OK! I am here. Buenos Aires. It feels like it is 95 degrees–but everything down here is in Celsius so who knows. The humidity is severe. Regardless, I am having a blast so far except for my throbbing hangover induced headache.
I am keeping a written journal. Here are some of the entries from the last few days:
1-9-2007 4:30 pm
I am sitting in the airport at Dulles sipping on an ice cold Stella. Today is the day it all begins and it has definitely not set in yet that I am getting ready to do this. I just changed some dollars into Argentinian money. The exchange rate is 3 to 1. Does that mean a good steak is $8.00?
1-9-2007 6:34 pm Sitting on the plane in route to Sao Paulo, Brazil before heading to Argentina
Either there are a lot of Asian people in Brazil, or I am on the wrong plane.
I have now had many Stellas and spent a good portion of the last few hours arguing with a San Diego Charger’s fan about how much better the Baltimore Ravens are. I have just begin to read the Motorcycle Diaries by Che Guevara. It is Che’s diary as he travels through South America on a beat up motorcycle with a friend in the early 1950s. So far it is a great read and perfect for the start of my trip. Che eventually ended up as a Cuban revolutionary and was killed off by the CIA in Bolivia. I would love to his trail of aimless wanderings laid out in “the Motorcycle Diaries” but would prefer not to be snuffed out by the CIA in the long run. Cuba is supposed to be beautiful. Will I have to wait until Castro dies to travel there?
1-10-2007 2:00 pm
It has definitely hit me now. I am sitting at bar drinking a grande cervesa, eating carne empanadas. I have checked into the hostel and already met about 15 crazy Australians. My plan from the beginning has been to find some Aussies to travel with–they are everywhere. I just walked down Nuevo de Julio–the main 9 lane drag in the heart of Buenos Aires. Our hostel is located downtown not far from San Telmo Square.
I feel like my job is to enjoy this experience and learn about the culture here. It is a truly empowering, fantastic feeling. All I have to do is experience life for the foreseeable future and I can not stop smiling.
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