What happens when you mix Australian, Irish, and an American?

I ended up staying in La Paz another night. Partly because I never really got around to buying a ticket to Copacabana, my next stop. I was debating doing it the hardcore travel way which means going to the La Paz cemetary and taking a local bus 4 hours or buying a tourist ticket and being on a tourist bus for that time. I finally decided that I should probably stick with the tourist bus. It costs more, but I am also alone and the Lord knows I don't need anymore incidents. I leave at 7:30am tomorrow to head on in my trek!

Yesterday, after I blogged, I walked around the artesanal market called "The Witches' Market." The name comes not only from the random trinkets, but also for selling old, herbal remedies. They also like to sell mummified, baby bird/llama looking things. I bought some little trinkets, but my search for a backpack was completely futile. Most (quality) bags were around $USD 65, none of which I was particularly found of, and I would rather spend 60 Bolivianos for a brightly, clashing colored woven bag and then have another reminder from my solo trip in South America. Naturally, when I decided that, I suddenly couldn't find a good enough bag. *sigh* well I still have time.

Actually I have just a little over 2 weeks left! EEKS! The hardest part will be getting over the border from Valaparìso (Chile) to Mendoza (Argentina). Seeing as it's very much winter down there right now, and I will have to pass through the Andes, I have heard rumors of buses having to return to Chile because of snow blockages. Therefore, I need to keep this factor in mind as I travel.

But back to La Paz, where I currently am. La Paz reminds me of Mexico City, in a way. La Paz is a city of hills, hills, and more hills. You are never at the top, but you are never at the bottom. You literally walk uphill both ways... The houses fight with each other for a bit of uphill to build on. They climb up the surrounding sides and nestle. When I rode in at dawn the other day, the city was in a semi-darkness with all the street lights lit. Because of the geography and the layout of the city, when I arrived, La Paz looked like a huge blanket of rolling lights. Where the mountain jutted up, and there were no houses, there was a pitch black hole in the blanket. While Mexico City is a bit flatter, the same thing occurred when we flew in at night--there where black spots in a huge blanket of lights. The effect is definitely one of the coolest things I've seen.

I have been huffing and puffing quite a bit. Luckily, the altitude doesn't get me too much. Symptoms include nausea, headache, loss of appetite, dizziness, among other things. When I was in the salt flats (which were some 4300 km above sea level), I felt the altitude in my jaw (I figure that really means my ear canals where adjusting). Also I had to make sure not to overstuff myself (really hard when you are cold and it's amazing how high altitudes make you hungry) or else I would feel nauseous. I used coca leaves in Salta and drank coca tea in the salt flats. It's amazing how much it helps! I was a little worried about coming up from Sucre (the lowest altitude I've been at in a week), but I haven't had anything coca to help me. Instead I've been eating chocolate... and that seems to be helping.

Speaking of coca leaves, I visited the Coca Museum yesterday. It was pretty cool, actually. It explained the usage of the coca plant through the ages. I learned a lot that I didn't know about the coca plant. Coca, by the way, is a little bitter, but has a very earth, strong smell and taste to it. You can tell when people nearby are eating it because of its distinctness.

One of the most interesting things I learned about the coca plant is the Coca Legend. Used mainly by Andean people, the coca plant, according to their legends, was given to them by the Gods gave the plant to help ease their suffering. Coca has many medicinal properties and has been proven to help create endurance in hard labor, depress appetite, and help with altitude sickness. The Gods left very specific instructions about how the leaf should be used. They also made a prediction about "But if your torturer, who come from the North/the white conqueror, the gold seeker, should touch it/he will find in it only.../poison for his body/and madness for his mind" (AntonioDíaz Villamil-If you want to read the whole legend/doctrine (which is very interesting) check out http://www.cocamuseum.com/main.htm and click on the numbers. The script comes up).

