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Now THAT was a bus journey. Left Buenos Aires at quarter past 7 last night, and rolled into Mendoza at 9am this morning. But more of that later.
Yesterday was my last day in the big city, so charged up the camera and headed for San Telmo, an arty antiquey foody area just shy of the centre. Wandered for hours, and took some wicked shots of local graffiti. There was a couple of awesome pieces in Colonia which I shot too, and these in B.A. were just as good. Tis cool that the powers-that-be leave it all for everyone to appreciate, however I assume they get rid of the ones which proclaim that Ël Chav and his nine kids woz ére. Anyways, strolling along in the sun I came across a buzzy little square, full of people and the ever-present tango shows, so pulled up a chair and watched the world go by.
In my element. 3 glasses of red, some stupendously good pasta and the company of a laid-back Kiwi called Richard who´d been there 3 months and didn´t want to leave. Auckland´s home - going back for 3 months - then may well move to Buenos Aires permanently. He´d been looking that week at a 2-bed flat, near the city centre, 45 square metres, polished wood floors... 58 grand, US. That´s about 30,000 quid; nice.
Wasted a few hours sitting there, putting the world to rights, then headed back to grab my stuff and get to the bus station. The place is like an airport, but without the äir¨bit - rows and rows and rows of buses, hundreds of people with tons of luggage (some clearly more than others... even the little rural-looking dudes with their huge numbers of mouldy carrier bags and open-toed lace-up shoes were looking at me funny as I wheeled my boards and stuff through), announcements every 5 seconds, peeps running to catch that elusive journey. Real hectic, then onto the bus and..... silence. Once you get on the thing, you realise why everyone travels this way... because it is refined luxury. Huge leather seat by the window, dinner (on a bus? Oh yes, and it was good too), a film, free wine, and brekky this morning. All for just over 30 quid. Admittedly it is a mashusive trip, just shy of 14 hours, but you´re so comfy in that seat with its legrests and armroom and smug business-class feel to it, it flies by.
It´s very barren, this part of Argentina, much like the Australian outback. Woke at about half 5 to the sun coming in over what was basically desert. Every house, if you could call them that, was made of corrugated iron and had a knackered old pick-up either parked or jacked up outside it. Add to this, if you will loyal reader, 4 or 5 mangy old mutts patroling around outside. Every car on the road looked as though it had about 15 people in it, rear supension groaning under the weight. Put into the mix also, the dust and the apparent infertility of the earth and you have an illustration of what we passed for mile upon mile early this morning. And then, while munching through easily the most tooth-decayingly sweet breakfast I´ve ever had (2 choc bars, marmalade, shortbread, and sugared {2} coffee, there they were.
Because we approached from the East, along a flat plain, the Andes just suddenly appear, and get big really quick. You get a tangible sense that the range stretches the length of South America pretty much, over 5,000 miles, as you see them go from one side of your horizon to the other. Good job no-one speaks English, as they might have disapproved of the ¨F*** ME¨ that escaped.
Ah - just been told this terminal is not free. Surprise surprise. Anyways, I´ve now got to Penitentes and am gagging for a shred tomorrow. Couple of beers, then hit the 2 chairlifts! There is a park near the base, and there´s good snow, so bring it on. Laters gang x
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Babao 19 abril, 2010Oxwell L'bu***Apf3stol de la Caridad***Fue como una aridez enla tirrea que no permitea un e1rbol progresar… Fue como poner manos a laobra sin saber cf3mo empezar,aprendiendo a distinguir entrela esperanza y la ilusif3n. Ased se agito tu corazf3n,como la luz de unavela que sopla el viento. Y en medio de ese tormentoEl creador te asistif3 con trese1ngeles guardianes: la paciencia,la constancia y la esperanza… Revestido abrasaste tu misif3nla de ser socorro para el desamparado,amigo y voz para el marginado,agua, pan y consuelo para el olvidado… Y como San Francisco en Aseds,vos recorriste las calles de Guatemalamostrando en cada paso que donde estatu tesoro este1 tambie9n tu corazf3n. Te hiciste hermano de todos…Tu apostolado fue la caridady por eso de aqued a la eternidadla humildad sere1 tu abrigo y elAmor testigo de que serviste atus hermanos hasta el final…Oxwell L’bu