Una semana mas!

Hola amigos!

Well one week left..! Cant believe it..!!

Anyhow.. the last week I have been taking it easy due to cough cold thingy... and paramedic is scheduled to pick me up from Heathrow.. but dont worry if Lizs new bf!

Saturday I went to Recoleta Market again!! So many artisanian stalls, great fun to walk around. Love living here.. although not liking living alone still.. but throughly enjoying Recoleta Park on my doorstep.. and actually being in Recolate.. Location, location, location...!

In the afternoon Juan picked me up and we went to the rugby.. Argentina Vs Ireland.. Now I decided to support Ireland.. being European and all that. Big mistake, they sucked!! Happily I learnt afterwards that it was mostly an experimental young team.. Well had great seats, 9 rows from the front, in the middle of the pitch.. Heard both anthems which was cool.. as not heard Argentinian one before! Stadium porbably 60 percent full. They had the same song as the football.. jump if you support Argentina and if you are not jumping you must be Irish! Well first half Ireland had more chances.. but had sever case in the whole team of butterfingers..! They missed 3 penalty kicks.. poor chap.. incluing one which was right infront of the post.. I could talk about the bright sunshine and wind.. but that would be generous! So by half time Argetina were 9 nil up from 3 kicks.. Second half Ireland squandered so many chances.. including getting very close to a try... and in the dying minutes Argentina scored a try and converter too making it 16 nil...!!

Sunday I met up with Ana, a UK world traveller who I met in Chile.. she had been to Peru and Bolivia the last few weeks. Great to catch up, hang out in a hostel and meet world travellers.. not any of those volunteering for LIFE.. I forgot how much I love hostels.. and sofas!! Anyhow we went to San Telmo market.. is supposed to be antiques.. but is a collection of everything... Headed to La Boca and Calle Caminito.. very colourful street with free tango shows in restaurants.. well not exactly free as you pay to eat and drink there.. and then tip the dancers...! Discovered a great place to eat that evening.. The Pacifico Shopping Mall on Florida and Cordoba!! Because it is like trad US food court.. so you all get what you want.. huge choice, sushi, burgers, steak, salad, ice creams etc.. and meet at the seats in the middle! Also good value and pretty tasty!

Monday I met Ana in Recoleta and we did the cementary, park, and shops.. Ana was due to fly home next week. but got a stand by BA ticket. so actually goes home Tuesday..! So we did some last minute things like french manicure.. very important to look good when flying!!! Im booked in next week for hair cut etc.. only 2 quid for manicure, 1 pound per leg wax etc...!! Anyhow.!! Went to food court again for dinner.. and had sushi.. but was smoked salmon so not really proper sushi really.. but I liked it! Got haviana flip flops.. apparently everyone is crazy about them and I have never heard of them until last week.. 20 quid in Uk.. or 3 in BA!!! Helped Ana pack and took leftover clothes for street kids...and books for me to read! Then headed to cafe and Cordoba to discuss the world...!!

Tuesday I went to Puerto Madeo to walk along the river, past the Opera Bar.. and heaps of restaurants. In early 1900s it was supposed to be the new port for BA.. but was too small I think for the new ships that were being built.. so it lay empty until 1980s then had grant to become fancy restauant area and is now booming! Very lovely walk .. which took me to Constantial Sur National Park.. which wasnt so beautiful.. a bit marshlandish.. but worth a look!

Wednesday I went to Rotary Club of Buenos Aires for lunch.. 180 people, some nice chaps looked after me and spoke English!! 3 course meal.. and as the wine flowwed my Spanish got better! Guest speaker talked about free market, and economics in Argetnina, followed by black market discussion.. wish I could have understood it.. Everyone very friendly, food great. Looking forward to my next Rotary meeting.. RCCB for handover!!!! La mejor club in todo el mundo!

In the afternoon I made birthday cakes.. Every Thursday LIFE goes to a different part of greater BA to celebtrate the brithdays of the kids that month, gives them card and small present, and everyone has cake and volunteers help play games etc.. So put dulce de leche.. and cream and icing on these 3 huge cakes...

In the evening it was tango.... After a galss of beer I was more comfy dancing with strange men! The beginners class wnet over the sma ebasic steps, then I watched the intermediates and advanced classes.. big jump from beginner to intermediate.. Danced with a few people.. one chap was a bit taken back by my flipflops.. well Im a traveller.. am I supposed to have 4 inch high tango shoes in my rucksack for the 2 nights out of 150 that I need them??? Another chao taught me the ocho step.. kindof a swivel thing..! And all the teachers were dancing at the end, when there was free dance.. so it was fab. better than paying 30 quid for a rehearsed big show I think!! Rolled home at the obligatory 4am.....

Thursday was catching up on sleep! And also a walk along Cordoba, Corrientes, and soem otehr streets. Picked up my tikcet for Muerte de un viajante.. Arthur Millers Death of a Salesman for Friday night.

In the afternoon I went with 12 other volunteers to the birthday party, proudly carrying a cake... we had three big ones. Id been there before a few weeks ago to teach English. We decortaed the room, there was no electricity.. so the LIFE van was paerked near the door to shine headlights in! Spent some time playign with the kids.. imagine me playing football with soem locla Argentinina children.. was fun!! Nice to play as well as help with more practiucal thigns like school work. We did the grand singing bilingually, and cutting of the cakes, and the birthday children had presents. I also helped to make ballooon swords.. which the children will play with later! Back to the flat and hangign out with soem volunteers.. dicussing the meanign of volunteering.. and hwo we feel about the world now that we have seen a bit of it.. and also how much ahve we chnaged.. no idea for me.. Ill let you all decide that!!!

Friday, Hoy, I went to get my ferry ticket for Uruaguay.. but forgot my passport so will try again a tomorrow!! I then wnet to School Support with only 3 other volunteers. It really varies how many peopel you ahve each shift.. There were 20 kids, all very sweet mostly!! Makes me miss Brownies! I spemt most of the time playign pairs with fruit... and supervising colourign in.. my new phrase is Que Queries hacer? ie what do you want to do..? And the answer.. Im not sure!!!

Tonight was Death of a Salesman, which I studied at GCSE and loved. I should say it was all in Spanish.. had enough trouble understanding the girl giving me directions to my seat.. let alone the play! It was at the Paseo La Plaza, Picasso Teatro on 1660 Corrientes, and runs until end of June. Full house, and very nice audience. I sat at end of row, and didnt cough.. phycological I think as I could have made a quick exit if needed.. I was back row last seat! Was like Sherman in Cardiff, the main venue. Ticket was 5 quid. Was great. Even though I didnt understand most of the words.. I knew the play.. and you could easily get the emotion. The requim was great, especially the very last bit. A famous actor was Will L.. but I had never heard of him.. And got a nice taxi home.. the one I took two days ago took me the wrong way three times.. !!! They dont half try it!!

Manana, Juan is taking me to Tigre for the day.. its about 45 mins from here, and is very beautiful so Im told, especially on a sunny day!

I should mention that alfahores (like a chocolate biscuit but bteer) and empanadas (mini cornish pasties, or with cheese, ham, chicken) are fab food here!!! As are submairnos.. which is hot milk served with a chocolate bar that you put in the milk.. which melts and becomes hot chocloate!!

Ciao!! (they say that a lot here!!)

Mich
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PS photos to follow!!

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