I just found the entire museum fasinating. They even showed how cocaine is made in the sense of all the horrible chemicals put into its production. The museum also has anti-drug program to promote the disuse of cocaine and crack. I could go on for days about coca leaves now, but if you really want to know, you can ask me and I'll tell you. I'll save you a longer blog.

PS: Coca leaves are completely legal here in Bolivia for less than 250 gm. As the museum explains, and I've picked up, coca leaves are a social lubricant (they are a ritual and a social thing), much like alcohol is for Western society.

I have also visited the National Art Museum (loads of Virgin Marys) and a Textile Museum of surrounding cultures textiles. Some dated back to pre-colombian (before the arrival of Colombus) times. I also learned the the Bolivian purses that the women carry are called Awayu-Ilijlla.

The women, by the way, are much fancier here in the city. They tend to wear actually skirts (opposed to blankets) with shiny, silky-looking fabric. I saw an Afro-Indigenous Bolivian woman today. I was taken back to see (what looked like to me) an African walking around in traditional Bolivian garb. It makes sense, though, because the Spanish brought African slaves with them as they took over South America. I think in the area it was to work alongside the native people in the mines. I'm sure the workers intermarried or maybe some slaves even escaped and found refugee in indegienous villages.

Di and Miranda ended up catching another bus to Cuzco, so they never came to the hostel. But it turned out OK. I met a lot of great people and had a fabulous night last night. I meet these 2 Irish sisters (Barbara and Kate- ps: Lindsay, I missed you) who had been traveling together and had joined this girl from Holland. Ruth, from Holland, has actually been interning in Buenos Aires the past few months, so we had a pleasant conversation about Buenos Aires. I also meet this Australian guy with 3 different passports named Phillip. He's going to be traveling the Eastern Coast of the States soon, so I gave him all my favorite cities on the way and places to eat. There were also two Australian girls (Susan and Karen). So we all hung out. We went out for sushi. It took us 20 minutes just to find the place because taxi drivers here don't have a clue where they are going. When we arrived the place was closing so we hurried up and ordered and ate fast sushi. Enjoyed the company. After that we hung out at the hostel, meet some South Africans and we all chatted. Finally we went out to a club called Orange, which was a pretty big bust. Literally. When we showed up there were police everywhere. From what we can gather the police were searching for drugs (they even checked behind the bottles behind the bar) and a good majority of the people left. The club wasn't terrible crowded and the music was pretty weird, but I enjoyed myself. I made the best out of it that I could.

Today I woke up, showered in the perfect shower, gathered some dirty laundry together, and went of in search of a laundry place and a bus ticket on this generally, very shut down, Sunday in La Paz. I found this guy who would do my 3 kilos (about 6 pounds) of laundry for 20 bolivianos, and deliver it to the hostel same day, but he seemed... a little sketchy. Like his office was this side, plastic windowed corner in the middle of a hallway of some place. And he wanted me to pay straight up. I turned him down. Luckily, I found another place (a chain off of the one my hostel recommended) where I have to pay 1 boliviano more and return myself to get my laundry. So I'll need to pay for a taxi, but I feel like my clothes are safer. Clean socks tonight!

I also found a bus ticket for tomorrow. And that's all I've really done today. I was going to try to go see La Valle de la Luna, but that involves getting on a La Pazian bus (eeehhhh) and there's also this huge market fair thing in the middle of the main street right now... so I think I'll wonder and find some food and call it a day. Maybe a nap.

La Paz- Fake Capital of Bolivia

I took a night bus (full cama (bed) style) but it didn't stop it from being cold.. again. No frost on the windows, though, that I noticed. I sat next to this nice French-Swiss girl named Tamara. So it was Tam and Sam... haha.... ok I laughed.

I got here around 8 in the morning and am still waiting for a room at the Loki Hostel in La Paz. It's a big party hostel which is obvious because 1) the bar in the hostel, 2) the latest check out I've seen thus far... 1 pm. So basically, while I made reservations, I still have to wait until 1 to see if I can get a room. But I saw Diana and Miranda on the list... so maybe they'll show up soon.

