Dont Cry for me Argentina

Well, well, well. Gotta say im sorry for not updating this in a bit, but what can I say? Europe is amazing, but ill have to talk about that in a bit. These pics all came from Argentina where Andrew left for home, but we made sure we had a good time before he left. Had three other friends down there as well that are all studying architecture so I was given a different perspective of the city.



To finish up my six weeks in South America I spent two weeks in Buenos Aires, which is a huge dense city with around 18 million people occupying it. Traveling with architects is pretty fun. There were no tour guides needed. Everyday they knew of a cool museum, or structure that we could go and check out that not to many people would ever visit.



Besides having fun there were a lot of things that you learn about when traveling in such a big city. The first thing is always use your head. A big city brings forth a lot of little problems for the tourist. Luckily nothing really happened to us, but here are some of the things that I now know to look for. On the Subte, or Subway, they pack you in like sardines and its common to have a couple of wondering fingers in your pockets. Never happened to me, but Andrew has a pretty good story where he was so packed in that you couldnt walk and all the sudden he has a hand in his pocket. Pissed off, he finally makes his way to turn around and confront the man, but cant really do any thing cause its so tight and just starts to belly bump the guy until he gets the message. You have to ask him about it the next time you see him, hilarious.



Scam 2: Bird Shit. Walking down to see these underground tunnels from something like 1714 a little lady comes up to us with tissues and saying, um, I think a bird shit on all of you. I look at my friends back and im like wow, you got covered. Then we check eachother out and it looks like a pigeon emptied a little bird septic tank across all three of our backs. Holy crap, how does a bird shit that much, and yet get all three of us. One second later, we figure that they dont, and my friend Jon remembers the scam. Dont let her touch you he says. We find out that its lotion that one of her degenerate friends has sprayed across all of our backs. We wipe it off our shoulders and rub it into our skin and thank the kind women. The scam involves getting the bird shit talk then they offer to wipe you off, and when doing so they swipe your wallet, or bag as soon as you go to remove it to take a look. I can laugh about it now, but just wanted to kick her in the shin at that moment.



Final days were spent powerless because of a water leak in the walls. Thank goodness Stella is cheap there. Rooftop sodas above the city made up for it. Spent about 2 days in the airport, but finally made my way to Europe. Have to get some photos up when I get the chance. Ill try to do it sooner than later, but who knows might find another interesting door to go through before I get back bloggage town.

Peru, Cusco that is...

One weeks time simply wasn't enough to see everything the small town of Cusco had to offer. I stayed in the Pariwana Hostel, which I highly recommend if anyone is making their way to Cusco. My first couple of days were spent adjusting to the altitude. Arriving from sea level to 10,000-15,000 feet requires rest. The first day at about 13,500ft involved pounding headaches and stomach pains. The only thing that took these pains away would be the pressurized cabin of an airplane, which I will be seeing a lot of. After adjusting to the altitude, and not knowing what Cusco had to offer, the first day was spent wandering obliviously around the town trying to grasp my surroundings stumbling upon church after church, connected by beautiful plazas.



Each turn throughout the city was greeted with "Amigo, Al Paca this, Al Paca that" Of course I was suckered into making a purchase and then continued to see the city. Surprisingly everyone spoke english, but when put into a situation where no one did speak English I was given the responsibility. Lot of fun, but I still prefer my English over my Spanish. Over the next few days I would spend my time dodging Spanish speaking areas, and stuck up a conversation with the first blonde girl I would see. Rather happy that I did because she had the motivation to leave the hostel everyday. The week was planned to hang out with her group of European friends after playing a game of 38 person flipcup.



Rising from the nights slumber the days plan was to head to the local market after a warm cup of coffee. Jeff, new friend Ashley, and I were the only three to embark on this days journey. Jeff got me super excited telling me that Anthony Bourdain had visited this very place that we were going to eat. Upon arrival of the place that Jeff was talking about we noticed its location. It happened to be right next to the butcher aisle, which made the stomach turn from the sites and smells of peeled cow heads, moist livers, swollen cow testicles, goat things, and various pig parts etc. We ended up a few rows down from Anthony's spot that day, but still left with a smile on the face.



After the final sip of "Leche de Tigre" I hear "I want Quail eggs come out of the mouth from my new friend. Jeff concurs, and I'm fucking disgusted. Set off to find the Quail man, and now hes no where to be found. I dont care at the moment, and frankly im happy, but Jeff and Ashley are determined to eat their quail nuggets. Jeff steps up and says he will try to order some in spanish from a vendor. Quatro Quail heuvos? The vender returns with four packets of raw eggs that we now have to explain that we only wanted four single eggs. After settling for one pack Ashley ask "How are we going to cook em?" Jeff says that you just eat em raw, and now Ashley is disgusted. Ashley still on the hunt sends us deeper into the city. Things get denser by the second and backpacker by backpacker all seem to vanish. We take one more corner and Bam! Quail city, 3 vendors wheeling around their stupid egg carts. Fuck, I do have to do it runs through my mind.



