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Published: March 22nd 2006
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View from my bedroom
Yes, this is the inspiration that helps me to wake up in the morning. I arrived Sunday morning after a surprisingly easy 20-hour bus ride. I was also more prepared this time, more so than I was when we went to Iguazu Falls. I put in my earplugs, blew up my travel pillow and was out like a light for a good eight hours until some ass opened the curtains at about 7am so I had sharp rays of daylight that woke me up. But when I arrived at the bus station, I asked for a map and decided against taking a taxi so that I could find my own way into town. I took a bus that led to the middle of town and walked the rest of the way, which wasn't that far. I arrived to my homestay around 11am and my 'mom for two weeks', Silvia, greeted me and showed me around. The house is quite large, and it looks like a winter Mammoth cabin. It's four levels, including her basement art studio. My room is the top floor where there are two bedrooms and there is a student from Iceland who sleeps there. The house is full! Silvia has four kids that live in the house, and there are three students.
Coast1
In the building there is an ice skating rink! So eight people in a house is a foreign concept for an only child like me. Breaks down like this:
Silvia - Mom
Pedro - 11
Clara - 13
Francisco - 17
David - 26
Eva - 24
Tara - 26
Vanonh - 28ish - she just arrived yesterday
Anyhoo, when I arrived in the morning, I wasn't at all tired, so Silvia recommended a place that I could go running. There is a road that follows the coast, so I expelled lots of energy battling with the ferocious wind that was trying to prevent me from doing what I wanted to do. It was a beautiful crisp day, so much fresher and cleaner than BsAs. The town borders the Rio Negro, and it is breathtaking. You can see from the photos, especially from my bedroom window, why this is becoming a favorite place to travel for many. I spent some time exploring the small downtown area and window shopping. There has been in influx of tourism in the last couple of years so prices are quite a bit higher than in Buenos Aires. But the produce is fantabulous and I found a 'natural' bakery that makes wonderful
Beach
Two men on a date 'pan integral' and good for you cookies (ya right, that's just what I tell myself).
Went to school on Monday morning, which is less than a ten minute walk. There are only about 7 students right now, and there are 1-2 people to a class, even though we pay group prices. I am not happy with the instruction, nor are the other students, but it's because this school has only had it's doors open for little over one month. The teaching in BsAs has really spoiled us, so I'm just grateful that I didn't choose to spend my entire program here. I am just here to profit from the beautiful atmosphere and to detox my lungs.
This weekend Eva and I are thinking of doing a multiple day hike, where they give you a map and tell you about people who have extra rooms to stay in so that we don't have to rent camping equipment. I'm going to search for more info, but it sounds exciting...and COLD! But, really, now the temperature is a refreshing kind of cold, where during the day you need only a sweater with maybe a scarf, and at night a jacket.
Coast2
Another coast shot. I love how you can see the layering of the mountains. There is sort of a nightlife here. Eva, David, me, and two of Eva's school friends went out on Monday night and managed to stay out until 4. It was a great night because we did a lot of culture and language sharing because there was a representative from England, Iceland, Argentina, and 2 from the States. David is really a good guy and he will be good practice for my Spanish.
I was planning to leave Bariloche on the 1st to return to BsAs, but my friend Astrid (the one with whom I went to Iguazu) proposed that I go with her to El Calafate and then to El Chalten, which are more to the south. There are glacier parks and many many hikes to do. I found a super cheap flight (90USD) from El Calafate to BsAs, so I decided to do it. The only thing I have to do is find a way down there. I went to the bus station yesterday and there is one company that takes me pretty close (300km away), but the ride is for 26 hours and it's in a less comfortable bus than what I have been taking. I spent
Centro Civico
This the square where most town buildings are...there was a small music festival when I discovered it on Sunday. almost two hours yesterday to figure out possible combinations and this one is the most economic, at 50USD. I think I will just suck it up and down a bottle of tequila before I get on the bus so I won't remember how uncomfortable it was!! :-)
¿Qué más? Nada. Hasta luego.
Tara
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