I can already tell that I would like to stay here for more time, but that I would also like to have someone with me. However, while I do want to stay, Manchu Picchu and Chile are calling my name. I guess that's what a 5 year,various entry, $100 visa to Bolivia is all about.

It's about 8.35 AM and nothing gets started until like 10ish... so I have some time to kill. I will be visiting various places and a few musuems today. I will also be trying to find a new backpack. I hate walking around with plastic bags. It makes me feel even more vulnerable. Tomorrow I will be heading to Copacabana and will spend a couple of days there enjoying one of the highest lakes in the world, and also the birth cradle of the Incan Empire.

PS- check out http://picasaweb.google.com/dbush009 for pictures of my 4 day tour from Tupiza to Uyuni

Sucre, mi linda

I really love me some Sucre. Where should I start? Perhaps with how I managed to get to Sucre.

I booked a ticket from Uyuni to Sucre, overnight bus. It had a stop in Potosí, where Miranda and Diana where going, so I got to ride along with them. It cost me double what it cost them, even though Sucre is only like 3-4 hours away from Potosí. When we arrived in Potosí, I said goodbye to the ladies and got ready for a couple more hours on the bus. However the conductor came on and told me that "my car" was ready to take me to Sucre. I was confused. I thought my bus was going direct. I asked the conductor, he told me no. I collected my bag (haha, I was about to write bagS... syke) and was shown by the conductor to a nice young guy who showed me to his car. I wasn't terrible worried because the guy looked pretty clean cut (other than the mound of coca leaves in his cheek, which made him look like half a chipmunk) and the car was newer. At this point I realized, however, that I was being put into a shared taxi--something not uncommon for the short distances between Sucre and Potosí. The problem was that I realized I was being jipped for money because this guy (Ismael) was expecting that I pay for the ride.

As I was realizing this, Ismael (who I found out was 22 and liked to go to discos (clubs)...) was searching for other passengers. There was a strong lack of them. He offered to take me "express service" for 100 bolivianos or about $18. I, however, didn't want to pay, so I held out for 2 hours until we found some other passengers. (thus I only had to pay an extra 40 bolivianos)

Ismael was quite the talker. And once I found out that he was 22 he found out that I had a "boyfriend" waiting for me back in the States. After asking me only 5 times if I liked going to clubs, he relaxed and I firmly believe he was just looking for a little company to reduce the late drive to Sucre. He dropped me right off at my hostel door right around 5 am.

The next morning I awoke, took my first shower in 5 days. Well, hot shower. Then, because my hostel was near the bus station (for safety, late night arrival purposes considering I thought I was arriving via bus), I went and bought my ticket to La Paz, then headed into town (about 2km) to find another hostel more central. I sure am glad I did.

While the hostel was pretty deserted when I arrived and settled in, Sucre wasn't. This town is so beautiful. It's full of old Spanish colonial architecture. The houses are no more than 2 stories, with white washed walls and deep, earth colored trims. Mainly trims are in a deep brown wood, golden rod or slight pinky-orange paint. There are all these little wooden balconies that could be called bay windows peeking out onto the streets. There aren't many trees on the streets, but you can see the sky because the buildings aren't that tall so you don't feel starved for nature.

The main plaza (25 de mayo) is beautiful. There are lots of tall, old, green trees (and palm trees are also used here for landscaping, just like the BA), a gazebo, a fountain, benches, people, and pigeons. It is so peaceful and lovely. I bought myself a salteña (Bolivian empanada) and a chipa (amazing cheese ball of goodness) and sat on the square to take in Sucre. I got to watch all the people and families, and was pressured by two shoeshine boys to get my mesh sneakers cleaned. I watched this cute-as-a-button 5 yearold girl start crying in .0005 seconds when the pigeons attacked her for throwing crumbs at her. It was kindaof cute... she was so happy then they swarmed and she freaked out. Two minutes later she was all sorts of happy again, though. I bought chocolate, becaue Sucre is known for it's chocolate. It's ok. Quality, but nothing spectacular. Still didn't stop me from buying myself chocolate covered peanuts and raisins.

