anadiomene

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What an amazing trip. While coming in the landscape reminded me a lot of Alice springs – endless shrubs – dirt roads.  My first port of call was ‘La Casona del Rio’, a special place, a renovated old welsh house run by Yanina and her family.  Had a great time hanging out with her and her mother Norma, drinking Maté and doing lots of talking about the place the area, travelling and life. While watching the Davis cup, sad that Argentina lost, but those Spanish were looking pretty hot and stylish – viva la espana! Went to go horse riding, but horse got nervous, I got nervous - horse responded by getting more nervous – so hey ended up on a 2 hour ride with me on bike with Yanina and Norma on the horses instead.  Was so nice to be out in nature – and see the country side.  And again the Argentine contrast, desert on one side of the road and vivid greenery on the other – and the sky never more blue – loved it!!!! Then went and checked out Gaiman – t’was surreal to be sitting in an old welsh tea house with scones & tea and listening to welsh music surrounded by artifacts – while everyone speaks Spanish and its hot as hell outside. Cute little welsh houses there too. And the funniest thing is the width of the roads, but almost no no traffic.  After my stay in Trelew headed off down to Puerto Piramides, to go whale watching – the perfect windless day for it.  This would have to go down as one of the most memorable experiences ever, the water as clear and reflective as mirrored glass, surrounded by 10 or so whales, all doing some deep breathing – and once and awhile a tail would flip up on their dive down to the bottom.  They are like big gentle compassionate Buddha’s of the sea.  They come into the bay to have their babies, and you can feel it along the peninsula the whole atmosphere is filled with their energy which is so peaceful and I am sure it is because or why they spend so much time here. Shame the trip was so short as there was so much more to see – so good reason to go back. Spend the night in Puerto Madryn, which reminded me of Australia – lots of beach. And you could see why so much wildlife, the sea is so rich – the rocks full of shells and fossils, the beach littered with crabs, sea snails, sea weeds – the whole place despite the surrounding desert is so teeming with life.  The last highlight – which I am kicking myself for not getting a photo of, is while waiting for the flight back to BA the whole volleyball team came and sat next to and around me – so 20 or so 6ft players!  The perfect end to the perfect trip, *sigh* was sorry to see it end…….

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What a diverse city, look one way and you don’t see the ugly flats through the trees, look the other and it’s all metropolitan flats. One building old another new, and then there are the new some have a bit of old worked into the façade – all makes for a unbelievable mix-mash of everything which also what makes it so incredibly unique. The cemetery, also a sharp contrast the areas of poverty that exist.  Many of the vaults are bigger than the houses in the shanty towns and a lot more elaborate – strange for me to see the dead treated better than the living.  I do like that they have all the books shops everywhere, an incredibly well read lot (which I love). There’s an old theatre that they turned into a bookshop – and it looks amazing. Shame there isn’t more decent English books, but found a good one who is supplying my reading habit.
This quote found in the book (‘The Tango Singer’ by Tomas Eloy Martinez) I’m currently reading sums up the whole city “In fact, it looked like almost every place I’d ever seen; meaning, it didn’t look like anywhere else”.

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Yesterday went to my very first polo game and loved it, best €11 I’ve ever spent.  I got 2 games and you can stand down near the fence, so a birdeye view of the game and the warmer upers.  Its a great mix of; style, elegance, speed, horse power, skill and madness.  And hey the gorgeous men everywhere thrown in for the heck of it.  Amazing horses, polite crowd and just the most perfect day out. Looking forward to following the tournament and going to more games.

This was just amazing, a real local event, and pure gaucho culture – which I loved (who doesn’t mind good looking men on good looking horses giving macho shows of their horse riding skills).  So saw lots of mad racing about, from young to old, from thin to not so thin… It really is a culture and a law into itself, the cigar smoking, horse riding, mate (local caffeine – herb tea) drinking, meat eating, big belts, studs, berets, hats, small swords or were they big knifes…. The cowboys whoops sorry gauchos can also be seen in the one photo riding into town to buy a packet of cigarette’s. Cute town too, still has that old cowboy village feel to it. I stopped in at the shop of a local artist Miguel-angel (pronounced Michelangelo) who drew me a horse of liberty (freedom) riding over the pampas and with the ombu tree (famous local gaucho tree – they sleep under).  He also gave me the run down of local history and culture – the picture was such a nice gesture – funny as I do feel incredibly free and yes my heart is racing over the pampas (local grass that covers the plains that have the same name).  Put some words to the culture – related poetry can be found here.

Not every day is perfect.  Today am relaxed again, yesterday got annoyed at it all - heat stroke - internet and shower in the apartment doesn’t work - can’t find change for washing machine - my inability to learn Spanish within the space of 2 weeks is annoying me….  It’s a hard life…..  I know in the larger scheme of things it is all small and silly, but hey there can be no ups if there aren’t any downs.  Luckily like all things both good and bad, it passes and today is a new day. Discovered yoga downstairs from me, found soya milk and got the bike working - wahoo!!! now going to chill at the pool to get recover :-*

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Happy as can be, finally after what felt like much waiting around moved into my gorgeous new flat.  Have to be honest it was the lamest attempt at flat hunting ever, saw it – liked it – took it. Love this area from the first day I came to town and saw it, however flats are very pricey but managed to find this more affordable one.  Not many agencies let you see flats first, this one did so am happy it all turn out and we have very own pad (well for all of two months anyway).  Sorry couldn’t fit all of pool in picture (too big ;-)) and there’s a gym and I have a full parking space in the garage for my hired bike which I pick up today.  P.s. sorry Fiona, already hogging all of wardrobe – will clear space for when you arrive.