USHUAIA : gorgeous mountains, fun friends, fresh air and a break from the city
with: Jon, Clay, Lauren
when: March 15 2:30 am Thursday - March 18 9 pm Sunday
synopsis: the week I left I had gotten barely ANY sleep, as my only time to was prohibited by my overstressed subconscious. I had a breakdown that Wednesday night while trying to pack for a few reasons, but mostly due to exhaustion and stress. But like a good mom, Vale comforted me and we had a nice dinner, I packed quickly and napped for an hour before Clay and Jon picked me up via taxi to the airport. The flight was smooth and the landing was superb-- the cost of the trip was worth it just to see that. Once there we figured out our hostel details, met a new friend Ary, and then did a free hike (Glacial). When we came back, we rested and hung out. That night at the hostel a bunch of us chipped in for a hostel BBQ. We played games, helped chop vegetables, then ate our hearts out and met a bunch of great people and planned a hike with some of them.
The next morning our group + Ary, Fernanda, Yann, and Clara hiked Laguna Esmeralda. It was drizzly and muddy, but still gorgeous! We were even able to drink from that beautiful lake! After the hike I napped and then we all went for dinner. It was an experience, what with me losing my group for about an hour, finding them, eating a buffet that wasn't the best and finding a catepillar in my salad.. etc. Later we all went to the Irish Pub which was a blast and then hung out at the hostel until about 5 am. The next morning we checked out of that hostel, Lauren went back to Bs As, and Jon, Clay and I wandered the town. We hiked to the highest point that we could in the city and got to see "the real Ushuaia"with all its mountain poverty and stray dogs that seem more like wolves. When we came back into the touristy town we bumped into Ary and went for sushi lunch, then hung out at Hostel Antarctica more, playing games, relaxing, sharing stories.. Then we went for another walk, this time along the water. Later we checked into our other hostel and cooked dinner there, then Jon and I went back to Hostel Antarctica to celebrate St. Patricks with the new friends. The next day we wandered and walked some more and then headed to the airport.
Conclusion: I loved it. It was just the vacation I needed and even though it was so short I felt satisfied. I would have liked to do more touristy things and some day I think I'll head back into Patagonia to do more, but things were expensive and over-booked. However, I got a great taste and saw beautiful places, met interesting people, and shared it with 3 awesome friends!
Favorite photos:
Next Trip...
MENDOZA! caballeros y caballos
with: Jon, Judy, Hannah, Marie, Natalee, Simone
when: Wednesday March 28 20:10 hs - Tuesday April 3 8:30 am
synopsis: Rushed to the Omnibus station after class to travel by myself, met a man who served as temporary-dad to help me get there asap and smoothly. Waited 40 minutes for my late bus, rode it for the 14 hours through the night and arrived in Mendoza at around 10 in the morning the next day. Very smooth travel although I was sore from running for the first time (discovered Parque Rivadavia about 20 blocks from my house!). Hung out at the hostel, met some people, wandered around a bit and took in the nice differences from Buenos Aires: large clean uncracked sidewalks, behaved dogs, clear skies, men that MINDED their own business and not mine. Hannah Judy Jon and Marie arrived, went to lunch, walked through the shopping areas, found some parks with artisans. Hung out at the hostel, had tacos and wine for dinner, walked around at night, found a playground and got spoken to by the police for it. The next morning we woke up really early for our High Andes tour. It lasted the whole day and we learned about Mendoza, it's provinces, and the different formations of the Andes Range. We also did some trekking on it and felt the altitude in our lungs and heads. Natalee and Simone arrived and we all hung out. That night we participated in an asado-party with other hostels-- all-you-can eat meat. I know I was a vegetarian for almost 4 years, but the meat in Mendoza is superb! Simone and I stayed late to hang out with new acquaintances then had an adventure back to our hostel. The next morning was our Wine Bike Tour. We rode bikes to 3 different wineries and learned about their unique processes then learned the proper way to taste wine. Very fun! We changed hostels and went to lunch. Later we all rested then I did homework, wrote postcards, and made a friend from Canada named Dan. That night we all went to an Irish pub (there's a theme of these trips!) and I drank a glass of jameson to cure my sore throat. Walter, the worker at the hostel showed up and we joined his table of Spanish-speakers. Later, Simone Dan and I went with him and some other Argentines to a Plaza where we hung out and talked until the next morning. We slept in the next day and then I registered for classes at Hope and did homework. Later, Simone and I went on a sunset horseback excursion! It was so much fun and it was beautiful. We rode for 2 hours through the mountains and then had a BBQ where we met 4 other American students studying in Bs As through a different program. When we got back to the hostel we all played cards and made 2 more traveler friends. After the others went to bed, I hung around with the Argentine group and watched them play Truco (argentine card game). The next day I checked out and then walked around with Dan and someone I met my first day, Eric and we went to the central market where I saw so many dead pigs! We ate lunch and then I went back to the hostel to wait for my bus. After saying goodbye to my group I walked to the bus station only to find out that I'd done something horribly stupid. I remembered the time as 4:00, but in reality it was 14:00... Pretty bad couple of hours trying to figure out how to get back and trying to convince them to let me switch tickets without buying another with not much luck. But oh well, I made it back.. just in time to run home, shower, drop off my stuff, and arrive to my class... 1 hour late. Woops! I had 1 day back in Bs As to reorient myself and then I was off again. This time, to Urugay.