I went to the super market and bought some bread and yougurt. As I was checking out I noticed this little, shallow wooden dish where the customer placed their cash and the cashier placed the change. In this way, there was no skin contact. I just thought it was interesting because it was the first place I've run into it, so I figured I'd write the observation in my blog.

I visited the Liberty House on the plaza, took a tour and learned a lot about Bolivia as a country. I took the tour with a group of Bolivians and a Spaniard, so it was in Spanish. I enjoyed the tour, but felt like I probably missed out on a few details becaue the tour guide figured everyone already knew the story of the independence of Bolivia. While she was very infomative, the tour guide looked more bored with her job than any other I have seen. She talked bored, she looked bored, she cleaned her fingernails when she'd finished her little speech and was waiting to continue.

The exciting things that I learned, despite her boredness, were as follows:

• Bolivia was once one of the richest areas in the Spanish colonies
• Independence was like the USA-to separate or to not?
• I saw some beautiful traveling writing desks that were enlaid with different colored and textured wood--all by hand
• Bolivia has the original Argentine flag and Argentina can't get it back because if you move the 106 year flag it will degrade
• Sucre is the offical capital of Bolivia and always has been--La Paz is where the government head is
• The Bolivian flag's colors have special meaning: Red for the blood shed during the revolution, Yellow for the natural mineral wealth that Bolivia has and Green for the natural wealth of vegatation that Bolivia has
• The flag has a special, very complicated emblem that is placed in the middle of the flag. However, there is a law aganist flying a flag with the emblem in any place other than important governmental buildings or during special state ceremonies. Many Bolivians don't know about the law and are being corrected in their flag flying actions
• Juana Azurduy de Padilla--If I were to write a play, it would be about her. This woman was the wife of Manuel Padilla. In support of her husband, Juana fought along side him IN battle for the independence of Bolivia. At first she had to hide because of her husband's politics. She lost her four small children because of terrible hiding situations. She then joined him in battle. She was a skilled horsewoman and swordswoman. She ended up leading over 250 men in battle. She got pregnant again, fought front lines during the 9 months, gave birth in battle, then had to flew on horseback (RIGHT after giving birth) something like 55 km. She gave her baby daughter to some country family for protection and then returned to fight in the battle. Her husband ended up being decapitated; she continued fighting. When the war ended (7 years later), she found her daughter again and lived with her. Sadly, this brave woman died alone, as her daughter got married and left her. Her bones are now laid to rest with her husband's in the Liberty House. I bought a book on her in Spanish that I am currently reading.

After that, I had a tea and read my book. Then I went in search of replacement of stolen items. I bought a disposible camera for less than $10 and might go buy another for backup. I stumbled into this HUGE market where I'm about to go back to find some more things before I leave tonight. One of which will be a day backpack. I've decided I can't go another day without one. I suppose I could wait til I got to La Paz... but I don't know if they'll cost more or not. hmm. dilema, dilema.

Later I went to a pub called "Joy Ride" whose motto translates to "not just for gringos." I watched the film "The Devil's Miner," a documentary about a 14 year old miner in Potosí. It was very good. I went back to my hostel, chatted with my roommate from Ireland, then passed out because I'd only had 3 hours of sleep the night before.

Today I went on a DinoTrack. About 15 minutes from the downtown area, in 1948, they found a huge wall of dinosaur tracks. A wall, you might ask? Well once apon a time, Bolivia was flat. Then about some odd amount of millions of years ago, the Andes formed. Because of the formation of the Andes, the lake shore (where the tracks where formed) were pulled vertical. We saw several life size structures of how humans think dinosaurs looked. It was pretty cool. My tour guide was very enthusiastic and spoke rather good English. Why an Engish tour? Because I met this lovely young English girl named Hannah who doesn't speak Spanish.

