Escape to Tigre

Now that it's finally spring, all the things we've been talking about doing when it gets nice are happening. Like a Sunday trip to Tigre, an hour train ride outside Buenos Aires.  We met up at the train station in Retiro. My friends arrived just in time to save me from a long conversation with a homeless man who was celebrating his birthday by continually trying to give me kisses on the cheek. I kept trying to explain that as it was his birthday he didn't need to give me anything. I gave him an apple, and we chatted about life, poverty, and poor people all over the world. He didn't believe me that there are homeless people in the US. People always ask me ho.w I get myself into conversations like these. I enjoy them. I watched this guy get shot down by tens of people before he got to me. Maybe I'm a sucker. Maybe I'm sympathetic. Maybe it wasn't his birthday. But I was just waiting for my friends, so why not?

Upon arrival to Tigre, we exited the train station looking at each other, waiting for someone to take the lead. "OK, this is Tigre, we do this." But no one really knew. So we followed the masses and the map to the Mercado de los frutos. After all the stories, I thought it was a fruit market. I was not alone. Except fruit is frutAs. So we stood for a bit in the middle of more of an artisan market trying to deduce frutO. "We must be missing the fruit part." So we asked a guard, and he gave us a strange look and said that there were a few fruit stalls, but the market is more flea-style than fruit-style. We were lost in translation.

But we walked around and took it all in anyway. Tigre is home to a huge delta, and you can take boat rides and rent boats and do water stuff. We were quite overwhelmed, and just spent time sitting by the water drinking mate, enjoying time out of the city. I talked a lot about how we should go to the small amusement park, but it wasn't in the daily budget, so we ate chori pan, walked, and later got beers. Then it got cold, so we went home. And it was beautiful.

nells couldn't. put. it. down.

he just rolled his harp on the train and played away. and the little kid next to him was very happy.

even in the bathroom they love him

mercado de frutos

hammocks

there were some fruits

flowers

flowers made out of wooden reeds

just taking it all in

perfect day on the water

break for mate

i fly like papers get high like planes

tigre posse

i think my hair is somehow turning red?

the walk back was quite chilly

they're on a boat

if i were going to rob you it would go something like this

exhausted on the ride back to BA

Couch Surfing

I´m a nomad. Just as I was settling back into life in Buenos Aires, it was time to get on the move again. Diego's family was visiting from the US, so I agreed to move out for 2 weeks so they could enjoy some close family time. I spent the first week couch surfing at Nelle and D's place. And I wanted to stay there forever. The second week I spent at Pati's house. I wanted to stay there forever also.

In my own apartment, I have a routine. Come home from work, work out, relax, make dinner, whatever. In each of my two hosts over the last two weeks it was the same. The best was Nelle and D's, but followed very closely by Pati's. Here's how it went down.

Since Nelle and Derek teach English, they don't have regular 9-5 schedules. They live more on Argentine time than I will ever be able to. So after work every day I kept myself busy between boulder classes, visiting Pati, and bike rides. Then I would get a text that one of them was heading home and meet them there. Once the three of us were back at the apartment we spent about an hour relaxing and recounting our days. Then as Nelle and I continued in relax mode, Derek whipped up amazing gourmet dinners. I could definitely get used to that. Derek has worked many years as a chef, and loves to cook for other people, and he's damn good at it. He would always decline help, so Nells and I just sat around waiting to be served. What a life. Note to future boyfriend/husband - I hope you cook well.

The other great thing about staying with these guys was that there's no expectations. The weekend I was there we were all beat, and spent most of the gray days lounging inside, watching movies and taking naps. I never felt guilty taking up their couch space and they didn't feel like they needed to entertain me. We're the perfect trio.

After a week, I moved on to Pati's as to avoid overstaying my welcome at Nerek's. It was nice to be back with my old roommate in Recoleta. Because Pati still has to spend a good majority of her time in bed, I think it was really nice for her to have me around again. Our ritual nights together went like this. I arrived home from work early-ish, or late-ish depending on the day. Walk into Pati's room.

Pati - How was your day my love?
Me - Great, and you, how do you feel? Did you sleep last night?
Pati - (Depending on the day) Yes I slept. or No I didn't sleep.
Me - Good. Or Oh, No!
Pati - Are you hungry? Go get something to eat.
Me - Not really.
Pati - Ice cream then? (Pati has a constant supply of 2 kilos of ice cream always in the freezer, one more reason why I love this woman)
Me - Ice cream, of course! You want some?
Pati - Well, of course.

Then we would walk to the kitchen, get our ice cream, and crawl into her king-size bed for movie night. And it went like that every night for 10 days.

