Catch Me If You Can

OK, so… I'm just sitting in Australia, minding my own business, pretty satisfied with myself at having not given up on Byron when times were tough and jobs were scarce, and finally getting settled into jobs and bike rides and ocean play time when, all of a sudden, there's a new plate on the table.  

Back in LA, the day before my last day at work, just before all this wild and crazy walking about began, I had just worked a double shift and stopped in at a bar with some coworkers to grab a quick drink.  Sitting next to us at the same table is a group of Argentines on vacation in Los Angeles, one of which currently lives in Boston (Facundo) and one of which currently lives in Chicago (Ivan).  Immediately to my left (on the wrong side) was Facundo.  For some reason "I just quit my job and I'm going to do whatever I want for a year or so" really piques people's interests, and we got to talking.  So it starts…

I finish up in Los Angeles, and commence my road trip.  This sounds like fun - I'm driving through Chicago (with a car full of girls), that's where Ivan is.  Facundo comes to say hello, good people good times, the girls leave back to Los Angeles, Ivan stays in Chicago, Facundo and I continue East.  

And then and then and thennnn, Maria and Facundo - one way tickets to Bali.  And then and then and then - Facundo back to Boston, Maria on to Australia.  

Which brings me back to minding my own business, doing "whatever I want," running around Byron Bay barefooted.  And then the alleged spontaneity of my adventure is challenged.  Facundo's brother is getting married and it turns out there is a wedding celebration to be had in Buenos Aires that I wouldn't want to miss.  On top of that, Facundo has arranged to work remotely from Argentina for a couple of months, if I'd care to partner up for some South American adventure.  So how about it?

But-but-but… I just got a job!  I tried for so long and convinced these people I would stay for a while and now I'm just gonna leave, just like that?

But-but-but… It's just a restaurant job, and isn't A for Adventure?  And maybe Australia?  And maybe Argentina too? 

So I thought, and I felt, and I stressed, and I fretted, and I asked a few people for advice, and something like a week later I had tickets to Argentina for another week after that… and so the story goes…

I posted when I was waiting for my flight in Sydney, and 13 hours later I landed in Buenos Aires.  The immigration officials apparently decided to strike the morning of May 18th (welcome to Argentina!), which drastically slowed things down upon arrival.  I stood in line for approximately 2.5 hours before I was set loose to cause terror in Argentina.  Facundo had arrived just a few hours prior, but missed all the fun of long and slow moving customs lines.  Finally I was free to roam.  Much to my surprise, Facundo was still there waiting for me as I walked through the final security check point =), and his parents were just around the corner having some coffee.

We got some lunch in a nice part of town, and then piled into the car for 3 more hours of driving to Rosario.  I slept through pretty much all of this part.  

Now I write to you, currently sitting in the house of what feels like my new host family - La Familia Chamut.  I have Rosetta Stone and a Spanish study book to play with for now.  Everyone here seems to like me, and is happy with my feeble attempts at Spanish which are getting slightly more frequent and slightly less feeble all the time.  (My Australian housemates have threatened to replace me with a puppy - which might make just as much of a mess as me, but won't be nearly as adorable.) 

The National Flag Memorial

Rosario is a very pleasant and pretty city, arguably the 2nd largest in Argentina (Córdoba being its rival).  It sits on the Paraná River which borders the north and east edges of the city.  There are several parks scattered around town, and a running/bike path along the river.  In my first few days here, I basically did my best to wash the dirt off my feet from my extended couple of months of outdoor adventure in Indonesia and Australia and make myself presentable to arrive in style for Lichu and Anita's wedding in Buenos Aires.  

The wedding was A LOT of fun!  To start, the union was sanctioned before a judge at the court house in a room packed full of family and friends, and me.  After that we celebrated for hours with open bar, disco balls, and magnificently catered hors d'oeuvres at a rented venue somewhere in Buenos Aires that I would never be able to find for you again on my own.  

Dancing and Disco balls, Newlyweds and La Familia

I'll wrap this up by telling you that yesterday we BBQ'd on the rooftop terrace at the Chamut residence, I ate cow thyroid (a savory delicacy), and intestines (could do without those), and then went into town to shop around the Sunday artisan market by the river.

Lunch on the Parana

There are too many things to do in and around this country and there are already some plans brewing, but we will have to save that for a later date when I have some stories to tell!

Mama Chamut is making me fat.  I like that about her. 

Sydney International

That's where I am right now.  At the duty free Mac store.  Just bought some kangaroo jerky to share with my hosts in Argentina.  I thought about the Crocodile jerky as well, but decided to pass.

Airports are pretty cool.  I just brushed my teeth in the bathroom, and really liked it.  I've grown to quite like being in airports, and quite dislike being in airplanes.  Except little Cessnas - those are cool.

Dave's Building Be The Red Brick One 

I didn't get to do really any Sydney site-seeing.  I was staying in a suburb quite outside of the city called Cronulla.  Very pretty little town.  My housemate, Dennis, set me up to stay with a friend of his, Dave.  Dave was kind enough to pick me up at the airport and give me a couch to occupy for 2 nights.  I took the local train this morning to transport myself to the airport.  That took about an hour.

It's 9:45 - I'm meant to be at the gate now to start boarding.

Flight departs at 10:30 am May 18, 2011.

Qantas flight QF17
Non-stop service from Sydney to Buenos Aires

Flight arrives in Buenos Aires at 10:45 am May 18, 2011.

How about that?

Anyway, gotta go find out if that town is big enough for the two of us.  Whattya reckon?

Byron - The Final Days

Worked my last shift today at the restaurant.  My time there was short but sweet.  They were certainly disappointed that I ended up being a short term employee, and trust me I felt pretty guilty about letting them down... but I'm pretty sure I saw them hiring my replacement this afternoon, and Fish Heads as a whole will have forgotten me by next week.

It was a beautiful day, and the office view was stunning.  Julian Rocks looked peaceful in the distance, and there was some kind of bird feeding frenzy not too far of shore.  Birds circling a school of fish, no doubt, making the occasional torpedo dive from above.

Tomorrow my bags will be packed, I'll take it easy and maybe meet some friends in town.  Kat just got back after 4 weeks out to sea, so I guess she can have her car back.

I just booked my flight to Sydney for Monday night, and I have a flight to Buenos Aires on Wednesday morning.  It all happened so fast.

Life is very short and there's no time for fussing and fighting my friend.

It all happens so fast, and next thing you know you're 90 years old.  So just do it.

I think I felt more anxiety all day today than I did when looking a shark in the face and swimming though a dark cave 80 ft under water.

Scratch That

Creature of habit - nonsense.  I'm going to Argentina in 12 days.  Didn't see that one comin' did ya?

Yeah, neither did I.

Hell yeah to spontaneity.