After the tour, Hannah and I had lunch, walked around for a bit and then parted ways. Hopefully I will see her in Buenos Aires when I return, seeing as she is heading that way for the end of her South American trip. I continued on to the city cemetary which has Recolta beat. Instead of being a city of tombs, it was like a park where tombs happened to grow.

So that has been my time here in Sucre. I leave in little more than an hour and a half for La Paz. I hope all is well and you learned something new like I did!

Rustic Bolivia: It's the national theme

I left Salta, Argentina on the 27th of June. Miranda, Diana, and I hopped on a midnight bus to La Quiaca, the border town of Argentina and Bolivia. We froze. There was ice and frost on the inside of the bus windows when we got to La Quiaca at 7ish in the morning. We then basically walked across the border into La Villazón (Bolivian boarder town), flashing our Bolivian visas, and freezing our bums off. We walked bleary eyed to the bus station and bought tickets to Tupiza, where our 4 day southwestern Bolivia.

Walking across the boarder, there is a distinct difference between Argentina and Bolivia. Once you cross the boarder toward Bolivia, it's like the rainbow exploded all over the people. The women walk around slightly hunched over, carrying brightly patterned blanket-bags. Basically they are huge squares of tela, cloth, that the women tie together and sling over their backs. They carry everything in there-from babies to toddlers to other blankets to... whatever. A Bolivian purse if you will. The women are dressed in bowler hats, with two long, black braids that trail down their backs when they arent carrying a 50 pound kid. They dress in blouses and skirts that hit just above the knee. The skirts are kindaof layered. They also are colorful. There are petticoats under that. Then they wear stockings or dark, knee-high, thick socks. To finish it off they were loafer-looking shoes or sandals. The socks and sandals thing is very in here...and with reason with the drops in temperature between the day and night.

People are, for the most part (which I'm about to explain), are also a lot nicer. As the tired trio stumbled up to the bus station with two things in mind (bathroom and bus tickets), some nice older Bolivian man noticed the dazed looks and helped us find out where to buy tickets. First he asked where we were going, then he pointed to where we should go, and then he ushered us over to the ticket office. It was very nice.

I have another fabulous example of the niceness of the Bolivians, but first I have to explain the not so nice part of them.

After buying tickets, using a bathroom (always an adventure here in Bolivia), we boarded the bus to Tupiza. As we were waiting, I shared a little Lonely Planet (tour guide book) wisdom: watch your bags when you get on because many times "family members" will get on board while the bus is boarding and snatch your bag.

I got visited by a distant "family member."

Yes, that's right folks-you read it correctly. Samantha Hiner managed to get robbed from... again. This time, however, I lost my camera, pictures, journal from all of my stay here in Argentina, my glasses, my Bible, my Lonely Planet, and various other things, such as toiletries. I had myself a nice little cry. I felt (wait... feel) dumb because 1) I'd warned Miranda and Diana just moments before, and 2) because it happened right over my head. I'd put my bag in the overhead compartment right over my seat and then settled in. Apparently I got too distracted. But Miranda and I decided that because I wrote in my journal in Spanish, my family member was going to read it, repent, learn English, read my Bible and Lonely Planet and become a philanthropist.

So how does this show the niceness of Bolivians? Well Miranda was next to me and Diana was across the way. Sitting next to Diana was this Bolivian woman (purse and hat to match), when she realized something was wrong, she asked what happened (as we were discussing matters in English), and then went up to tell the driver. The driver's helper came and questioned me, searched the bus and the people on it, and then STOPPED the bus to search in the under compartment, "just in case."

