Well I´m wrapping up my days in BsAs. I´ve been winding my way through the busy streets avoiding colectivos (buses) and lounging in parks filled with trees covered in budding purple flowers...yes it´s spring here. I took a Spanish class this week to give my brain a much needed grammer review, which was helpful. This city is really quite amazing. Everyday I have stumbled upon a new gorgeous park or an amazing piece of architecture that looks like it belongs in the middle of Paris or Madrid. I think the most interesting thing I have seen while being here though is the cemetery in Recoleta (a particular neighborhood). That sounds morbid I guess, or maybe it´s fitting since it´s Halloween and all. The cemetery is more like a small city with street names and everything to direct you to different graves. The graves of course are all housed in these grand mausoleums carved in marble and such. They are quite dramatic and many famous Argentinians have been laid to rest here including the notorious Evita. Anyways its a very ominous and mysterious feeling place. Part of me felt as if I was wandering through a grand memorial to the deceased legends of Argentina and another part of me felt as if at any moment a vanpire might jump out at me and suck my blood. I´m heading up to Iguazu Falls next...the huge waterfalls that are on the border of Argentina, Paraguay, and Brazil...more to come on that adventure. Happy Halloween, I´ll be eating Kinder Buenos in honor of it for all those fellow Sevillanos reading this. Chau.

Elections

So yes our electorial system is flawed and we have had an incompetent president in the white house for the last 8 years, but...in Argentina if you are running for office, you have to print your own ballots and distribute them to all the polling stations. Seems a bit dodgy doesn´t it? Also the first person to arrive at the polling station has to man the station. Can you imagine getting to the polling station to vote and instead of getting a sticker, lucky you, you get to stay all day and work at the station. it´s also very common for presidents to not finish their terms here (though that might have worked nicely for the U.S. these past few years). Though this can be a good thing sometimes I´m sure, I would also think that it could make things all the more disruptive. Hang in there people, only 10 more days...and then everything will be right once more in the world, this financial crisis will end, terrorist networks will dissolve, and global warming will be a thing of the past. A pipe dream maybe, but at least hopefully we´ll be headed in the right direction again, and yes I promise that in the future this blog will actually be about my adventures in Latin America and not about the upcoming election.

South of the Equator

So I have arrived south of the equator! It feels sort of surreal to finally be here after thinking about it for so long. I am staying with my old friend Rachael who has made my transition here so easy. Not only did she meet me at the airport, but she also then let me pass out on her couch for hours and then made me an amazing dinner. Thanks Rachael! I spent the whole day today just wandering around trying to get my bearings. Buenos Aires (BsAs) reminds me a lot of a city in Spain, except that in Spain I wouldn´t be overloadig my system with mate, which I have already been doing in the 30 hours since my arrival. It´s strange to be away from the circus that is the upcoming election, but it´s kind of a relief. I was starting to pull my hair out waiting for it all to be over. Ok, well that´s all for now. If anyone wants a real live postcard, email me your snail mail address and I´ll send one at some point. Ciao for now!

Heading South for the Winter

Hey everyone,

So I'm leaving for Argentina on Monday. I don't know how long I'll be traveling around for, I guess it depends how the election turns out. Anyways check in from time to time if your interested. See ya on the other side!