Adios Buenos Aires

After a month and a half in Buenos Aires (Bs.As.), it's almost time for us to move on. Our next stop is Patagonia to see the glaciers and to do some trekking, and then off to Bolivia. Needless to stay, we've decided to extend our trip, yet again, until the May(ish) time frame.

Buenos Aires has been great for us. We've met some wonderful people, had some great Spanish teachers, visited practically all the tourist areas of the city (and branched out a little today to Plaza Once but didn't find it very interesting), had our friend Betty visit for a week, been able to “play house” in our temporary apartment, and seen a "real" futbol (soccer in Spanish) game. I think the biggest challenge for us, or at least for me, is trying to pack 8-months of our lives into two measly bags.

Although Buenos Aires did feel a bit like home for us, there have also been enough differences to realize this is not home. I've come up with a list of things I will miss and not miss about Buenos Aires to help illustrate why this can (and doesn't) feel like home.

Ten things I will miss about Buenos Aires:

1) Chori-pan. Where will I ever find something as simple and delicious as Chori-pan in the states or in Bolivia, our next stop?


2) The plethora of flats in all the stores for less than $50.

3) Homemade pasta. Although we are both pretty tired of the lack of variety in the Argentinian food selection, I'm sure we will crave the homemade pasta, which is readily available at every corner in Buenos Aires.

4) Empanadas. Although Wilson did get food poisoning after eating some empanadas I made during a cooking class, I think we'll both miss it (especially the Argentinian ones)!


5) Plentiful cabs in the streets, unlike SF. We are always able to get a cab in less than 5 minutes.

6) Public transportation. I have to say the subway and bus systems have been great.

7) Our bidet. One day we will buy a Japanese toilet with an in-toilet bidet.

8) Our new friends and teachers.
9) Coffee. Must say, after Europe, Buenos Aires has some of the best coffee.

10) Delivery services. You can find everything delivered here, including coffee in a glass, pizza and pasta, and ice cream (yes, ice cream!). We even got 2 kilos delivered, by accident. I think we'll have to throw an ice cream party to get rid of it all.

Five things (yep, just 5) I am happy to leave in Buenos Aires:


1) All the mierda de perros (dog poop) in the sidewalks and streets. I guarantee you will find shit on every block. It's disgusting, and at night and when it rains, it's even worse because you won't find out it's there until after you step in it.

2) Sidewalks with unmarked areas of wet cement. You only find out it's wet after you step in it. And marked areas with wet cement never give you an alternate route to walk. You are stuck walking in the street.

3) The awful bus and car pollution in the streets. We get surprises in the evening when we blow our noses (our friend Betty did too).

4) Dripping air conditioners. Nearly every time I walk in the street, something drips on me. The first couple times, I thought it was drizzle from the sky. I quickly found out the drips were from the air conditioning systems – great way to cool off!

5) Hang drying. Our apartment didn't include a dryer so we've spent hours, ok just minutes, hang drying. Although I know this is more green, we much prefer our dryers.