Only 10 days left in South America!

Edit: I actually started writing this post on like Sunday or Monday... I've just been really slack!.

My god, where did the time go!?!?! I`ve been here almost 3 months. I kinda feel like I'm coming to the end of my trip but I suppose that there is only more to come :o) Next. Portugal (Lisbon) for 4 days then 6 weeks in Africa. I think that's plenty to look forward to. I kinda wish Id spent a bit more time in South America, there is so much that I haven't seen. Quick run down on what I've been up to as per usual.

Friday 11/06 - I was awake for a grand 26 or 27 hours. I think that this is a magnificent effort & maybe even my best yet. After updating I got ready to go out then we (Ben, Simmi & I) went to the supermarket & got supplies. Simmi had met another French guy (Sebastian) that was staying at the hostel but who had just moved into a house with a few other people so we were invited over. (A bottle of really good vodka only cost me $169 (under $10au) by the way). The house was really cool & so were the people living there, I had such a good time. We sat round drinking, talking & listening to music till 1am, I think, then decided to go out. This place is really awesome their are barely any tourists & the people here love to talk to you, more so than anywhere else I've been. We ended up at a Irish pub & then another club. Anyway ended up talking on the street for a while to a whole bunch of people (till 5am). Think I got to sleep at some stage after 7am but I have no idea. I woke up about 11am feeling quite awake. I figured out that in the 48 hours I'd had all of 8 hours sleep (all of which has been interrupted in one way or the other). I really enjoyed Montevideo & met some awesome people so decided to stay Saturday night too.

Saturday 12/6 - I was a bit of a zombie, but managed to wonder round the shops & do a few things that I needed to do. I had a sleep form 5pm to 7pm though which was good. Sebastian had invited us back to their place for a roof top bbq. It was pretty cold so I didn't stay on the roof top for long, the bbq was great but I cant believe how tired I was. I left about 1am, I needed sleep. At 5.30 in the morning the hostel owner comes into the room & turns on the light... & then brings 2 new girls into the room - um, I was very pissed off to say the least. I think I was one of the only girls staying at the hostel & there were at least 2 or 3 empty rooms so who knows what she was thinking.

Sunday 13/6 - I had to get up about 7am cause I was heading to Coloina with a few other guys form the hostel. It was a 2.5 hour bus trip, my last in South America! Coloina is such a pretty town. I really liked it. Ron, one of the guys I caught the bus with who also happens to be a kiwi, & I walked around the town for a few hours. I swear I was very much affected by sleep deprivation. For one my coordination sucked, I must of tripped over a million times & almost broke my ankle walking out of the bus station :o) It made me laugh so I'm sure anyone watching would have had a chuckle too. It seems Ron & I were stalking each other but we didn't actually meet till Montevideo. He was at the same hostel as me near Igazua & then in the same apartment block that I stayed at in Florinopolis very freaky! The ferry over to Buenos Aries didn't take that long & it was easy to jump in to a taxi to Mora's place.

It was so cool to see her & really nice to acutely know someone. I was a little hyped. Moras mum & brother are really cool too. We went out to dinner & al I can say is the meat here is WONDERFUL. We had 3 different types of Beef & one they actually cut with a spoon its so tender.

Monday 14/6 - I slept in. I think I was (and still are) recovering form a) my 27 hours without sleep & b) my cold, its still hanging round a little. I met up with Ron in the afternoon to do a spot of shopping. He brought a $1700pessos cashmere trench coat & I brought a $500pesso ($245au) Columbia jacket. I'm sure at home they are like $500au. I'm very happy with my purchase, its not a real trendy jacket but its still cool. Its a 3 in one with a interchange system & vortex waterproofing (kinda like gortex I think). So basically it has a fleece that sips in & out so you can 1) just have the waterproof / windprrof shell, 2) just have the fleece (which is black & quite decent looking) or 3) zip in the fleece & it becomes this super warm waterproof windproof jacket. The colours aren`t to bad either, black arms & a dark grey body. Can you tell its been a while since I've been shopping :o) Still need to buy some jeans & tops & are thinking of getting a new contact prescription here too.

Tuesday 15/6 - I seem to love sleeping in here, think its cause I actually have a room to myself & its so different form been in a hostel. I went for a walk down to Riecoleta & spent some time in the church & walking through the cloisters which have been turned into a museum. There were also quite a few market stalls which were pretty cool. For the first time in ages I watched TV & it was nice just to blob & relax. Moras best friend & Nicos (Moras brother) best friend came over for Moras mums birthday dinner. Its times like that, that I wish my Spanish was so much better. I could under stand bits but not that much of the conversations. I cant quite explain it but it was like one big family & the vibe was so cool! They all speak so fast! :o)

Wednesday 16/6 - Went back down to Riecoleta (a suburb) & this time went to the cemetery. Sounds weird but I tell you its fantastic! Tuesday there was a feurnal & I felt wrong going in but yesterday it was fine. It really is like a little city & so different to anything I've ever seen before. There are tombs some are amazing. I went to have a look at Evitas tomb too but there were so many tourists I couldn't take a photo. I expected something a little more grand. After the cemetery I went to the Art museum. There were some really cool pieces & I really enjoyed wondering around. Then I went to the cultural centre & took in another exhibition which was really cool. So many different styles. Yesterday afternoon, with Mora, I went to one of the biggest supermarkets I have ever seen. It was huge! Last night I met up with a friend I went to school with in Cusco. It was great to see him. It really doesn't seem like its was 2 months ago I was in Cusco.

Today (Thursday 17/6) - I got in just after 2 I think so once again slept in :O) I don't really feel like doing much so thought Id better update cause its been a while. Think some shopping is called for this afternoon :o)

Buenos Aries - Argentina, Thursday 17th June 2004, 2.35pm