One day last week a student asked me for something, and I told her I could get it to her once I returned to my house. This resulted in her asking if I had a boyfriend here. My reply? Well, if by boyfriend you mean I climb in the bed of my 70-year-old best friend to eat ice cream and watch movies every night, then yes.

In other exciting news, I finally bought Bida a new back tire. Hopefully new back tire will not get stolen.

Last Friday night Libbs and I went to Open Gallery Night in Barrio Norte. All the art galleries are open later from 7pm to 10pm the last Friday of every night, offering patrons free champagne. We had a blast walking around arting and ended with a great sidewalk dinner. It's finally spring and the weather is AMAZING. On Saturday I spent the day at the Buenos Aires Photography exhibit in Recoleta. So much culture to soak up in this city!

new back tire

bike ride to the park - testing out my new panoramic view

view from nell and d's apartment, laundry drying

picadas y cerveza y Nells

 

an exciting day - new york style bagels delivered right to our door

bagel and philly cream cheese feast

a painting Libbs and I saw on the art walk...if you look closely, i swear this is bradd pitt's face

my favorite street food - pan relleno

Recoleta feriada

Learnings

Going home made me think a lot. I always think a lot anyway. Some might say often times too much.

This Central/South American journey thing has been a learning experience to say the least. As well as the years that led up to it. And the years before that. And on and on. Appears that life is one big learning experience. I have grown up a lot  in the past handful of years. That is not to say by any means that I don´t still have a lot to learn. But there are a few truly important lessons that I have learned.

1. My friends and family are the most important things in my life. No distance will ever change that.
2. With age I have come to not only understand, but respect the choices of everyone I love. They may be different than my own, and I may challenge them on the way to those decisions, but to share in their joy and see them happy is one of the greatest gifts I could ever ask for. The things most important to me aren´t always so important to other people. I´m learning when it´s time to just shut my mouth and give my support.
3. Living in another country makes you more patriotic. No. I am not going to join the rest of my siblings in the military, but I do, for now anyway, see myself living stateside in the long term.
4. Priorities change with age.
5. With that said I will never bee too old or wise for solo or group dance parties, and acting way more immature than I maybe "should".
6. I can really do anything I set my mind to. Everyone always told me this. I just now know it to be a truth.
7. I should always follow my instincts, because in the grand scheme of things, as far as I am concerned, they are usually spot on. Along with this is learning not to doubt myself, that there are no wrong decisions as long as I follow my heart. Even though doing that sometimes brings the hardest lessons. But even more importantly, not to regret those experiences or decisions as thet have made me who I am today. You live. You learn.
8. My expectations for myself are way higher than anyone else's and as Rudy`s maintenance buddy told him at Notre Dame, "In this life, you don´t gotta prove nothin´ to nobody but yourself." I should be easier on myself sometimes.
9. I´m a hopeful hopeless romantic. Is that possible?
10. I should always listen to my body. I dont always have to follow its demands, but at least be aware of what it is telling me.
11. Thankfully I cant control everything.
12. One of my greatest stregths is my people and communication skills. But I am still introverted.
13. I am one of the most emotional people I know, and you just have to accept it. Some things never change.
14. A lack of sunshine makes me feel depressed. In the winter I have to remember that and to have patience. With everything.
15. The grass may always seems greener on the other side. And if it truly is, then I have to make the decision to grow and change to make my way to the other side of that fence.
16. Every person teaches me something about life. Sometimes great, positive, thought-provoking lessons. Other times, more subtle, simple things. Both are equally important.
17. That some things are worth fighting for, and some worth giving up and walking away from. And even though it might hurt, it is necessary to learn the difference.
18. Old people are interesting and always have good stories to tell.
19. That the most important thing in the world is to love yourself, flaws and all, because it seems to me the only way to truly loving others and getting the most out of this crazy roller coaster ride.
20. Life sucks when I am not completely honest with myself.
21. As much as I like living a simpler life, I want my own apartment some day, and sometimes miss my iPhone. But never want to have cable TV again. (someone remind me of this when I´m trying to make you watch The House Wives of New Jersey)
22. Life without music would be sad.
23. It´s not always where, but who your with that really matters. (DMB lessons on life?) No matter if you´re alone, with your best friends, or your boss. If you cant enjoy it whats the point?
24. If I worry too mich about what other people think I´ll never live MY life.
25. I can´t chang other people. I only have control over myself and my actions. I shouldn´t waste so much time and energy thinking otherwise. It's not my life, its theirs.
26. When I find myself dissatisfied or unhappy with something, I try to adjust my attitude. It always makes a difference.
27. Though I am organized and good at looking at the big picture, committing to plans too far in advance makes me anxious. I would rather take it one day at a time so as not to freak out. But sometimes I get impatient and find myself wishing someone would just tell me at the beginning how it ends so I dont get so anxious about the future. This goes against almost everything else I have said, and that is why I will always be a work in progress.
28. I like some really "bad" music, and am not even remotely ashamed.