Walking back to the Hostel with Quail embryo stuck to my teeth I can say that I am happy for my second day out of the hostel. After another night of nothingness I awake for the sacred valley tour. A trek that would include three ruins that surround the city. I really didnt know what to expect from this journey except for the fact that I was going to see green hills with intricate rocks constructed throughout them. There was a lot more to it then that. Each ruin was constructed in a way so that every piece of land would be used for Living, education, and agriculture. You have to go and here the stories, amazing.



One of my best days in Cusco is a day that no one would join me with except for Jeff, and thats cause this day was his idea. Cusco bungee, the highest in all South America and #4 in the world. The jump is set in the hills of city and I am nervous as we drive to our decent. Ill go first, jump on the scale then strap up, and away I go. The guy is trying to calm your nerves and ask if I have done this before, I say yes, and he replies how high? 30 meters, how many is this? 122. Didn't really help to much with my nerves, but then 3-2-1 bungee and I jump. Its a feeling that I don't really know how to describe with words, but after my feet touch back to the ground I'm off running in circles and laughing like a little kid. Definitely doing bungee again.




Machu Picchu was everything I built it up to be. Lucky enough to arrive early we were allowed to climb Wayna Pichu which allows a birds eye view of the famous Inca ruin. The trek is about an hour up and an hour down. The view from the top is worth it. Clouds rising from the valleys make the moment feel surreal until the moment that I remember that I dont do so good with heights kicks back in. Sitting back down to view the sights I struggle with ways to comprehend what I am seeing and how I will be able to explain it to everyone. Strange enough I can't. My camera struggles to capture the view that I want to show everyone when I return, and even if I did have that picture I dont think I could come up with 1 of the 1000 words that, that, picture would be worth.




All in all, the trip was great and I am happy to have that stamp in the passport. More to see though so I believe that it should pop up on my futures itinerary. As of know I have made it back to Buenos Aires to explore a little bit more. More stories to come, but their not gonna happen if I keep sitting on this computer. Maybe try to go and shoot archery at the bar again, who knows.



Thanks for lookin'
-C-

So the thing about traveling is...

Once you arrive to your destination travel is great. Its the inbetween stuff that sucks. The photo is of me running on about 32 minutes of sleep during my travels. As of now I am staying in Cusco, Peru, which is a great place, but getting here was hell. I booked a ticket with a south american airline which involved about 17 hours in the airports each way. My first night was spent in the Bolivian airport where I found out that I would have to purchase a Visa to enter the country. Something the booking agent didnt tell me about.



Long story short I paid about $150 dollars for a first class bed/chair to stare at this mountain. The closest hotel was about an hour away, and from the looks of the airplane I thought it would be wise just to stay put. 5am and the airport is functining again. Only four more hours until my flight leaves. All I wanted to do is sleep on the flight, but as soon as the plane was in the air I peeked out the window only to see the Andes. I didnt even want to blink and miss a minute of this unexplored landscape. The Excitment took over and now that im settled everything is how it should be. Good coffee, good beds, good people, and amazing geography. So excited to use my tickets to Macchu Picchu. I will be putting up photos of Peru soon.


-C-

This little piggy went to the....

What iv'e learned early on in my travels is that every individual will have a different perspective to view each situation. It all depends how you approach certain things. I'm used to having everything prepared, and yes taken care of for me, via restaurants, but sometimes the excitement of something different takes over any view that you will ever have. Andrew and i were invited to Diego's birthday the other day and this is how every birthday should be celebrated!


Diego is one of Mar Del Plata's local surfers so it was only right that his birthday celebration included the local lineup. What Andrew and I did not know is that the feast that they were to cook was one that we could never produce. Diego was in charge of the grill, but after the hard work that the process calls for I think there was a reason for his duties.


It's a long process, as was the night, but for a short story here I go. The whole process begins with the wood. There are different densities for different types of cooking. Each grill, or Parilla as it is locally known, is credited for how they prep their parilla. The wood is burnt into a hot coal until the pig/meat can be put on the grill.


When the coals are hot the parilla is lowered towered its final decent for the night. Snacks and Beer are easily at hand, and the jokes have already started. English/Spanish it doesn't matter everyone knows that they are there to celebrate a birthday and to have a good time.


Everyone also knows that the pig and other items have been lowered toward the parilla and the coals are hot. Not only does the smell take over the house, but the coals from the grill light the house like a good fire should. Vacio, Asado, Blood Sausage, and Chorizo to make every fat kid sing.


Many laughs later the pig is finally flipped signaling everyone to go and sit down at the table. Eager to take more photos of the whole process you really start to learn that this is how somebody should be celebrated. Not through gifts, but through friends and good times. The whole process was something that was simply great to be a part of. Nothing but smiles and good times, for the rest of my trip that is.


Thanks,
-C-