BUENOS AIRES:
I took courses in Spanish all week, last week. From 2PM to 6PM each day. Their approach, at the Academy of Reloceta, is totally different than the school in Barlioche. I know I must have learned something, because I can now order my crescent rolls (buttered) with jam without saying anything in English. But that seems to be about it.
It´s been quite here, and somewhat warm for the last couple of days. Yesterday, I walked from Recoleta to Galleries Pacifica on Florida Street, and made my reservations for a three day trip to The Falls. Then I walked over to San Telmo, and ate a hugh steak, done perfectly medium rare. Then I was so tired and full, I caught a cab home.
I´ll report more when I return from the Falls.
I´m looking forward to Dawn´s wedding cruise. It will be nice to be among friends and speak English, once again.
Monday, February 26, 2007
Monday, February 12, 2007
HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY
Today, I am in Buenos Aires, in the area of Recoleta which is the center of culture and arts. I am at an actual Internet Cafe. Most of the internet connections are at Interlocutorios, which are NOT cafes. So, I get to drink coffee while I write. I also notice that beer is available, were it later in the day.
It was a very busy and kind of tiring 10 days in Bariloche. The tourist portion of the city is like any other ski resort--full of goods, restaurants and tourists.
My host family, however, lived about six kilometers from town (3.6 miles) and it was in a nice subdivision and very quiet. They don´'t pave their roads, and I could only use first gear for about the last 1/2 mile.
I was sure glad to get rid of the rental car. It was a piece of crap, but I didn't get charged any extra when I turned it in. Traffic wasn´t all that bad, but it limited my activities, as I didn´t want to drive after having anything to drink.
My host, Mercedes served dinner at 9:30pm, of course, with wine. There was one other person staying at her home. His name was Martin, from the Netherlands. His English was good, but his Spanish was even worse than mine. We were also in the same class at school.
The course was good, with a teacher named Flavia. She was very patient and very pretty.
I decided that I didn´t like the cold, and the lack of freedom, not to mention the stress of the class, and having to get up in the morning, and driving that car. Probably this all has to do with getting old! I had to buy a fleece coat to keep warm.
So I kept my reservation on the bus on Saturday morning, and rode another 20 hours back to Buenos Aires.
I had reserved another apartment til March 9, at which time I have a flight to Miami. The apartment is nice, but has no internet service, and the only TV is in the bedroom. It is on a side street, and on the back side of the building (not street side), so it is very quiet. It is close to Vincente Lopez, where there is much activity. Ward and Jane and I had visited this area when they were here. I counted 30 restaurants within three blocks of my apartment.
I may take some more Spanish courses here, if I can find a place within walking distance, and with afternoon classes!
In case I forget, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Charles and Carlen and Dee. It seems as if there should be more February birthdays, so forgive me and remind me if I forget.
It was a very busy and kind of tiring 10 days in Bariloche. The tourist portion of the city is like any other ski resort--full of goods, restaurants and tourists.
My host family, however, lived about six kilometers from town (3.6 miles) and it was in a nice subdivision and very quiet. They don´'t pave their roads, and I could only use first gear for about the last 1/2 mile.
I was sure glad to get rid of the rental car. It was a piece of crap, but I didn't get charged any extra when I turned it in. Traffic wasn´t all that bad, but it limited my activities, as I didn´t want to drive after having anything to drink.
My host, Mercedes served dinner at 9:30pm, of course, with wine. There was one other person staying at her home. His name was Martin, from the Netherlands. His English was good, but his Spanish was even worse than mine. We were also in the same class at school.
The course was good, with a teacher named Flavia. She was very patient and very pretty.
I decided that I didn´t like the cold, and the lack of freedom, not to mention the stress of the class, and having to get up in the morning, and driving that car. Probably this all has to do with getting old! I had to buy a fleece coat to keep warm.
So I kept my reservation on the bus on Saturday morning, and rode another 20 hours back to Buenos Aires.