While I did loose a lot, and I definitely turned to Miranda and told her I wanted to go home and call it quits, looking back it really wasn't that bad. I just happened to have my passport, all my money, cards, and identification on me in that moment. There was a 30 second moment when I was about to put my passport and cards in the bag, but then decided I was too cold to undress and do it. Basically it comes down to a huge annoyance. I have to find another day bag and I'm super paranoid about everyone and everything.

The nice thing was that I was about to go on a 4 day tour of southwestern Bolivia where I wouldn't have to worry about reality. I also was able to replace the most important toiletries fairly easily in Tupiza for less than $10 USD. They weren't lying when they said that Bolivia is cheap, cheap, cheap.

The next morning we got up and headed off. Our tour guides were from the Tupiza area: Rafael, our driver (whose shorter than me), and Lucas, our cook, second trip every. They both were pretty awesome. Lucas was younger and had this awkward laugh, but he really just loved this job and he tried soooo hard to do his job to the best possible. And he really did. I have him to thanks for eating a llama tamale, llama steak, and dulce de leche suckers. Rafael was older and has 2 kids, one is 4 months old. He was a great, great driver (very careful, but without excitmenet) and also a very informed guide. We also met Anne and Aaron from Santa Cruz, CA. Anne is a Spanish high school teacher (she thinks I'd make a great one too) and Aaron is an artist specializing in arcylic, woodcuts, and painting trees.

To save you really boring details, I'll hit the highlights. Overall, I really, really enjoyed the tour. However, it isn't for everyone. It's ALOT of time in a car, the temperature varies like crazy, and you don't shower for several days. There's lots of dust. But what I really did enjoy was this: some of the most amazing landscapes I have ever seen. My mother and father would be having fits because of all the cool rocks there are. Mom would have wanted to start regrowing her rock garden and Dad would never look at another rock on the Ocoee again. I traveled to over 5,000 km above sea leve, I saw this amazing Incan ghost town, I laughed and froze and did so much! I also fell in love with this very cute, 10 year old French boy (sorry Keith) who has a thing for jelly beans and playing war with his green, plastic army men. I listened to the Titanic theme song to a techno beat. I also went to this place called Necropolis, or city of the dead with all these old Incan skulls. There was even one with a flattened forehead! Diana and I were totally excited about that, but disappointed that we couldn't find any others like it. Miranda found two baby skulls. Overall it was really great!

I think if they were to re-name the tour I took they would have to call it one of two things; "Rustic Bolivian" or "Tour of the World's Most Awkward Animals." Rustic Bolivian because we stayed in basic shelters with a toilet and maybe running water. The water froze in the bottles most mornings and one morning we woke up to -10 degrees Fahrenheit!! There was also a lot of peeing in the wilderness and hand sanitizer.

I would call it "Tour of the World's Most Awkward Animals" because of all the awkward animals we saw. Daddy--this would be your tour, man. First there are the llama. I have never realized how funny they are until I saw them running away from me and watched their little prissy butt run. They look like the creature at the beginning of one of the Star Wars movies that Han Solo has to cut open to save Luke Skywalker. (takes a moment to recover from her geekiness) There are also Vicuna, which are like llama, but protected from poaching and more wild. They kindaof look like deer with giraffe necks. And when they run, their body runs straight, but their head kindaof leans out to the side. I don't know how they stop themselves from running in circles. I also saw ostriches. I don't think I need to explain why those are awkward, nor all the donkeys we saw. I saw this rabbit-squirrel (Viscotcha), but it looks like a rabbit with a squirrel tail and runs/hops like a squirrel. Then I saw flamencos. Hundreds of them. It was so sweet. We got really close to them. There are also, what I call, Bolivian seagulls, though they can't be seagulls because there isn't a sea.

Ok: That's all I can do now. I have official used up the siesta time here and am going to go find out about a tour tomorrow to go look at dinosaur prints.

