Even though it's only been one week, I already feel as though I've been living here forever. Nicole (my home-stay roommate) and I have already fallen into our comfortable routines and made ourselves at home with the Sanchez family, Gabriela, Nacho and Abuela. But even with the feeling of comfort and familiarity, this week has been completely exciting and new.
We touched down at the Ezeiza Airport early saturday morning, and from there my Argentine experience began. Sunday, we took a tour bus around Buenos Aires, seeing San Telmo and la feria that's held every Sunday; Recoleta and el cemeterio, where Eva Peron is buried. We drove down la Avenida 9 de Julio, the widest avenue in the world and took pictures of la Casa Rosada, Teatro Colón, El Congreso and La Boca. Seeing the stark contrast between different parts of the city was like stepping into two different worlds; one full of european architecture and rose gardens, the other like something out of Slumdog Millionaire, but still beautiful in all it's madness. Pictures don't do it justice.
Thursday, I tried my hand at Tango. Or rather, my feet.
It was so beautiful and sensual, and I was so moved watching everyone else dance. That is one of my goals before I leave in six months: I WILL learn to Tango like a real porteño. My other goal is to fully master the castellano language of Argentina, but I'm already working on that :)
Saturday was our first ISA excursion; destination: El Tigre. We took the tren to Tigre and then a small boat to la Isla del Tigre. It was this amazing, hidden little beach where we got to lay in the sweltering Argentine sun for hours. My shoulders definitely regretted that, but it was so worth getting burnt to a crisp. We ended the day with a trip to Puerto de Frutos, a super crowded spot full of booths selling everything from earrings and purses to helado and empanadas, and a final stop near the Rio for tea time and photos. I'm loving tea time - eating lunch at 12:30 or 1 and then dinner at 8:30 or 9 leaves me starving around 4. It's the perfect time for a café con leche and a couple medialunas.
It was the perfect first week. To cap it all off, me and a couple of the girls went to el Jardín Botanico and el Rosadel (Rose Garden) Sunday. Being surrounded by the green of nature and the fresh air was like stepping out of the craziness of Buenos Aires, the true city that never sleeps. And while the city may not sleep, i definitely hear my bed calling my name.
¡Besos, y Buenos Noches a todo!
No comments:
Post a Comment