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The bus from Buenos Aires was Pretty non eventful, and arrived around 7am in Cordoba.
I had a coffee in the bus station to kill some time and then decided to walk to the hostel to get some exercise for the old ankle.
Everyone was busy on their way to work, yet rather than observe everyone and my new surroundings I soon realised that you had to concentrate on the floor....it was dog poo central, the place was covered in it.
For some reason in South America there are lots and lots of stray dogs. They are friendly enough but naturally they crap with gay abandon and the head of dog poo patrol seems to have done a runner.
They hostal was small but really friendly and said I was welcome to have some breakfast even though I had not paid for it.
As I was sat munching away a really pleasant chap from Italy called Alberto said hello. Larger than life he had bought a motorbike and rode it through Chile. He gave me some good pointers and we had a few laughs about women and marriage as we seemed to have a lot in common. I was now contemplating on buying a motorbike....
The guy who owned the hostel was a massive football fan and laughed when I asked him for the wifi code.
Mexico 86.......
Haha very funny I said, what is the real code.
He just looked at me and smiled. It really was mexico 86.
I told him I would leave him a terrible review on hostelworld unless he changed it, and we both had a laugh.
The weather was absolutely boiling, a welcome change from the rain of Buenos Aires.
I had a wander in to town, but within a few hours you have more or less done it to death, there is not that much to see.
It was the afternoon so I could check in to my room and was pleased to find out I was the only one in the dorm. Could I even have the luxury of my own toilet??
No that was too much to ask. Turns out the owner lived on my floor so he used it as well.
Not sure if it is plumbing or tradition but they ask that you do not put any toilet tissue in the toilet, they have a bin by the side.
Well without going in to too much detail I nature called so i settled down to a copy of the dailymail and tried to capture what I hoped was an interruption free session and completely forgot about the whole no paper in the toilet thing.
Just as I was finishing off there was a bang at the door and it was the owner asking if I would be long as the cleaner needed to clean it.
Two minutes I shouted....
Then as I flushed i panicked as I saw the water come all the way to the top.
Oh no I must have blocked it with the paper and the owner and cleaner are stood outside.
s***.
Literally.
To make matters worse it was one of those cisterns that take forever to fill back up.
I panicked and made the fatal mistake of flushing too early.
I was in a right state. Should I make an announcement and shout out or keep quiet?
After four flushes I was certain I would just have to confess and then i spotted a big plunger hidden away behind the bowl.
Well it was a disgusting plunge session or confession.....
I went with the plunge and lived to tell the tale. And yes it was disgusting.
The cleaner gave me a real funny look as I whistled past trying to look all cool. I reckon she knew.
I was keen to cash in my blue dollars so asked the girl on receeption where to go. She said it was safe and to go down a certain street and they will be stood on the street. Just be obvious you are a tourist and they will find you she said.
So off I trotted back in to town and headed down the street. I tried to look for dodgy sort of people hanging around but could not really see anyone. There were people stood around but I did not want to approach them in case I got it wrong. Plus there were police everywhere. Every bank has police or security outside and the street I was on was the banking street.
I decided to stand in view of everyone and made sure I had my camera in my hand and then got out my map and pretended to look lost and scratched my head.
I could not have looked any more like a tourist if I tried, but it was to no avail.
I went back to the hostel and they were surprised at my experience. I would just have to try again,
The owner told me the next night was Asado night and did I want to sign up.
Asado is the Argentine BBQ where they cook basically a cow.
I said too right and handed over my fiver. Does it come with blood sausage I asked?
This is their version of black pudding which I had not tried yet. No not normally he replied.
Oh well, no big deal.
I was conscious I needed to do more so had heard from some others that the nearby town of Alta Gracia was worth a visit as not only was it a nice bus ride, it was where Che Guevara had grown up, well at last til he was 11 anyway, and that they had turned his house in to a museum.
So next morning I headed off down the bus station and somehow managed not only to get a ticket but also get on the right bus.
I had my usual no Spanish session with the driver as to where to get off and he undestood.
It was indeed a beautiful little town and the sun was shining so it was a beautiful day.
I found the tourist office and they gave me a map of where to go.
It was a short walk across a park where it seemed strange to see leaves falling off the trees in hundred degree heat. Autumn had arrived, but it felt more like summer.
The park was deserted and then you walk in to what is basically normal streets with normal houses, it felt very strange, not touristy at all.
So there you are walking past peoples houses and there it is.
It was only a small house and for what they were asking to get in I decided to just take a photo and give it a miss.
What am I going to see, his potty and a copy of the Beano? Lets face it he was only a small kid here, I hardly think there will be revolutionary plans written on his bedroom wall.
I headed back in to town and was faced with Either another hour bus ride to the next town which had some German architecture or sit in the sun and have a beer.
I have seen German houses before I thought as I settled down to a nice cold bottle of Quilmes lager.
There was really good wifi even sat outside so I decided to catch up on my calls and Skyped everyone.
The sun was absolutely blistering hot and I was the only lunatic sat in it, everyone else was in the shade.
Needless to say I was on the phone ages so red and hammered I was swaying where the bus Had dropped me off earlier to get back home.
The bus pulled up and I said Cordoba?
No no no and he pointed across the other side of the lake and shot off.
I was confused. The bus went to Cordoba and back. Surely if I got on I would end up going back?
Anyhow I staggered around the lake and tried to look for some sort of bus stop or bus station.
I saw a few people stood on a corner so guessed that could be the place.
I got lucky again and was soon on the bus back a bit worse for wear.
It was about an hour and a half so had sobered up a bit by the time I got back, so decided to go look for the money changers again.
As I got near the street I noticed an arcade with lots of men stood right on the edge of the step to the arcade. I had walked straight past the day before.
I thought it odd they did not stand on the pavement but all stood on the step.
I walked over and a kind looking man in his sixties asked me if I wanted cambio.
Aha!
At last I had found them.
I asked his best rate and he answered in Spanish so after a few taps on a calculator he showed me. I said ok and he nodded to follow him in inside.
Part of me was fearing the worst so I ran through a few SAS moves in my head.
After a few steps we arrived at a small stall where a man was stood counting money.
I put my dollars on the counter and he immediately gave me the money.
The old man smiled and said thank you.
Job done.
I could not believe how open and easy it was.
I headed back to the hostel in anticipation of my BBQ but it was not ready until nearly 11.
They tend to eat and stay up really late.
Alberto had bought some bottles of wine so I was well and truly on my way as it was served up.
The owner passed me sausage and asked me to try.
It tasted like black pudding......yum yum.
He had got it in especially for me, how nice.
There was tons of beef, ribs, sirloins, steaks and it was mouth wateringly delicious. I think I eat enough for about three people.
It was like that scene from the Simpons were the guy drops dead in the eating competition.
I want to move to Argentina and eat this every day I thought as I lay in bed farting.
Well that was it, not much more to see so I booked my ticket to Mendoza for my next stop............
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