The adventure has begun!

Already two and a half weeks have gone by and while feeling like just yesterday we set out on this adventure, the time still seems infinite in front of us. The urge to communicate is pressing more every minute, but big picture, seems to be coming along surely, even though still slowly, enough. I am forced to take my time and be deliberate with my words. Quite a daunting task when you’re in a country known for having the quickest tongues around. Delving back to my primary years in Spanish is working, yet Castellano is such a different sound -a melody. Literally like everyone is singing around me (not to mention Danas actual belting of "Marry Me" by Train everyday all day -which I LOVE) and my flow is a tad broken, leaving me to observe and listen -two fascinating and empowering tools. Being such a jovial and outgoing person, leaving others to guess at my persona is tough. With all of Dana’s amigas, though, life has been made easier as they are extremely patient, leaving me with more confidence to practice and engage with them. Reflecting and being leisurely with my time are gifts I have rarely taken advantage of in my twenty-two years, and now, with all the time at my fingertips now I plan to do just that.


Our trip began with us having to pay a US$140 entrance fee (apparently because we do the same to them... way to go US -haha pun intended). We then took a bus downtown and arrived in the booming ciudad de Buenos Aires where we stayed with 3 amigas de Dana en un departamento in Recoleta blocks away from Evita Peron’s grave, la calle 9 de Julio (honoring their Independence Day and infamous for spanning an entire block -seven lanes in each direction and is flanked on either side by streets with an additional four lanes. The distance between adjacent streets is roughly 110 meters, greater than the equivalent distance in Manhattan, New York) and Called Florida (an incredibly long pedestrian street filled with shops, cafes and beautiful buildings -not to mention, our second Starbucks find!).

After spending a week wandering around, seeing a traditional gaucho Rodeo, slacklining, drinking Mate in one of the largest cities in the world, we made our way to Rosario. A quieter city, but still a large one, nonetheless. Arriving at 7pm on a Saturday night without hostel reservations may sound silly looking back now, but we had no idea what we were getting into. After trekking well over a dozen blocks in circles and asking directions our backs ached and we gave in hailing a cab. We had our handy Lonely Planet Guide (thanks to Sandra!) and had looked up the cheapest spot to stay. When the cab left and the lady on the speaker outside the hostel said they had no room, we hailed yet another cab because our second option was over 20 blocks back over our path. Once again, after the cab had left and the lady on the speaker outside the hostel said they had no room, we began to feel a tad nervous (given that there are hundreds of places to stay in Rosario, it wasn’t too much of a crunch but we had even come up with the plan of going to a 24hr cyber, or internet cafe, and taking turns sleeping). So we hoofed it to the next hostel, refusing to pay yet another taxi fare, where we finally were let in. But the relief of setting our bags down was quickly pulled from under us when they too informed us that they had no room. Not a single bed -we were dumbfounded.


The sweetest chica working at the front called nine different hostels with no luck before a Brasilero (Brazilian) suggested we try this one he had previously stayed in, and we finally found two beds! We decided to make a deposit on a spot for the following three nights as we couldn’t imagine going through all that hassle over again. The Brasilero and another friend kindly walked us to the other hostel and we hunkered down for the night with waaay too many laughs and a tight squeeze of a snuggle in one single bed. We rode bikes up the river’s coast, met The Wanderer in the park while being pooped on from above and watching our stray dog friend eat at least three birds, and then left a quick four days after for the city of Córdoba.


Without much prior planning, Natasha and Adrian (Sandra’s cousins, an incredibly loving and compassionate couple) picked us up from the bus platform and drove us out to Villa Carlos Paz where we were to stay with Tia Lidia y YiYi (Sandra’s aunt and uncle, a ridiculously hilarious and inviting pair). They showed us la ciudad y el lago and then took us to their house for a home cooked meal of tortellini (actually a relative of tortellini, because they were circle shaped, not square... but the name has escaped me now) and lemon pie (Natasha has her own business called Plaza Ducle (you can find her on facebook!) where she does surprise breakfasts and makes all sorts of delectable treats!). Once we got to the cabañas we drank Mate and chatted for hours to only get picked up again and go out for dinner (at 10pm! -normal here...) at a place called Angus in town.

I cannot even begin to describe the palatability of this pizza, but it is a must try. Don’t pose judgments, just do it! :) Eggs (yes! eggs!), onions (red and green), oregano and then pizza sauce and a slather of mozzarella... Fantastic! Then the next day tia brought us freshly baked Media Lunas (a pastry commonly eaten for breakfast with café con leche o sometimes during siesta time with friends and Mate) and delectable homemade tomato, yes tomato (we wouldn’t have guessed it while consuming it), jam (don’t worry, I have the recipe and am brining it home to share with all of you!). She then made us una ensalada for lunch and we went out again with Natasha and Adrian for empanadas and dulce de leche helado. Same thing the following day with slacklining, eating with the family (including an apple salad, without lettuce, and with mayonnaise...), and buying Danas first Mate! We left with much love and great friends for la ciudad de Córdoba to stay with muchas amigas.

We have laughed much, eaten more and have soaked up the heat here so far. Vikky y sus amigas have shown us around, taking us out, making dinner with us and chatting it up for hours about Manifestations over Terere (Mate con jugo!) y leche con chocolate.

Overall, we have struggled finding tortillas and have yet to find penutbutter, but have made several amazing new dishes including Dana’s mango salsa (with mangos, red peppers, onions, cilantro and limes), una tarta (with chale, onions, egg and cheese), y una pasta con salsa de atun (tuna, tomatoes, some sautéed veggies on top of pasta and we also did one without tomatoes and tuna, but with cream and cebollo -which is a fish that neither of us had heard of). Have so many things to try and places to see!

Bueno.

So far, so great!