The trainer wheels are off!

When the Wright brothers dreamt up flying, they didn´t imagine it becoming such a massive phenomenom. Nor would they have imagined it taking people the entire width of the Pacific Ocean. Furthermore, had they truely believed such things were possible, then they might have considered the possibility of a 6´5 kiwi boy needing somewhat more leg space then a 4´3 Chilean woman, who may coincidentally be seated beside the awkwardly folded giraffe like form of the disenchanted boy. Needless to say, they did not see it coming.
The flight crew aboard the predominantly spanish speaking aircraft, on which I travelled, did
Thank you, Aerolinas Argentinas.

In flight, whilst Tracey assumed some of her 42 attempted sleeping positions, I toiled over an alledged IQ rating puzzle. A puzzle on which I scored a rating of genius. Needless to say the puzzle was flawed. Not only was I limited to the common rank of genius, but the puzzles peices were unable to configured to assume some of the shapes pictured on the packaging.
I intend to write a letter!

My genius was not required in customs tho. Argentinian customs was easier to get thru then sneaking past quality control at the KFC suppliers. Tracey actually decided not to put her back pack through the X-Ray, to which no one protested. I don´t even know if the X-Ray machine was turned on. In contrast to the customs, communicating where we wanted to go to the friendly taxi driver was somewhat more difficult.

Having eventually got the co-ordinates to the hostel communicated to the driver, I began ripping out some spanish questions. Nearly every question was greeted with a more then adequate answer, the content of which was a complete mystery to me. Tracey wasn´t basking in my glorious bilingual talents, but instead trying to position herself in a way that may lessen the impact from a rather likely crash. (Drivers in Argentina have absolutly no regard for any traffic laws!). There was alot of delapidated buildings in the outer districts of Buenos Aires, that were clearly the ghettos and slums. You would never imagine anything like these neighbourhoods in Aotearoa. It looked alot like the trash lands surrounding the city in The Labyrinth.

The moment we arrived at our hostel I ducked into the room for a quick nap. 16 hours later (and hungry) I emerged into monday morning. We didn´t waste any time getting to breakfast, where we meet some irishmen, and a strange 6´8 american who goes by the name Sunshine, and always speaks with a sarcastic tone, (that is a little confusing, especially because his jokes are also based on sarcasm).

Breakfasts consist of honey puffs, fruit, bread, and condensed milk style caramel. (Uncle Mark, you should visit!) I don´t know what the caramel is specifically used for, but people seem to put it everywhere, on bananas, toast cereal, and wherever else they may fancy.

Much like steping out from the house in Beetle Juice stepping out into Buenos Aires is a bit intimidating. It is much bigger and busier then any other place I have been, and everybody is moving in different directions at frantic speeds. Motorists are insane, and crossing the road was a real test for the first few days. Av 9. de julio is the main street in town, and is 20 lanes wide. You can´t cross in one go. Dogs shit is everywhere, and the dogs responsible roam with dog walkers in groups of 10, or they laze the day away in fenced in parks, supervised by a highly qualified dog superviser, who has special dog supervising skills, and and a comprehensive understanding of the canine psyche no doubt. It is pretty crazy.

This week we have assumed the role of explorers. (If I had to choose a specific character, I´d say I could be likened to Indiana Jones in my adventures, and tracey is probably more like a sidekick.)
We wandered through the stirring city of the dead in Recoleta, ate cheap food, strolled through the crowded streets of the San Telmo markets, and ate cheap food. We hired bicycles and rolled around the reserve on the shores of the Rio de la plata, ate cheap food, and taught some locals how we don´t play much futbol back home in New Zealand at the local futbol park.
We browsed the shops down Florida, and marvelled at the monuments that are scattered throughout the enormous city. We stood back and made awe sounds as we looked at the architecture, and ate cheap food. Occasionaly we would have a break from exploring, and go to a restaurant, where we ate cheap food.

We actually had some food that wasn´t that cheap. We went to Puerto Madero (The waterfront) with the english, and a couple of germans, to dine at one of the finest steakhouses in town (Las Lilas). I had the rump (15 gangstas). When I say it wasn´t cheap, it cost me $50 NZ for delicious breads, superb steak, an antipasto, and mineral water, with brilliant service. I´d probably expect to pay a bit more in Wellington.

I have been competing against Manuel in ping pong. He is a fearce competitor, and after each game in which he beats me, he proclaims himself champion, by simply saying (in a chilean accent) champeon! He also dominated in our futbol game. I think his abilities reflect Chilles two most popular sports (Tennis and futbol). The other chilleans are constantly obsessed with their national drink, PISCO! (as i often hear it shouted in the bar).

We will continue to explore the streets and restaurants of Buenos Aires for a few more weeks, before we jump a bus and embark on our next episode. The Journey to Iguazu Falls.

Don´t worry mum, It´s all going fantastically

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