find out a but mnore about it and then take off into the countryside and go and stay on an estancia for a few days. I am not sure how well equiped these type of places will be internet acces so I may have to tell you all about it when I get back rather than as I go along.
Ok, have a good weekend everbody
Lots of love
S xxx
I am writing from the computers in my language school ....probably for the last time! I have finished all classes now, received my little certificate, had a goodbye lunch and made a little speech (in Spanish of course). So, that's it. No more structure to my life out here. From here on its a case of play it by ear. There is the slight possibility that I may take some classes in the sister school in Santiago Chile ....if I go there ......but nothing is planned. It would be nice to carry on studying - because I certainly don´t speak as well as I want to yet - but also I am looking forward to laying in bed and having a break from gramatical exercises every day. I think I need some physical exercise! I am forever eating chocolate, cakes, ice creams and dulce de leche and I never do any exercise. I do feel a bit lethargic and lazy and I can feel a few pounds creeping on.
I am planning on going to see some Gaucho action over the next few days. I am going to look on the internet later tonight and find out a but mnore about it and then take off into the countryside and go and stay on an estancia for a few days. I am not sure how well equiped these type of places will be internet acces so I may have to tell you all about it when I get back rather than as I go along.
Ok, have a good weekend everbody
Lots of love
S xxx
Sunday, March 06, 2005
Animal Magic
Hola bloggers,
I have just been to a big market in Montevideo and I actually had to leave because I couldn´t stand the cruelty to animals anymore. It was unbelieveable! It was a pretty standard city market where you could buy anything and everything .....but with the addition of pets. But all the animals were squashed up so much it was heartbreaking ........ and of course they were being poked and proded by every passer by. I hated it. There were snakes and frogs and lizards in empty coke bottles with the lid on - god knows how they were breathing because I couldn´t see any holes. There were turtles, rats, fish, cats, dogs, chickens, mice, parrots, canaries, rabbits and even scorpions. The problem was that everything was sharing a space only just really adequate for itself ....with about six others. They were all piled on top of each other and constantly being picked up and messed about with by children and adults alike. It was horrible. I really didn´t like it.
Well thats all I really have to say today. I´m going to the airport now to catch a flight back to Buenos Aires.
I hope the weather is not depressing you all too much. I hear its not very good at the moment. Its 80 degrees here - but then you knew that didn´t you. Sorry !
Besos mi amigos and happy mother´s day to all the mothers out there
S xxxx
I have just been to a big market in Montevideo and I actually had to leave because I couldn´t stand the cruelty to animals anymore. It was unbelieveable! It was a pretty standard city market where you could buy anything and everything .....but with the addition of pets. But all the animals were squashed up so much it was heartbreaking ........ and of course they were being poked and proded by every passer by. I hated it. There were snakes and frogs and lizards in empty coke bottles with the lid on - god knows how they were breathing because I couldn´t see any holes. There were turtles, rats, fish, cats, dogs, chickens, mice, parrots, canaries, rabbits and even scorpions. The problem was that everything was sharing a space only just really adequate for itself ....with about six others. They were all piled on top of each other and constantly being picked up and messed about with by children and adults alike. It was horrible. I really didn´t like it.
Well thats all I really have to say today. I´m going to the airport now to catch a flight back to Buenos Aires.
I hope the weather is not depressing you all too much. I hear its not very good at the moment. Its 80 degrees here - but then you knew that didn´t you. Sorry !
Besos mi amigos and happy mother´s day to all the mothers out there
S xxxx
Saturday, March 05, 2005
Montevideo
Hola Bloggers,
I am writing from a HOSTEL - yes a HOSTEL - in Montevideo. I bet you can´t belive that I am slumming it can you. Well, I am and actually its not that bad afterall. I couldn´t manage it for a long stretch because I just couldn´t deal with the no wardrobe, hairdryer, fancy bathroom etc etc. However for two nights its fine. Its been recently renovated and its got nice clean beds and towels and warm water and stuff .....and I only have my small bag with me with three outfits so the lack of wardrobe can be endured. My clothes are important to me - I have learnt that on this trip (I knew it anyway but now I know it for sure). I don´t like things being creased, dog haired or dirty. God knows how I would ever cope with a baby puking on me! Nena - please train your new son to provide some kind of signal prior to puking in time for my return.
