Mendoza... where all the good wine comes from

First of all, Alex's mom was in town this past week! I was so happy, she brought me down some peanut butter (much needed) and some other stuff...which was amazing! Alex and I went out to dinner with her mom and her mom's friend on Fri night, and after we went to a Tango show. It was so so so cool! I can't even explain it, but it was an unforgettable experience!! I couldn't go out afterword though because I was leaving for Mendoza the next morning (my plane left at 6 so the taxi was picking me up from my house at 4...yeah, AM).



I found out that Christy was studying in Mendoza, and she invited me out to come spend a few days with her, and Alex's mom invited me to Mendoza with them, (for a few days later) so timing just worked out perfectly... I would fly in Saturday morning, spend Sat, Sun and part of Monday with Christy, then spend Mon, Tue and part of Wed with Alex, then fly to BsAs on Wed afternoon (just in time for our trip to Jujuy with our program.) It was a flawless plan and a good time was going to be had by all....



But being in Latin america, there were flaws. I got to the airport at 4:15, exausted, and the line for my airlines was LONG LONG LONG, ridiculously long. Note: the day before, Alex had told me that my airline had gone on strike, so I called the airlines, and they said that there was no strike, and that there would be no issues... WRONG. So I'm standing in line at the airport, and look up at the screen, and see that my flight was CANCELLED. Of course it was!!



I walked over to the booth for another airlines, which had NO LINE, and asked them if their 6:30 am flight had any room on it. It did, and I paid for my ticket. I texted Alex to let her know what was going on, I mean it was 4:30, she was still out partying! She informed me that her mom had fallen, broken her arm...and she was with her mom in the hospital. She was glad I got my new flight, and she'd see me in a few days (or so she thought).



The 2 hr plane ride went by real quick, cause I slept through the whole thing. When I turned my phone on in Mendoza, I had a text saying that Alex's mom couldn't fly for a week, and they wouldn't be coming to Mendoza. Great. Oh well, I was in Mendoza and I was going to enjoy it. I walked out of the airport and saw mountains, and NO buidings. It was one of the best feelings ever. The air was clean and it was quiet. I took in a good deep breath and headed out to go see Christy.

I found out later that her mom wasn´t able to travel for a week and that they wouldn´t be coming to Mendoza. Well fuck. Then I found out a little later that day that they would ALL be going home, to the US. So nobody would be coming, and I was stuck in Mendoza for a few days alone. Todo bien... almost.

The rest of the day was really relaxing... I found a hostel to stay in, then Christy and I walked around Mendoza for hours, talking, and seeing the sights. There is a huge park, with a huge lake and rowers and runners, and rollerbladers with fanny packs. I swear, this country LOVES the 80s and 90s. We went out for Middle eastern food, and had great conversation over a great bottle of wine. It was a lot of fun to catch up with my old friend!!

Then on Sunday, we rented a car (I just love to do that in Latin American countries) and we went on our self-guided tour through the Andes. IT WAS SO SO SO BEAUTIFUL. I had read everywhere that it was a beautiful loop, so we did it. We saw some huge peaks, and beautiful lakes. It was like driving over trail ridge road, with even better views... (a lot of it reminded me of driving in CO) about 1/2 of the drive consisted of winding, dirt roads. We got to see the water place (think of El Dorado or Deep rock) but it was nestled in the Andes. Absolutely amazing. We had lunch and more good wine and returned to Mendoza.

Monday was even better. We had the car for another 1/2 day, so we decided to tour the vineyards. I mean, we wer at the home of Malbec, how could I resist? We dressed up for the occasion, in our sun dresses, though you could tell Christy was from the south, and I clearly wasn´t. It´s all good. We started our day at Chandon, who´s Argentine branch was the the first branch out of France. There we took an English tour and learned all about how to make chapagne... absolutely amazing. After the tour, we had a wine tasting where we got to try a few varities of champagne and wine, accompanied by cheese. YUM!