Conclusion: I'm so glad I went! It was spur-of-the-moment decision thanks to Jon who I love traveling with. I liked meeting the people in Mendoza and it felt more like what I expected for "South America". Has much more of an authentic cowboy feel. I also did a lot of the touristy things which I'm happy about, because it's kinda hard to do those things on your own. Seems like a good place to raise kids and teenagers since it's safe and there's a lot of them so I'm sure they enjoy it. The group was a ton of fun and I also was able to branch out on my own a bit and practice my independence (although, as exemplified with the bus.. I can't completely depend on myself)
Favorite Photos:
URUGUAY : water water, we reunite!
with: Lucas, Jennifer, Michelle
when: April 4 9 am - April 8 10:30 pm
description: Woke up early Wednesday to leave my house by 7:20, met Lucas in the subte, met up with Michelle and found Jennifer at Buquebus. The ferry was astounding. So huge and comfortable! Landed in Colonia then took a 3 hour bus to Montevideo, checked into the hostel and then searched for food as we were all keeling over from hunger. We walked around for a long time then found a restaurant with pasta that looked much better than it tasted.. Made friends with the staff though and hung out with them for a bit. Then bought the Uruguayan drink Medio y Medio and headed down to the water. We stayed on the beach a long time and walked along the shore. Later Michelle Jennifer and I went to get icecream and then got caught in a huge rainstorm which was fun running back with plastic bags as bonnets. That night we played card games with Uruguayans and our new friend Alex. I learned Truco, Uruguayan style. The next morning, Michelle and I woke up early, ate breakfast, and then ran on the beach. After running we swam in the ocean-river! We were the perfect pair because she convinced me to run and I convinced her to swim. Also we're the same height and have similar stride, so that made the run more enjoyable. After that we walked to the shopping center with Alex to search for soccer tickets with no luck. So we ended up eating Subway in the mall. We ate alfahores con helado on the beach then went to a Uruguayan soccer game! The next day was Jennifers birthday and we spent it on the beach. Michelle and I ran on the beach about 4 miles beforehand.. later that night we went for a birthday dinner (alex joined) at a great Italian place and ate wonderful food then went for icecream afterwards. We hung out at the hostel afterwards with a new friend Sabrina. The next morning Michelle and I exercised at the beach again and then we left for Colonia.
Colonia was gorgeous, but in my opinion it's a 1 day place. We walked around, checked out the ferias and tourist shops, walked on the rocks by the water, took pictures, and ate at a place recommended by everyone who's gone to Uruguay: el drugstore to eat the Uruguayan meal Chivito which is just delicious. After spending the day just exploring and relaxing we drank Medio y Medio with chocolate while watching the sun set over the lighthouse. That night was very interesting and hilarious-- Jen and Lucas went to Easter Vigil mass. The next morning was Easter sunday! Michelle and Jennifer left after breakfast, Lucas went back to bed, and I explored on my own and found an evangelical church for an Easter service. The rest of the day we spent reading on a hill-- homework and for pleasure. We left at 7 to go back to Bs As.
Conclusion: Uruguay was the most relaxed place I'd been in a while. I loved being on the beach!! And swimming was such a treat. I felt like I had plenty of time in both places, and I was disappointed with some of the prices of some not-so-great food. I also lost money by having to change into uruguayan pesos, but it was the perfect relaxed vacation!
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