Salta

Salta is in the north of Argentina. It is still cold... haha. This place is much more arid and dry than Buenos Aires, but it still maintains a very green look and feel. The people here are more native and of darker complexions. It is so different from Buenos Aires--less people, less crazy traffic, less everything. I like the way the people talk here-laid back, slow. I would say it's like talking to people from Savannah; they enjoy talking and pronouncing the language.

Today I went to a place called Cafayate. It's about two hours south of Salta, but along the way it goes from green, leafy vegation to rocky, dry amazing rock formations. There are cacti. Brent, Sumanya, and I went on a tour with a guy named Fernando today. It was a lot of fun. We saw lots of rocks... no I swear, it was much more exciting than that. It was really very beautiful. The drives were very nice, very scenic. We also went to some bodegas, but they were nada que ver with the ones in Mendoza. I wasn't impressed.

I've meet up with some people from my program here and we're enjoyng ourselves. The hostel is a little warmer than the one in Rosario and filled with much more people. I haven't been out and about because I've been getting up early to go on tours.

The regional food for here is locro (a kindaof stew), humita (tamales without meat), and tamales. I think we are going out to get some tonight. It's good heavy, filling, and warm food. After tonight though, I think I might have to resort to PB&Js to save on the moola.

I should be moving on from Salta sometime at the end of this week. We will just have to see.

A bit of humor:
Because my parents worry about me traveling alone, I like to send them update emails because they ask me. The last one I sent from Rosario mentioned that we had gone out to Madame, which I mentioned as "the biggest boliche (club) in all of Argentina" (boy was Sumi happy). My dad's response e-mail was as follows:

"What is a boliche? Your Loving father-Russ"

hmmm... maybe I shouldn't explain all the Spanish I sprinkle in my posts ;)

check in later. besos.

Rosario

I am currently in Rosario, first stop on the exciting "Shiney in South America" road trip. We, Brent, Sumanya, and I, left Buenos Aires yesterday in the morning. It was rainy and cold. We arrived in Rosario and it's rainy and cold. But I say that with a smile. We are enjoying ourselves. Antonela, Carmen's granddaughter who is our age, meet up with us and showed us around a bit yesterday. We visited the flag monument, which is this hhhuuuuuggggeee monument to the Argentina flag and its flag maker-Manuel Belgrano.

Today we are going to meet up with Antonela and watch her play hockey, then eat at her house. It is still cold, but less windy. There's a fine mist going.

Packing and leaving was fine. I can't believe I fit it all! Naturally I'm beginning to realize what I'm missing right now (like I forgot a mesh laundry bag), but I'm making due. I also bought a sleeping bag that is for -15 degrees Celsius and boy am I glad I did that! The hostel may have been a little cold, but I was nice and toasty last night. It's bright orange and small (making shifting in my sleep a little difficult), but it compacts easily and is well worth the money I paid for it (less than a hundred US dollars!). The hostel has really hot showers, which I am super thankful for becase I don't know how much longer I'll be getting hot showers.

Well, the day has started, and I must go! I'll write as I can.

me falta un poco..

So I haven't blogged in a while for good reason--- Natalie came to visit me!!! We had so much fun. We went to two soccer matches, one for Boca and one for River Plate. They were a lot of fun and I have come out a River fan-I even bought a jersey to prove it!

Having Natalie around helped me finish up on the last little bits of touristy things that needed to be done. I also had to finish finals though... eeepppss!! I've done pretty well so far, seeing as today I'm sacar-ing my grades. Natalie was very chill about me having to go to school and her amusing herself. I really really appreciated it (thank you again Natalie!!). We even got a little bit outside of the city--we made it up to Tigre. The tour was a little bit of a bust, but I would say that we enjoyed ourselves.

And now I'm starting to make plans to travel for a month. As it would happen I'll be traveling alone, but I should be meeting up with people on the way. Starting Friday I will be heading toward Cuzco, Peru to see Manchu Picchu. Now I just have to figure out how I'm going to fit everything into my hiking backpack!

More details to come on everything... :)