Next on our agenda was Bodega Familia Zuccardi. This bodega was starred in both our guide books, so we had to go. However, despite Christy and my map reading and navigational skills, it still took us over an hour and a half to get there! The roads weren´t labeled (at all) and the map wasn´t even close to being to scale... recipie for failure. Although we arrived at the bodega about an hour late, our reservation for lunch was still valid. We walked down a small dirt road, through the vineyards to a beautiful restaurant, where we were served a 4 course lunch, all you can eat, from the parilla (grill) with (all you can drink) wine to go with each course. It was absolutely amazing. Needless to say, we were both very buzzed/drunk for the wine tour. It was in spanish and a little less exciting. I got to try wine at its different stages, straight out of the barrels, COOL!

We had to rush home so I wouldn´t miss my bus (that I was now taking, because I was going home early because Alex and her mom weren´t coming, so my flight would have been 2 days later). I dropped Christy off at home, then went to go return the rental car. The rental guy (a cute old man) asked how I was goign to get to the bus station, "taxi" I replied...

"No, Te llevo" (No, I´ll take you!) So I ran to the hostel to pick up my suitcase, ran back, and he was waiting with my stuff loaded in the car, and a bottle of wine for me, as a gift. So cute, (I had bought wine at the wineries too, so I had A LOT of wine with me). So I BARELY made my bus, like it was starting to pull out (THE ONE THING THAT LEFT ON TIME) but I made it.

My 14 hour bus ride didn´t seem that bad, thanks to my reclining seat, 2 meals, and 2 movies.

Overall, it was an amazing trip and although it didn´t all go according to plan, my time there was perfect. It was nice to get out of the city and have a change of pace (and weather) that reminded me so so so much of being back in Colorado.

I leave tonight for Jujuy, which is a province in Northwest Argentina, with my program. It should be a very fun trip, although I´ll be traveling with about 50 americans!!

Besos a todos!

Spring time in the city

The cold weather has finally left and it is springtime in the city. I absolutely love it!

I moved into my new house, with my new family, last Monday. They live in Recoleta, which is arguably the nicest neighborhood in BsAs. This is the neighborhood where the 4 seasons is....Louis Vuitton, Dior etc... and the Recoleta Cemetery, where Eva Peron is buried. Let's just leave it at that... it's really nice, and really safe.

My new family is AMAZING!!! I live with a young couple... and their 6 year old son, Oli (pronounced o-lee). He's adorable, and my parents treat me really well. I'm their first student, so they're really excited about everything, including EATING DINNER WITH ME. What a concept!? So they put their son to bed, then the 3 of us eat together and just talk. It's so amazing. I have a small room, but with my own bathroom connected to it. Its so nice. I live 11 blocks from school and about 6 from the (really really nice) gym... so I can walk, instead of taking the subway! It's just beautiful!

So it's been a lot warmer lately, but it's also really humid!! Like I will walk to class, and be COVERED in sweat...like I did walking in Costa Rica. It's disgusting. I just hope that the "summer time" here isn't that humid, but I have a feeling it will be. My body just has to adjust to the heat.

I took a walk around my neighborhood last week and discovered all the amazing gardens and grassy areas that are like 2 blocks away from my house. It was fabulous! There's a little cafe on the corner, with a patio, so I can sit out, and study, while being in the sun and having trees and grass around me. It's almost like being at home, minus all the noise, Spanish and pollution around me ;)

I'm in Mendoza this weekend (the wine country, on the very western coast of Argentina) visiting an old friend, Christy Tucker. We used to do triathlons together, since we were 7. She's studying abroad in Mendoza, and timing just worked out.... It's a long story, and it will all be in my next blog... expect it by Wednesday.

Uruguay

Last weekend me and the girls (Alex, Becca, Annie and Sarah W) took an adventure to Uruguay. We left by boat at 10am on Friday, and got to Colonia, Uruguay at like 1. After checking in to our super cute hostel, we f0und lunch. It was fab. It was in a little house, and the husband and wife cooked, and we were the only people in there, and they became our friends! YUM!

