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Published: February 4th 2008
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I made it!
Ezeiza International Airport, Buenos Aires Day One, February 4th, 2008
So I´m here and I found a hostel and I´m safe. I already have so many interesting experiences to write about...and I don´t feel jetlagged at all. I got semi-duped by a taxi driver and let him take me to a crappy hostel that he said was very good. That was no big deal...I walked down the street a block and half and found a hostel called Cambacha hostel. I am the only American here. Every other person is Israeli...It is incredible! Some guys I met are leaving for Ushuaia tonight and others are headed to Iguazu. The bus to Ushuaia is 50 hours. I had no clue there were THIS many israelis here. At this hostel, it is 22 pesos (7 dollars) a night, good showers, lockers, internet and breakfast. The bed seems like it might be pretty comfortable also...I am going to head out and buy a little lock for my locker and then start exploring.
OK, so I´m back from exploring and had a great time! My first realization was that my hostel has the perfect location and it is right on Congress square which is also a beautiful park.
Plaza de Mayo
La Casa Rosada (Just like our White House!) Most of the city is so dirty and abandoned looking that even a little green patch astounds. I sat down in the park and breathed in my excitement that I had finally arrived! Then I checked the map...
I was right on track for Avenida 9 de Julio (The widest street in the world) and Plaza 25 de Mayo (Independence Square where the Casa Rosada is located which is like Argentina´s White House). So I started walking and quickly realized a hunger pain. It had been quite a while since a real meal...such is airplane travel. I walked a couple blocks down and almost walked right by an incredible Pizza and Empanada restaurant. Empanadas are stuffed half-moon pastries. I tried four different flavors (8 Pesos)and met two girls (one english, one swedish) in the process. As we were sitting in Congress Square eating, an older lady sat down next to me to get out of the sun. I started talking to her and discovered that she was 87, had lived in Buenos Aires for 66 years, and believed that this point in Argentina´s history is its most dangerous (at least as far as the streets go) she has experienced.
An urban park
A group of porteños chillin' under some great public art in a hidden urban park I have now heard strong words of caution from each family I have met, my taxi driver, and this lady (That´s pretty much all the natives I have met). So I guess I´ll be kinda careful....
I walked around all day by myself, discovering as much of the city as I could take after a night of airplane sleep. I went into a beautiful cathedral on Plaza 25 de Mayo, sun-bathed/napped on a hot stone bench in a quiet, urban park, learned about cell phone prices, ate great fruit, drank a TON of water, and discovered a very cool artist resistance shop that sprang up from the artists uprising about 4 years ago. At that point, tensions between artists and the police escalated to severe violence. The store is called The New Artists Revolution. The one thing that could have made all that better, is someone to play frisbee with.
A block from my hostel, I ran into Adi (one of my many new Israeli friends) who was heading the other way. She told me she needed to run out and get some things for her trip to Bari Loche the next day. More than happy to remain
The best of Buenos Aires artists
I found this in a cool little artist shop outside, I walked with her back to Avenida 9 de Julio and bought more water while she did her shopping. By the time we got back to the Hostel, I had decided that I would go to Bari Loche as well. I realized that I will be spending plenty of time in Buenos Aires and can explore more at another time.
I went upstairs, started packing and her drums and excitement out on Plaza del Congresso. Not wanting to miss a beat, I ran outside to check it out. I was urgently handed a flyer by a young, enthusiastic girl. The pamphlet described the reason and meaning behind this mini-festival. It was a form of protest against a law passed some years ago by the Argentine government. At one point, Argentina decided that Carnaval would not be celebrated on the first two days of the festival (today and tomorrow), so local young adults profess their protest as enthusiasm for fun as they dance synchronized to drum beats. Simultaneously, a long line of policeman surround part of the square.
The Israelis are singing ´Love Me Do´ outside. I just switched chairs with one of them so they could take my plastic one outside.
So tomorrow I´m headed to Bari Loche to go jump in lakes. It is a 20 hour bus ride for 210 pesos (70ish dollars). I chose the middle of the three comfort options. They have bed, semi-bed, and 1st class. Not sure whats in store for tonight, but I´ll probably let you know!
Adios y que le vaya bien,
Josh
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J-Lew
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Josh! Sounds like you're already having a blast - I'm so jealous! Bariloche is the shit! Take it easy J