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Published: June 20th 2006
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Hanging out in Mendoza
This was a picture taken of the two cooks after they heard "GOOOAAAALLLL!!!" The streets empty and people crowd into bars to get a peek. ***************************
Steaks since arriving in Argentina: Eight, ranging from good to fantastic.
FUNNY ARGENTINA THINGS
*people, I think, own all the property up to the road in front of their houses, so in wealthier neighborhoods the sidewalk is made of different materials and has many steps
*They looooove palm trees. I am starting to.
*Guys do the cheeck-kiss thing between eachother. The funniest incident is when I saw two enermous bouncers throw a guy out in the street like goons then embracing...
*Lots of people speak English and almost all prefer that to English with me
*People are interested in tourists. I have now been invited to many Asados (BBQs) since I got here with local people who have approached me in bars, supermarkets, etc.
*Argentinians take as many photos as Japanese tourists
THINGS I SHOULD HAVE BROUGHT ON THIS TRIP
*My Ipod
*More postcards
*An around the world ticket: you meet lots of people on their way through South America on their way to four or five other continents. Cool!
*A motorcycle
*Did I say my Ipod?
*Canadian coins for gifts
*An intermediate level "do it yourself" guide to Spanish
*More pictures from home
BACKPACKER TIPS
*If you
aren't using the sniff test you are spending too much money on laundry.
*Always have playing cards
*Never say no. I have found that I have enjoyed most on this trip resulted from an invitaion I could have chosen excuses over
*Never, EVER go through a plastic bag when people are sleeping in a dorm. Goddamn that is annoying! I think hostels should have a posted dorm ettiquete.
***************************
So I arrived in Mendoza about 3 days ago after an overnight bus in a hotel/bus (these buses are nicer than my apartment!) and went to a random hostel named Andino just a few blocks from the city center. Mendoza is a very nice city with more cafes than worries. It is very clean and has a modern feel, complete with a downtown supermarket with the biggest meat section I have ever seen. Oh dad would you like the looks of that monster.
The thing that has caught my mind over the last while is the question of "is it okay to be rich?". One thing you realize here is that the average Canadian makes more money in a few days than what, in Bolivia let's say, takes a month
- compared to them we are all rich. I was really unsure which way I was going to go with that question but I think the answer is one that a lot of young people need to have. A good economy is a good thing. Having money is a good thing for you and making money is good for everyone (again, if without corruption). As I was walking through the enermous, gorgeous park at the north end of this city, I saw lots of people playing soccer, reading, exercising, and having asado with their family. Bolivia, let's say, has the highest illiteracy rates in South America and few can afford decent bikes or meat. Money gives ease and education nurtures culture and both can improve the quality of life. In Bolivia I was shaken of my convictions - these kids are playing with a hubcap, but they are happy, would they be happier with a gameboy?; this house has no electricity, is it better for the family?; do we need hot showers and drip coffee? I don't know that our way of life is the best way, or even the better way, but they have gone completely different dirrections because
of wealth and things like art, engineering, architecture, etc. are things that exist in both worlds but the first world can spend a lot more time at it. Economy turns up the volume on culture.
Argentina showed that to me: the things that Bolivia and Argentina have in common are more sophisticated here. It's hard to express it just as I would want: Bolivians are sophisticated people, but poverty limitis education, various leisure options, art, etc. I don't resent the term "developing countries" anymore, although I would rather use a different word... maybe "unenriched" countries; seeds. I was thinking about this today over another encyclopedia shaped steak, some good wine, and a tasty salad. Suddenly the steak tasted juicier. Afterall, the ways that Argentinians are able to raise cattle and prepare beef make it taste
better, although it could have used the pepper sauce they have in Bolivia...
Anyway, I have spent my time here like I spend a quiet week in Montreal: walking around the park, food shopping and cooking, reading, and playing ping pong. I am hoping to head to Cordoba then Buenos Aires - "the big bad BA" - where I think I am going
to fall in love with the city and spend a few weeks. I dunno.
I am feeling a little lonerish and am enjoying time with myself wandering around Paris - er, Mendoza - stopping for a coffee here and an art gallery there. At night I have been going to pool halls with guys from the hostel and hitting the bottle now and then.
Okay, time for me to get back to work... haha
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msprague
Mitch Sprague
Coins?
Explain please. I'll be down that way in November and I appreciate your tips and stories.