After lunch, we went to look around the town. It was really small, and really cold. But it´s supposed to be really cool cause there´s still a big part of town that is very historic, hence the name, Colonia. There were a lot of old buildings right on the water, and a lot of very cultural, historic sites. We had some very entertaining meals in Colonia, including eating at someone's hosue that they turned into a restaurant...then our 5 hour dinner at a place called "Drugstore". Fun times. The next day we went to Montevideo.

This city was nothing special at all. I wish I could say that I loved it. It was cold, dirty, and a less classy version of BsAs. We did walk around a lot and got a taste of Uruguyan culture. They're a lot more into their Mate... we bought mates, bombillas and yerba (the gord, straw and the herb) and enjoyed it when we arrived back at the Hostel, which was amazing. I feel like I got a true hostel experience. To make a LONG story short, there were about 50 of us in the room, playing guitars and singing, drinking bottles and bottles of wine and beer, and just chilling having a great time. I ended up going to a Boliche (dance club) with a few girls from the program and 2 british guys. Fun times.

After a long bus ride, then boat ride, and were back home in BsAs. I'm definitely glad that I went to Uruguay, it was just sad that it was SO friggin cold out. Maybe I'll go back for the beaches in November or December :)

A lot of nothing

So I realized that the blog that I was GOING to write last week, never was actually published, so I guess I´ll put that in now!!

Becca´s host mom has a friend who owns a ´leather factory´ and she invited us over to come check it out and buy some stuff! SCORE! We were stoked for boots and belts and jackets!! So we get there, and it ends up being a fur shop, not leather. It was amazing though! They made amazing fur jackets and scarves and shals etc... so we got there and we were like...hm.. that´s not what we expected... but her host mom told us to try it on, so we did!! IT WAS LIKE BIG GIRLS PLAYING DRESS UP! Fun times!

The food down here is amazing. I know I´ve already talked about the amazing and cheap Red wine...and even better (and cheap) beef... but the fruit..yum. Well, really, the Frutillas (strawberries.... no, they changed the name from fresas...don´t worry) and cream... Jared would appreciate this. But seriously. We ordered 2nds of this dessert...BOMB.

Everything here is ham and Cheese. I´m pretty sure I won´t want my favorite Ham and Cheese sandwich when I get home...

So the weekend of my 15k was Alex´s 21st birthday weekend. We were chillin after the gym and she was saying, I want to do something amazing for my birthday! So she did. She got a room in the 4 seasons hotel for 2 nights. She asked if I would stay with her to keep her company... and being the good friend that I am... I said yes :) This place was AMAZING, I can´t even describe it. We went out to 2 really nice dinners, watched some TV on the 10398120398 channels we had in the room, and just got to chill. The best part was after my 15k. I got home at like noon, and Alex was still asleep (she got in at 6am) so I was going to be quiet. I took a LONG bath in the HUGE bathtub... then showered in the huge, and HOT shower... Then I lounged around in my robe...reading. AH. So nice...

Everybody is late in this country, it´s kinda frusturating... I know what you´re thinking Bryan.... I´m always late, it´s the perfect place for me! Which yeah, it´s fine if I´m 20 min late for something... But class. I got there like 2 min late (thanks to public transportation) and NOBODY was in my classroom... NOBODY. I was like WTF? So I hung out by the classroom, and people slowly shifted in... Class eventually got started 25 min late! ANNOYING.

And finally, I went to an AMAZING Middle eastern restaurant with my neighbor, Trevor. (He lives 2 doors down from me, and we hang out. It´s convenient because there´s really nothing to do in our neighborhood, and I´ll get random calls at like midnight asking if I want to join him at the only bar in our neighborhood..... but side note) So we went out, and had the best dinner. I´m going to describe it cause my dad will appreciate it! We had an app of different typical toppings, like Hummus, babaganush (sp?) stuffed eggplant, and Lebnah, all with fresh Pita. There was also something on the plate that the watiress described as "meatloaf but not cooked". I have no idea what it was called, but it was nasty. There was also grape leaves stuffed with something. Yum. I got this Ground beef thing with something layered on top, NO IDEA what it was, but it was good. Then for dessert, we got an assortment of pastries, like baklavah and other types. It came with coffee, not just normal coffee, TURKISH COFFEE, and I liked it. Yay dad! Oh. We also got 2 bottles of wine. Yeah.... The dinner ended up being LESS THAN 30 dollars a person. Gotta love exchange rates!!


