bhagestedt

Well, I've arrived safely here in Durham. After the long flight, I waddled into the airport with all of my baggage. Having planned on being alone and having to manage all of my baggage I had carefully selected my large hiking backpack, an enormous rolling duffel bag, and a rolling carry-on bag (on which I could rest the smaller bag containing my computer and other electronics). I was all ready to have to open my baggage at customs, and so had chosen to situate everything on a rolling cart rather than set myself up (logistically this could take several minutes) only to have to do it again. However, no one even blinked an eye at me as I maneuvered out of the secured areas. So, I rolled myself out of the gate (eyeing the signs for ... read more

On Monday morning I arrived at 9 am in Puerto Iguazu (a small town with not a lot to offer) after a 20 hour bus ride from Rosario. From town I hopped in a taxi and headed over to my hostel. I'm staying at the Hostel Inn, which is lovely, huge, and actually has a slightly disappointing staff (since most of them refuse to speak spanish with a native english speaker, and a couple that seem to not even know spanish)! I feel like I am staying in a tropical paradise getaway. After I got over the shock of the hostel and had a shower I headed out with some of the girls that are staying in the same room as I am to check out the falls. We spent the whole day walking around the ... read more

Well, today was the first game for Argentina in the World Cup and man is it good to be in a fútbol crazy nation! People keep asking me if I'm going for the U.S. or for Argentina and unfortunately I have to tell them that I'm going for Argentina since I don't think that the U.S. really has a chance. However, as I read in one of the fútbol reviews, every World Cup the U.S. plays less soccer and more fútbol (rough translation)! I don't know though, I think that we'll have to wait and see when the U.S. plays their first game on Monday. Anyway, Argentina (for the grand majority in the U.S. who do not follow the World Cup) won their match against Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast or Costa de Marfil, take your pick ... read more

Tierra del Fuego is one of the most amazing places in the entire world. I said once (actually more than once, but who's counting) that I would love to be able to live in Mendoza, and the same sentiment goes for Tierra del Fuego. It's not that I have any strong attraction to the city of Ushuaia, in fact while it's nice it's just another one of those tourist towns that seem to be scattered around the world, however I am absolutely in love with the beautiful scenery that overwhelmes everything else. We spent the entire morning and early afternoon on Saturday at the National Park of Tierra del Fuego, wandering around in the forest, looking at the lakes and the Beagle Channel. It was amazing to see the difference between the forests that we have ... read more

This morning we flew down from Calafate to Ushuaia, which is the southernmost city in the entire world. It is beautiful here, for me more beautiful than the area surrounding Calafate. There it was too flat, there were too few trees, and everything appeared to be too dry. Here it is completely different. The town is ringed with mountains, their peaks covered with snow and their slopes covered with trees. The town juts up against a bay that is part of the Beagle Channel, the water is beautiful and there is wildlife everywhere the minute that you hit the edge of town. After we got here today we took a trip to the old prison that used to house some of the most dangerous criminals from across the country. After the 1950's or so the prison ... read more

Well, it seems like everyone from the program went travelling this weekend with the exception of Stephanie and myself, so we spent the time that we had together. I also spent a fair amount of time with my Argentine friends. Unfortunately, Charly and I had a bit of a falling out, something about him wanting to date me and me not really wanting to have a commitment to anyone with only a month left in Rosario. Something like that. However, I did have a chance to rediscover my great friend Cristian! It was wonderful. We went out to a club called Bonita (aka Satchmo) together on Thursday night just the two of us. We danced and had a drink and then ended up walking home and talking about what he would do with his life if ... read more

Oh, how could I anything but love the Gaucho culture? Alright well, I guess that I should first explain for everyone exactly what constitutes gaucho culture! Basically it is the local version of cowboy culture. The men work on estancias and have a long history in the country. They are know to be hard workers and to know everything about the land, tracking, local wildlife, horses, and of course raising the some of the best beef in the world! The entire program spent the day on an estancia close to Victoria in Entre Rios. It was one of the most gorgeous places that I have been in this part of the country. I tend to start missing hills and mountains most of the time when I look at a landscape around here, but this was an ... read more