My mind is doing the usual business calculations while I am here. I can´t help it! I´m lying on the bed working out how many beds you can fit in a hostel and how much you can charge and how much the mortgage would be on that size of house. I can´t stop trying to work out easy ways of making a living!
Montevideo seems really nice. A lot smaller and slower paced than Buenos Aires. The air seems a lot fresher too (not that its really bad in BA - its just fresher here). Its small enough to walk around and see all the important buildings and visit all the interesting markets in one weekend - which is handy seeing as I only have a weekend here. The people seem really friendly - in fact I just got a taxi back to the hostel with a rather too friendly driver. He took me home safely and quickly and I paid .... and then as I was leaving he asked me if I would like to go to his bedroom with him. When I declined the kind offer he suggested that we take a trip to the beach together instead. Friendly chap - don´t you think?
I am about to go out on the town again. Last night we ate and drank in a restaurant in an area of the old town where there are loads of restaurants with street side tables. It was a really nice night. We (the 3 of us that have come from Buenos Aires) ate with 2 Sweedish girls that are staying in our room in the hostel and we all got along really well and had a good time. Later we were joined by five middle aged Argentinians who were harmless enough I suppose - its all good spanish practice! They told me that Buenos Aires is not Argentinian at all and until I go to the countryside and ride with the horses and see some of the scenery then I don´t know Argentina. I am sure this is true and I do plan to do a bit of horse back travelling through Argentina - but perhaps not staying at their ranch as was suggested late last night.
After eating and drinking, we went to a club in Montevideo (minus the middle aged Gauchos). We were looking forward to this because the clubs have been closed in Buenos Aires due to the incident that happened around new year when 190 poeple were killed in a club due to the fire doors not being operational and a firework being set off. However the club in Montevideo did not satisfy my desire to dance at all. I couldn´t stand to listen to the terrible music and I left after about half an hour. They were playing a really terrible kind of euro pop electronic rubbish. It wasn´t european it was music from here but describing it as euro pop might help some of you understand what it was like. Uruguayans trying to swing you round to it in a Tango style was just not working or helping my liking for the place! I think I am a bit of a music snob. I can´t just dance to any old rubbish for the sake of it. I know what I like and I know what I don´t like and I am very definite about this in relation to all manner of things. If something is not quite right I am not happy. I think I am hard to please in a lot of ways - another thing that has been confirmed on this trip. I dont know how you go about changing that though .....and to be honest I quite like having high standards - at least I am blessed with the determination and skills to seek out the standard I want.
The Beach is currently being shown on the tv behind me - how travellery is that!
The money here is quite funny. 50 Uruguayan pesos is roughly a pound so I am walking round with thousands in my pocket but actualy only have about 80 quid.
Oh I think I forgot to gloat again. I know I told you thatI got 83% in the lat exam but I later found out that once again I came top in the group. Whoo hoo (another small personal victory). Not that I am competitive or anything ..........
Until the next time
S xxxxx
I am writing from a HOSTEL - yes a HOSTEL - in Montevideo. I bet you can´t belive that I am slumming it can you. Well, I am and actually its not that bad afterall. I couldn´t manage it for a long stretch because I just couldn´t deal with the no wardrobe, hairdryer, fancy bathroom etc etc. However for two nights its fine. Its been recently renovated and its got nice clean beds and towels and warm water and stuff .....and I only have my small bag with me with three outfits so the lack of wardrobe can be endured. My clothes are important to me - I have learnt that on this trip (I knew it anyway but now I know it for sure). I don´t like things being creased, dog haired or dirty. God knows how I would ever cope with a baby puking on me! Nena - please train your new son to provide some kind of signal prior to puking in time for my return.
My mind is doing the usual business calculations while I am here. I can´t help it! I´m lying on the bed working out how many beds you can fit in a hostel and how much you can charge and how much the mortgage would be on that size of house. I can´t stop trying to work out easy ways of making a living!
