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Published: July 26th 2006
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FUNNY THINGS ABOUT ARGENTINA/BOLIVIA
-In Argentina, along with other South American countries, many if not most small intersections are without stop lights and stop signs. No wonder so many people have pictures of Jesus dangling from their rearview mirrors.
-My patience has grown like hair here: slowly but always longer, although someone with a sharp enough edge can always cut it short
-There are two levels of romantic relaitonships here: the first level is, as someone here in Tarija explained to me last night, is basically someone you kiss & hold hands with, but nothing more. Then you have, after some time, the normal girlfriend level.
-They use, instead of brooms, giant leafy branches from trees to sweep the streets. It works better, in fact, and you can just throw away the broom when you are done. Genius!
-There is some serious racism in Argentina when it comes to how they talk about the indigenous. They call them "savages". Wow. The only thing they disrespect more is Bolivian wine.
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Hola,
!!!I have less than a week left!!!
I left Puerto Iguazu for Salta two weekends ago (on a 29 hour bus ride) and spent close to a week
Pictures from border crossing between Argentina and Bolivia (Aguas Blancas)
Yep, that is coca they are munching on, coming from the typical green bag. It is like a coffee break here except with more... spit. there, which I could not have enjoyed more. I stayed at a nice little hostel and spent a lot of time wandering around, exercising, and working. My job has turned out wonderfully: I am able to work as much as I want, when I want, and where I want, making Canadian dollars. So, to cover the numerous steak dinners I pouned back over the last while as well to get ready for school, I have been working about six hours a day, five days a week. Salta is a great place to do it, too: it has a slow, sophistacted, tranquil feel but also one of excitement, like an old lady opening a christmas present.
My last night there I went for my last meal (and I use the phrase purposefully) at "El Viejo Jack" (the old jack), Salta's most renounned steak house/gringo haven. I ate the - THE - largest steak I have ever seen, I would guess being about 35 ozes. The waiter was taken aback: apparently these are usually for two people, which was no surprise. I topped it off with a nice bottle of wine, two SalteƱas (pastry filled with meat, onion etc.) and a
salad. The cheque came with a wheelbarrel.
On our way out we ran into some friends of one of the guys I was eating with. They turned to the other two of us and said "Are you two Israelli?" to which I said, of course, no. "You seemed like you might have been", to which I quickly replied "I guess we spoke too loudly, then!". A hush went over the table. Despite the fact that these guys spoke with a perfect accent they were from Telaviv. Oops. I grinned stupidly and moonwalked out of the restaurant. (Israellis are known for being very, very loud in groups and quite inconsiderate. That being said I have had some great experiences with Israellis, such as Ohad, but....ya)
Sunday I spent 10 hours on a bus to get my back to Bolivia, crossing the most lax border crossing I have ever seen. Apparently my white skin spoke more loudly than my passport and the border gaurd wafted me through. Unfortunetely he didn't give me a visa, either, so I spent three hours monday waiting in immigration for a stamp. Fun times...
Tarija is a wonderful town with the perfect mix of
style and casualness. I am glad to be back to the Bolivian aura, where time just seems to tick a little slower. Since this town is very, very untouristy (I haven't seen another gringo in four days) there are no hostels per se, so I got a private room with a private bathroom and a TV. This will be the first time I have been alone in almost seven months. It feels goooood.
Tomorrow morning I fly out to La Paz where I spend the remainder of my time shoping and breathing in the vibe. I am wondering whether I will stay in a private room or do one last hostel jaunt. I have mixed feelings about going home, but I feel like the timing is just right. I am ready for my own room, my own computer, my family, my friends, my bike, my life. I will certainly miss the atmosphere here, though, as my heart has started beating more slowly, my steps have become less hurried, and strangers have become less strange. I know I will continue to travel a lot over the next few years...
Ciao for now, see you soon!
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Christine
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Homecoming?
Noel... sounds like an amazing trip. Your journal's been keeping me entertained at work... so thank you! :P You still thinking about UBC for the fall or are we gonna see you in MTRL??? ~Bernier