That pretty much sums it up. Back at Sydney International, waiting for my shuttle to come pick me up and bring me to a hostel. It's raining hard, I'm feeling pretty under the weather and my flight was 12 hours early. Yeah, that's right, 12 hours early - which made me realize that I had no idea how f'ed up my original flight plan was. I lucked out.
More soon.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Happy Birthday To Me!
I just turned 26 in Puerto Iguazu, Argentina. This is the north east tip of Argentina, were the Parana River separates Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. People come here to see the waterfalls, which of course are magnificent. It is pouring rain outside and thunder is booming! I am sitting at the Hostel waiting to depart for the 18 hour bus ride back to Rosario.
Yesterday we walked around the national park and saw the waterfalls and I took lots of pictures that are pointless to post here but if you are wondering here is a nice one that the internet has already. Anyway, it was beautiful, there were some cool animals in the jungle surrounding the park, monkeys, and toucans, lots of butterflies, some french girls at the hostel even spotted a crocodile!
I saw one guy smoking a cigarette and when he was finished he chucked it over the guardrail right into a smallish waterfall we were all looking at. It ruined my mood for a little and I felt strong urges to tear his face off, which I resisted. I really truly honestly can not understand. BAFFLED! There were even little garbage bins all along the trails! Also, there were these little raccoon/anteater hybrid looking things that have gotten used to pestering people for food which you are CLEARLY NOT SUPPOSED TO FEED. Of course people feed them, some girls were feeding them nuts in the food court area, which was bad enough, but when I saw a lady on one of the trails bend down and give one a piece of her chocolate candy bar... GRRRR. =(
Anyway, the park is beautiful, the waterfalls are humbling, and the bus ride is going to be long. But, buses are THE way to travel around this country. They are great. You get a large, comfortable reclining chair with plenty of foot room and an elevated foot rest, and they feed you! The 18 hours it took to get here were really quite painless, and with the right toys (iPad equipped with games and movies, and a cozy sleeping bag) its even enjoyable! They do provide you with a pillow and blanket, but we all know my sleeping bag is pretty much my most prized possession. The food is not great so packing some healthy snacks isn't a bad idea either, but thats pretty much to be expected of food provided by public transit.
Ok, packing up and heading out. Again and again and again... =)
Yesterday we walked around the national park and saw the waterfalls and I took lots of pictures that are pointless to post here but if you are wondering here is a nice one that the internet has already. Anyway, it was beautiful, there were some cool animals in the jungle surrounding the park, monkeys, and toucans, lots of butterflies, some french girls at the hostel even spotted a crocodile!
I saw one guy smoking a cigarette and when he was finished he chucked it over the guardrail right into a smallish waterfall we were all looking at. It ruined my mood for a little and I felt strong urges to tear his face off, which I resisted. I really truly honestly can not understand. BAFFLED! There were even little garbage bins all along the trails! Also, there were these little raccoon/anteater hybrid looking things that have gotten used to pestering people for food which you are CLEARLY NOT SUPPOSED TO FEED. Of course people feed them, some girls were feeding them nuts in the food court area, which was bad enough, but when I saw a lady on one of the trails bend down and give one a piece of her chocolate candy bar... GRRRR. =(
Anyway, the park is beautiful, the waterfalls are humbling, and the bus ride is going to be long. But, buses are THE way to travel around this country. They are great. You get a large, comfortable reclining chair with plenty of foot room and an elevated foot rest, and they feed you! The 18 hours it took to get here were really quite painless, and with the right toys (iPad equipped with games and movies, and a cozy sleeping bag) its even enjoyable! They do provide you with a pillow and blanket, but we all know my sleeping bag is pretty much my most prized possession. The food is not great so packing some healthy snacks isn't a bad idea either, but thats pretty much to be expected of food provided by public transit.
Ok, packing up and heading out. Again and again and again... =)
Monday, July 11, 2011
Andy Grammer
I was at the gym the other day, and all of a sudden on the radio I hear a song written and performed by none other than my dear old roommate Andy Grammer. Then later I heard it at the mall, and it turns out he's topping the charts in the states as well, destined to be one of this summer's biggest hits.
Not that he needs a plug in my silly little blog, but anyway, Andy was one of the founding fathers of what became the 825 legacy. Ladies and gentleman, from the confines of our Santa Monica living room, to international broadcast, Andy Grammer!
Friday, July 8, 2011
Mendoza
Reporting from Mendoza, Argentina. That's where the Malbecs come from for all you winos out there. It's one of those places you should visit in Argentina if you get the chance, and a few weeks ago Facundo's job asked if he'd be able to come out for a few days for something business related. Arm Twisted - Mendoza roadtrip. (Not that we were planning to go anyway or anything like that...)
You can see the Andes lining the horizon, and skiing and snowboarding are possible just a few hours away if you were so inclined. We were cursed with beautiful warm and sunny weather these past few days, and it seems that the mountains are off to a late start anyway, so no south of the equator riding for me this time around.
Tonight the Mendoza stadium hosted a big soccer game between Chile and Uruguay for the Copa América. Mendoza is approximately six hours from Santiago, so the hotels are booked and the streets are full of rowdy, red-jersey wearing, "Chi-Chi-Chi, Le-Le-Le, CHILE CHILE!" chanting Chileans.
I had the most delicious steak and wine and plate of melty cheese (provoleta) at my first ever business dinner. I'm so charming.
Tomorrow we go to a vineyard and winery tour.
Its not easy being green. And then there are these people.
You can see the Andes lining the horizon, and skiing and snowboarding are possible just a few hours away if you were so inclined. We were cursed with beautiful warm and sunny weather these past few days, and it seems that the mountains are off to a late start anyway, so no south of the equator riding for me this time around.
Tonight the Mendoza stadium hosted a big soccer game between Chile and Uruguay for the Copa América. Mendoza is approximately six hours from Santiago, so the hotels are booked and the streets are full of rowdy, red-jersey wearing, "Chi-Chi-Chi, Le-Le-Le, CHILE CHILE!" chanting Chileans.
I had the most delicious steak and wine and plate of melty cheese (provoleta) at my first ever business dinner. I'm so charming.
Tomorrow we go to a vineyard and winery tour.
Its not easy being green. And then there are these people.
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Extraordinary Machine
Minutes turn to Hours. Hours turn to Days. Eventually, you have a lifetime. The story simply unfolds. It's a haphazard collection of chance. You are the master of your own destiny.
Live it, love it.
If there was a better way to go then it would find me. I can't help that the road rolls out behind me. Be kind to me, or treat me mean. I'll make the most of it I'm an extraordinary machine.
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