29. I should never cut my own bangs again.
30. My goal every day is to just live in every moment and to know that all is happening exactly as it was meant to.

Return to Buenos Aires

I am back below the equator after a great two weeks at home. And even though I spent a good part of the last week feeling torn between the 2 Americas, bursting into sporadic bouts of random tears more times than I can count, and didn't sleep almost the whole week because my brain wouldn't turn off and stop asking and answering the same manic questions every night, I am happy to be where I call home for now. I got caught up with all my peeps, and we are moving into what Mana and Diego have assured me is the best time in Buenos Aires. La primavera or spring. I couldn't agree with them more and it has only been a week.

I am ecstatic (mom I spell checked it this time) to be back among the Spanish-speaking again. I didn't realize how much I missed the language until I boarded my connection in DC and was suddenly surrounded by the buzzing of my beloved Castellano again. If only they spoke it in my beloved Brooklyn - I would never have to choose between anything again.

Upon my return to Villa Crespo and our apartment, everything seemed more green. There seemed to be more life to the city somehow, and there is that liberating feeling and energy that spring is here and it's time to migrate out of doors again. After a few gray days of rain, the sun is shining again, and the weather is perfection. I still dread the heat of summer, but will definitely enjoy the coming weeks happily.

Bida went into the shop early this week because her back tire is so fucked up I could not even ride her. Sad face. When Will and I went to pick her up, I excitedly asked the mechanic if everything was well. He gave me a doubtful look, and I assured him I know she is a piece of shit, but that I just need her to be ridable. We laughed and he said that for now, yes, but hinted that I should stop being a tight ass with my money and just buy a new tire. This advice was reaffirmed Saturday on a long bike ride with some good peeps when I rode over something and had to finish a good portion of the day with a super wobbly tire that swayed from side to side rubbing against the frame causing my body to shake it like a Polaroid picture without even trying. We made the best of it by dropping sick beats to her quacking sound.  New tire it is.

Yesterday was a day to explore something I hadn't before. That will be the goal for most of the spring and summer at least one day per weekend. Yesterday, after eating my chori pan in the park, I spent the day wandering around the cemetery in Chacaritas. It is GIGANTIC. Walking through the front of it made me feel like I was walking through a mini version of a very rich neighborhood. Except all the neighbors are dead. The streets are wide enough for cars to drive through and everything is organized very linearly, complete with tree-lined streets, street names, and speed limit signs. As you move further into the gigantic complex, it opens to trees and smaller more humble grave sites. It is absolutely gorgeous and I tried to find a balance between snapping photos and respecting the crowds of people there to visit the graves of their loved ones. I spent a good part of the day there laying in the grass, soaking up sun, and enjoying the peace and tranquility.

For the next two weeks, Diego's family is visiting, and I have given up my room so they can spend more time together. So I packed up my bags and schlepped across town to Nelle and D's place. I love them so much for letting me couch surf in their tiny apartment for a week. Along the way, I was thinking that I wish there was a way to record all the things that come to my mind on a daily basis. Funny. Interesting. Varied. Weird. Non-linear. Random-ass shit. Must start carrying small notebook so I stop forgetting things. Because if you were in my head all day you would never cease to be amazed. Or confused.

flowers for pati

if you look closely you'll see my two little cucaracha friends. que asco!

since you weren't there for this, you can just imagine a lot of girl shrieks and me trying to express how disgusted i was in spanish

who's ready for camping now?

Will y Caro...Doe a deer a female deer....

bici madness

fresh oj

hackey sack

diego jokes that my room is "club kelly". while drying my unmentionables the other day he commented how good the new club flags looked. adds character for sure.

aah chori pan. te extrañaba.

fake flowers in front of the cemetery

i live...i mean don't live...on calle 49

simplicity

laying in the grass in bsas, representing indiana

stop. dead people live here.

buenos aires wins in the ice cream department. for the first time in my life when i was home i didn't eat a whole pint of ben and jerry's in one sitting, or even finish it because it tasted fake in comparison.

hey guy

Me and you. Love for almost always. + You are the key to my doghouse? What a love tribute.

i believe this sign to mean... now it's time to break into a musical number. raise your suitcase over your head and skip or something.

people are always complaining that there is so much dog shit on the sidewalks here and no one cleans up after their dogs. i was just amazed that this dog shit was standing up. like a shit castle.

i think she stayed out too late

my new digs for the week

a little taste of the USofA - S'mores over kitchen gas

the clouds looked cool. i am in love with my new camera.