Montevideo seems really nice. A lot smaller and slower paced than Buenos Aires. The air seems a lot fresher too (not that its really bad in BA - its just fresher here). Its small enough to walk around and see all the important buildings and visit all the interesting markets in one weekend - which is handy seeing as I only have a weekend here. The people seem really friendly - in fact I just got a taxi back to the hostel with a rather too friendly driver. He took me home safely and quickly and I paid .... and then as I was leaving he asked me if I would like to go to his bedroom with him. When I declined the kind offer he suggested that we take a trip to the beach together instead. Friendly chap - don´t you think?
I am about to go out on the town again. Last night we ate and drank in a restaurant in an area of the old town where there are loads of restaurants with street side tables. It was a really nice night. We (the 3 of us that have come from Buenos Aires) ate with 2 Sweedish girls that are staying in our room in the hostel and we all got along really well and had a good time. Later we were joined by five middle aged Argentinians who were harmless enough I suppose - its all good spanish practice! They told me that Buenos Aires is not Argentinian at all and until I go to the countryside and ride with the horses and see some of the scenery then I don´t know Argentina. I am sure this is true and I do plan to do a bit of horse back travelling through Argentina - but perhaps not staying at their ranch as was suggested late last night.
After eating and drinking, we went to a club in Montevideo (minus the middle aged Gauchos). We were looking forward to this because the clubs have been closed in Buenos Aires due to the incident that happened around new year when 190 poeple were killed in a club due to the fire doors not being operational and a firework being set off. However the club in Montevideo did not satisfy my desire to dance at all. I couldn´t stand to listen to the terrible music and I left after about half an hour. They were playing a really terrible kind of euro pop electronic rubbish. It wasn´t european it was music from here but describing it as euro pop might help some of you understand what it was like. Uruguayans trying to swing you round to it in a Tango style was just not working or helping my liking for the place! I think I am a bit of a music snob. I can´t just dance to any old rubbish for the sake of it. I know what I like and I know what I don´t like and I am very definite about this in relation to all manner of things. If something is not quite right I am not happy. I think I am hard to please in a lot of ways - another thing that has been confirmed on this trip. I dont know how you go about changing that though .....and to be honest I quite like having high standards - at least I am blessed with the determination and skills to seek out the standard I want.
The Beach is currently being shown on the tv behind me - how travellery is that!
The money here is quite funny. 50 Uruguayan pesos is roughly a pound so I am walking round with thousands in my pocket but actualy only have about 80 quid.
Oh I think I forgot to gloat again. I know I told you thatI got 83% in the lat exam but I later found out that once again I came top in the group. Whoo hoo (another small personal victory). Not that I am competitive or anything ..........
Until the next time
S xxxxx
Thursday, March 03, 2005
Boca 3 Peruvians 0 ......Sarah 83
Hola Blogers,
Three main pieces of news today. 1 - I went to the football last night. 2 - I just got 83% in my most recent exam and so I will now be moving into the advanced level, and 3 - I have moved house.
I saw Boca Juniors play against a Peruvian team last night (don´t remember the name of the Peruvians) and Boca won 3 -0. It was quite an experience and there were lots of differences to a game in England. The main thing that I noticed was how they never ever passed the ball backwards! I only really saw about three square passes as well. Every ball goes forwards and it is more or less one touch football. If they can´t see a free player within about four seconds they just boot it forward and hope someone will get there ......and quite often they do because they all run at full speed all the time. Also as soon as they are near the bnox they are shooting like their life depends on it. Very different to the cautious play in England .......or is it just that I am used to watching Tottenham!
I stood in the populas area where supposedly all the nutters are. However, I didn´t find it at all intimidating and there were lots of guys with small children on their shoulders. Every one was so friendly and all the men around me talked to me. One old guy next to me tried to trick me by telling me that it is tradition for girls to strip off when Boca score a goal. I told him I was foreign not stupid. His grandson was just mesmerized by me whichwas quit funny. Evbery time I spoke he just stared at me with wide eyes and open mouth. Ì don´t know why - think it was just because I was foreign and I was telling the old guy about football matche in England. Maybe the boy was more interested in what I was saying than me - don´t know .....but it was funny.
Another difference is that there are cheer leaders at Argy games. Girls in bikinis doing acrobatic dancers at half time. I´m sure a lot of you would welcome this being introduced at home!