Sorry that was really long. I just get typing, and it just keeps going. xoxo

Well shit...

So I was sitting in a little cafe yesterday, updating my blog, enjoying a cafe con leche... and some asshole came and grabbed, by the screens, Alex and my laptops and booked it out the door. His friend was waiting on a motorcycle like a half a block away. So sadly, I dont have have my baby laptop any more.

I got done at the police station and am trying to change all my passwords and all the information that was saved on my computer. I know that their intention is not to go and try to fuck me as bad as possible (like they would probably do in the states) and that they just want to sell the computer, cause it is worth so much more down here... but I still dont want to feel violated and like all my information is out there and that someone has access to all that.

Anyway, it really sucks. However, the manager of the cafe we were in came with us to the police station to make sure everything was handled properly. When 2 advisors from our program came to make sure we were okay, he told them that if we didn´t have insurance on it, that he´d buy us a new one. So all isn´t lost..but it still sucks hardcore. I´m pissed and sad... no bueno.

15k is Nothing

Check it out... I did a 15k today. Running. I know. The whole race or fun run or whatever you want to call it is pretty cool. Adidas´ whole campaign is Impossible is Nothing, so their race was the 15k is nothing. I was very very happy with my time... I pulled a 54 min 10k and a 1:20 15k. Not shabby at all. I felt like I could have gone further...maybe a 1/2 marathon is in my near future. The walking today has consequently been a little slower and more painful.

I am still stoked at my accomplishment, especially because I was like... Hm, Im going to do this...


More blogs to come within 24 hours...and I have some fun stories, and pictures too!!

Public Transportation rules my life

So classes started last week. Well really, one of my classes at one of the universities that I'm attending. After taking the subway the the trolley, I walked into UCA (the Catholic University.) Its right on the water, so, yes, it was FREEZING cold at 8 in the morning. Needless to say, I decided that I'm not taking that class. The next day I went to another class, Ethics and Business, it was pretty cool. There were only like 30 people in my class, and I could understand my teacher pretty well. I don't start any more classes til the middle of next week. Until then, I'm just hanging out, walking around the city, and enjoying as much as I can here.

So I've been eating out every meal of every day. It's getting really old. There's no food at my house, and I am not going to go through the supermarkets, trying to get food, then try to cook it in the ghetto, ancient kitchen. So I've enjoyed the cafes and cute little restaurants. It's just getting pricey. I've tried some amazing red wines, and some bomb steaks. There's just a lot of awesome places, but they all have like the same menu. I am just ready to move. Apparently, I am going to meet my new host family this week, see their house, then I get to decide.

This weekend was pretty interesting. I was taking the bus home from dinner with Becca, (note, a little tipsy from all the wine) and it was pretty late. The bus was SUPER crowded, at like 11:45 pm. CRAZY. Anyway, I was planning on going home and passing out, but then got a text message. To make a LONG story short, I ended up going to a pool hall, and was the only girl there. It was a cool experience, but before I knew it, it was 5 am again. By the time I got home and fell asleep, it was 6am. So I slept a lot, went shopping at like 4, then met up with some girls for dinner. After, we went to the theater, which was AWESOME. It was really small, and they talked REALLY fast. Cool experience though. We went to some cool bars later...and again, before I knew it, it was 6 am... by the time I found a taxi and got home it was like 7:15. I slept like ALL DAY (minus a 1 1/2 run and a shower). It's just a different pace here.

I have a lot of pictures that I need to post, a lot of historical stuff, and some crazy city pictures. When I'm in one place for more than 15 min (that has internet) I'll do so. I'm having a great time, but I definitely miss home!!

Love you all! Ciao Ciao!