anadiomene

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I am lucky enough to be living, Puerto Madero.  Nice restaurants, its quiet,  super safe, spacious, with fresh air, little traffic and all the streets are names after famous local women. Added bonus it’s gorgeous rose garden where I like to go meditate, here I can remind myself to take the time to stop appreciate life and smell the roses - as the saying goes.  Some locals like to point out to me, this area is not at all like the city of Buenos Aires – but after a day in all the craziness of the city it is so nice to cross bridge to my mini-utopia. Took some photos of the old photos of the port, ’scuse the reflection of me in those. Also heard a funny story the other day about the port’s crane’s, they’re in the photos as there are lots of them – they cost US$100’000 each and due to a construction fault have never ever worked.  A big yet fairly normal wastage of government funding. They do however look very pretty when lit up at night so not all is lost. 

While I was mediating in the rose garden, there all around me was nature, doing what it does best which is getting on with life.  I was fascinated by the ants carrying the biggest bits of leaves over the long grass, falling off the blades, blown away with the wind, put off track by rocks and obstacles yet they were not put off course one bit. And I realized life is about flow, you got to roll with the punches, not expect an answer for everything, accept it all as it as. Why:  as the flow of life has its own reason, time and a place and we just need to accept it.
Can you imagine if an ant cursed every fall, contemplated and over analyzed every gust of window, or took the obstacle in its was as a personal affront.  Poor little ant would never get anywhere and give away all his strength and time on things that he has no control over and in the larger scope of things just don’t really matter.  ‘It is what it is’, stay on course and have a clear objective.  So today be an ant.

Decided on this category as despite the fact we all need to experience our own lessons in life, it might help recognize what a particular lesson is if someone else has been through something similar. Will also be interviewing people at the retirement home about the subject and note it down, as I am sure there are a lot of wise life lessons there worth sharing with the world.

Wahooo!!!! Silly little earth being (me) has learnt something, had to literally (well not really but almost) pop a blood vessel to do it. Find it most annoying that most life lessons have to appear again and again and again…….. you know there is something to learn but it takes me ages to get it! Finally had a huge epiphany last night.  So now I don’t have to make that particular mistake any more I can finally go on the next level – wahoo!! Am sure there will more lessons to be learn in this school of life, hopefully easier than this one.  I was thinking wouldn’t it be great if we could learn without having to bash our head into the wall to do so???  Would a child learn not to fall if it didn’t hurt?? Life is a funny ‘ole thing. Anyway between this and the end of the mercury’s retrograde it’s a celebration.

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A few photos enclosed that Fiona took on the disposable, hence sorry about the quality and the fact it wasn’t such a great day – but doesn’t take away from the fact it was a good one – although seems like such a long time ago.
Here, back home (BA) am doing quite a bit of volunteer work and also working hard (if you can call it that) investigating my work, living options and opportunities. Next week start a house hunting trip to Mendoza; be nice to get out of town again. As much as I love this place am just as happy to leave, but then I miss it like crazy and am thrilled all over again at being back.  Have decided BA is like a rather tempestuous affair of the heart, it is a city that you fall in love with slowly over time – there are days it annoys you, has you jumping up and down tearing your hair and heart out – and the very next day it reveals yet another mysteriously spellbinding part of itself, spinning a web around you and leaving you entranced and enthralled again and again and again.  Its one of those relationships you can’t live with but you also know deep down you can’t live without – slowly but surely you caught completely under its spell.  And  I don’t mind one little bit.

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Well I might have forgotten my camera, luckily Fiona didn’t so here are some of the photos of our time in Santiago de Chile.  Please note the train that you stand in to go up the moutain is called ‘Funicular’ pronounced fun-killer, which is pretty much what it looked like, luckily we cab’d it.
And in BA all is well, very quiet as it is a sweltering 36 degrees, and was about 26 during the night last night, so have been a little busy melting. Am also tired, just slept for 12 hours, did attempt to get up, but just couldn’t manage it - must have needed the sleep.

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Didn’t really do a pre Christmas post, was too busy.  For xmas we had lunch at BABS, and then for dinner over at Rick’s place - and Christmas eve listening out in Puerto Madero (we were the only one’s so had the whole port to ourselves) at the blue bar - listening to good ole tunes that were like a blast from the past.  Julie and Marie were also here from Holland at around that time - weird as it felt like I was back in Amsteram it was good to see them though and catch up.  Had another day with us all at the polo - was asked by popular demand to show more photos of the polo boys, but sorry girls (and a guy) they were a little far away, anyway it was a great day - the champagne bar was fab - an amazing game yet again.  We also went to the Santa Tierra religious fun park the day after xmas, it was even more kitsch than I though - but was hoping for more real life reenactments – but it was all plastic and rather ghastly – but memorable non the less.
Had my first local spa yesterday – the facial was weird as they put on cream then take it off, and do this like 7 times….. The massage was by a mini ninja with the strength of a sumo – am still feeling battered, bruised and damaged….  

Wow the last few weeks have gone quickly, and no camera in Rio or Satiago, no photos (sorry)….  New years was a blast, a few brazilian cocktails and we were both fairly joyous.  The fireworks were ok, we met some great people including a rather alluring portugese character - so it turned out to be a pretty memorable night. The next day, tried to get up to Christ, but what a circus of tourists, so went up the next day when it was cloudy and windy so I could experience severe height anxiety due to almost being blown off the mountain.  But it was pretty amazing, between that and the bus drivers there were endless living on the edge experiences to be had. On the last day our portugese friend drove us through the city, mountains and up to the end of Barra, have to say the nature of this place is truly spectacular.  Had a delicious meal and night in the sofiotel, with an breathtaking view of the bay, also totally memorable. So, despite my not being fond of the city of Rio - had a great time. Might even go back??
Was very happy to be back in BA though, it all looked so clean, everyone can drive and our flat so quiet and peaceful. Had a few great dinners and a bingo session at BABS before heading out to Santiago Chile. Here our first night was a nightmare, we decided to try a hostel (private room), and while we tried to at first maintain a sunny disposition, t’was ruined somewhat by the all night bar/ disco downstairs. Neighborhood was also a little like post-war Kosovo.  So next morning crack of dawn we moved our butt’s over to the Sheraton – much much better! We got a red bus tour, and stopped off in bella vista, gorgeous place cute shops and bars, caught taxi up hill so we could relax and admire the scenery in comfort… before heading our for a great meal at a cute restaurant ‘como aqua, para chocolate’, even the name was divine.  Last day over to the Hyatt for a day at the spa.  Much more us, and the perfect end to a perfect trip.  T’was hard to say goodbye to Fiona at the airport.  Was so nice having her here - forget sometimes (too busy living) what it is like to have certain people in my life till I spend time with them again - and then I so wish the world was smaller so I could see them more often.  Am reminding myself though how lucky I am to have such amazing people in my life in, and how grateful I am for the fact she came out to experience part of my Latin America adventures with me - and help to create some unforgettable memories along the way.