The songs are different as well. They seem to be proper songs rather than just two liners that we chant at home. The seem to have a chorus and various verses. I couldn´t make out all the words so I can´t really relay whether they were as insulting as ours. However, just as we do at home, they do seem to mention their main rivals in their songs - so in this case it was River Plate that they were refering to.
There were no big screens - but someone told me that they do have them at River Plate - so maybe its just that Boca is too old. It does look quite old. Its capacity is about 40 000 and it was full last night.
There were lots of pictures of Maradona everywhere and they all kept asking me if I knew who he was ....so obviously I told them that I didn´t like him because of the hand of God ......and they all laughed. Hmm funny for them - not for us hey!
My new house is a snazzy apartment in a fancy part of town. Its just like a London new build apartment with two bedrooms and two bathrooms and all mod cons. Stuff roughing in it - I am made for better things! The dog hairs, the dirt and the decrepidness of the other palce just did my head in. Now I am sharing with an American property developer - far more my scene. The other girl couldn´t sing anyway and that was her only attractive trait. The only probalem I forse with the new place is the lack of hairdryer .....but that can be rectified. Oh and the bonus is that the American is going to Columbia for ten days so i will ahev the place to myself for a long time anyway. I don´t go in for communality at all time! (is thata word? - comunality). Well it is now.
Ok, got to go to a class now so hasta leugo
Besitos
S
Three main pieces of news today. 1 - I went to the football last night. 2 - I just got 83% in my most recent exam and so I will now be moving into the advanced level, and 3 - I have moved house.
I saw Boca Juniors play against a Peruvian team last night (don´t remember the name of the Peruvians) and Boca won 3 -0. It was quite an experience and there were lots of differences to a game in England. The main thing that I noticed was how they never ever passed the ball backwards! I only really saw about three square passes as well. Every ball goes forwards and it is more or less one touch football. If they can´t see a free player within about four seconds they just boot it forward and hope someone will get there ......and quite often they do because they all run at full speed all the time. Also as soon as they are near the bnox they are shooting like their life depends on it. Very different to the cautious play in England .......or is it just that I am used to watching Tottenham!
I stood in the populas area where supposedly all the nutters are. However, I didn´t find it at all intimidating and there were lots of guys with small children on their shoulders. Every one was so friendly and all the men around me talked to me. One old guy next to me tried to trick me by telling me that it is tradition for girls to strip off when Boca score a goal. I told him I was foreign not stupid. His grandson was just mesmerized by me whichwas quit funny. Evbery time I spoke he just stared at me with wide eyes and open mouth. Ì don´t know why - think it was just because I was foreign and I was telling the old guy about football matche in England. Maybe the boy was more interested in what I was saying than me - don´t know .....but it was funny.
Another difference is that there are cheer leaders at Argy games. Girls in bikinis doing acrobatic dancers at half time. I´m sure a lot of you would welcome this being introduced at home!
The songs are different as well. They seem to be proper songs rather than just two liners that we chant at home. The seem to have a chorus and various verses. I couldn´t make out all the words so I can´t really relay whether they were as insulting as ours. However, just as we do at home, they do seem to mention their main rivals in their songs - so in this case it was River Plate that they were refering to.
There were no big screens - but someone told me that they do have them at River Plate - so maybe its just that Boca is too old. It does look quite old. Its capacity is about 40 000 and it was full last night.
There were lots of pictures of Maradona everywhere and they all kept asking me if I knew who he was ....so obviously I told them that I didn´t like him because of the hand of God ......and they all laughed. Hmm funny for them - not for us hey!
My new house is a snazzy apartment in a fancy part of town. Its just like a London new build apartment with two bedrooms and two bathrooms and all mod cons. Stuff roughing in it - I am made for better things! The dog hairs, the dirt and the decrepidness of the other palce just did my head in. Now I am sharing with an American property developer - far more my scene. The other girl couldn´t sing anyway and that was her only attractive trait. The only probalem I forse with the new place is the lack of hairdryer .....but that can be rectified. Oh and the bonus is that the American is going to Columbia for ten days so i will ahev the place to myself for a long time anyway. I don´t go in for communality at all time! (is thata word? - comunality). Well it is now.
Ok, got to go to a class now so hasta leugo
Besitos
S
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