Advertisement
Published: August 4th 2005
Edit Blog Post
Asado time!
a few of us at a bbq Gary put on for us - Gaz is such a legend, hes in the blue t-shirt with his arm around his wife. As i lay in my bed, head in the bin, being violently sick, it dawned on me that im going to need time to get used to Argentine measures. We went out last night for Jos birthday, it was all going really well up until we went to a bar after the meal. Barmen here are extremely generous to say the least when it comes to alcohol. They like their drinks strong, with barely any mixer, sometimes none at all so you´re left drinking what tastes like pure alcohol. I swear, i only had three drinks last night, just three. Admittedly, i may have drank the last one a tad quick. I cant remember the taxi ride home, but i thought i was fine until i got into bed and my body decided that being horizontal was not a good idea, and decided to purge itself. Ive learnt my lesson, im suffering today like never before. I think in future one or two drinks will be enough, how crazy is that?!
I thought i´d tell you a little about life in BA. I like going to the supermarket, Jumbo, because i walk past a military place and the men all stand in their uniforms looking mean and menacing, brandishing their guns as if the place is about to get stormed.
Its also completely normal for men in the street to openly perve on you and comment on how attractive you are. At least i think thats what they´re saying. Its the same in Spain, but i think it happens more here. I was walking down the street this morning and one man was unloading stuff from his van. He had things in his hands and a pen in his mouth, yet he took the trouble to rearrange his stuff and take the pen out of his mouth in order to make a comment. Its so funny, as if you´re going to stop and thank them for the compliment and throw your number at them.
Crossing the street is taking your life in your hands, probably not as bad as Italy, but frightening nontheless. Taking the bus, you have to jump into the road and flag it down, jump on, and hold on for dear life because the bus driver doesnt stop to wait while you put your money in the machine. Journeys take ages, you should pray you get a seat because there is no such thing as a full bus. Coming back from boca the other night, it was like playing sardines. Despite no-one getting off and less and less breathing space, the driver let as many people on as wanted to come on. The map i have of BA only shows the main central area, and we stay mainly in the bottom quarter of the map. Yet just crossing from one side of that quarter to another takes an hour - BA is MASSIVE! Its like London when you want to go out, theres no main area with all the bars and restaurants; you have to know of a particular place and get in a taxi to go there. Its also incredibly cheap. Travelling for an hour across the city on the bus costs 20p, and our meal last night, including wine, cost 8 pounds - and thats fairly expensive. Going to Jumbo and stocking up on food and toiletries and stuff yesterday, i ended up carrying two full bags - for just 4 quid. I love how BA is so cosmopolitan, there are so many different races here, from the European descendants to indigenous South Americans.
Gary the hostel owner is so friendly, but beware asking him anything because you´ll be stuck in conversation for the next half an hour. The other travellers are all so nice, and there´s a few characters. Jamie is a hippy at heart, a chain smoker and comes out with bollocks a lot of the time, like looking at a painting in the restaurant and commenting that he liked the red colour coz it was ´proper red´. Ricky the new guy has been knicknamed the mute because he just doesnt talk. Kath and i tried to solicite some responses from him last night, but its like trying to get blood out of a stone. All one word answers. Paul and Chris have known each other since school and are funny to watch when they argue, they´re such a married couple. Rosie came on the same day as me and Lisa. She must be brave, shes only just turned 17, still in school. She looks about 11, so we had Operation Rosie last night, trying to dress her up for the bars. Mitin is wonderfully camp, calling everyone darling a lot. He cant do anything for himself, he scrounges food because he cant cook and takes taxis everywhere. God help him when he goes to uni.
So thats just a little insight, thought id give you all a taster. I think i may go back to bed now, my body is punishing me for punishing it. im never drinking again : )
love to all, missing Blighty a lot.
Advertisement
Tot: 0.151s; Tpl: 0.01s; cc: 8; qc: 61; dbt: 0.081s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb
Anna I
non-member comment
Smithers! Loving the travel chat, especially the bit about you being too blind to see the bus numbers - get some flipping glasses girl! Good to see youre still on true Smithy form drinking-wise, the Thistles should be proud of their little protege! Keep us updated, mwah! Anna xxxxxxxx