I had reserved another apartment til March 9, at which time I have a flight to Miami. The apartment is nice, but has no internet service, and the only TV is in the bedroom. It is on a side street, and on the back side of the building (not street side), so it is very quiet. It is close to Vincente Lopez, where there is much activity. Ward and Jane and I had visited this area when they were here. I counted 30 restaurants within three blocks of my apartment.
I may take some more Spanish courses here, if I can find a place within walking distance, and with afternoon classes!
In case I forget, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Charles and Carlen and Dee. It seems as if there should be more February birthdays, so forgive me and remind me if I forget.
Monday, February 5, 2007
SUPER PANCHO & LINDA
SUNDAY
For the first time during my trip, on Sunday afternoon, I felt bored. However, it didn´t last long. Since I was at Cerro Cathedral the big ski resort outside of Bariloche, and the weather was nice, I took the Gondola to the midpoint, and then a chair lift to the top. Quite a view of lakes and mountains. I asked for a perro calentia which, as you know is a hot dog. I was told that it´s called a Super Pancho. That was my first Spanish lesson. So I ate my Super Pancho and drank a Stella Artois and remembered the last time I was on a Gondola in Vail, some years ago. I have to say that the Vail ride was more fun, as Jack and Carol and Dee aka "the brick lady" were with me. It´s better to be with friends.
The car they rented me is a Suzike "Fun". It´s not a lot of fun though. It´s falling apart. Just hope they don´t charge me for it when I turn it in. No power steering?
I moved in with my host family for the week. Mama is 46 year old divorced with two teenage daughters. One is blue eyed blond, the other brown eyed and black hair. Everybody is very nice, and, as is the custom, when I get home, I get "air" kisses from all three, plus from the doggie, Linda.
School is soooo different. It´s kind of fun, but a little tiring, sitting there straining your brain for four hours a day. I hope I learn something.
It has turned cold, and I may have to buy a sweat shirt that says Bariloche on it to keep warm.
There is a school sponsered cocktail hour between five and seven, then dinner at home around 9:30.
More later.
jw
For the first time during my trip, on Sunday afternoon, I felt bored. However, it didn´t last long. Since I was at Cerro Cathedral the big ski resort outside of Bariloche, and the weather was nice, I took the Gondola to the midpoint, and then a chair lift to the top. Quite a view of lakes and mountains. I asked for a perro calentia which, as you know is a hot dog. I was told that it´s called a Super Pancho. That was my first Spanish lesson. So I ate my Super Pancho and drank a Stella Artois and remembered the last time I was on a Gondola in Vail, some years ago. I have to say that the Vail ride was more fun, as Jack and Carol and Dee aka "the brick lady" were with me. It´s better to be with friends.
The car they rented me is a Suzike "Fun". It´s not a lot of fun though. It´s falling apart. Just hope they don´t charge me for it when I turn it in. No power steering?
I moved in with my host family for the week. Mama is 46 year old divorced with two teenage daughters. One is blue eyed blond, the other brown eyed and black hair. Everybody is very nice, and, as is the custom, when I get home, I get "air" kisses from all three, plus from the doggie, Linda.
School is soooo different. It´s kind of fun, but a little tiring, sitting there straining your brain for four hours a day. I hope I learn something.
It has turned cold, and I may have to buy a sweat shirt that says Bariloche on it to keep warm.
There is a school sponsered cocktail hour between five and seven, then dinner at home around 9:30.
More later.
jw
Friday, February 2, 2007
WE´RE BACK IN KANSAS, TOTO
TRIP TO SAN CARLOS DE BARILOCHE
The bus left Retira in Buenos Aires on time at 1:15PM, and arrived on time in Bariloche at 10:45 AM the following day.
The trip was uneventful. They fed us two times on board, and the last time at a stop about 8AM. The bus was big and quite and comfortable; however, having now experienced it, I don´t particularly look forward to the ride back on a yet to be determined date. They ran several movies in English with Spanish sub titles, and, in preparation for the trip, I purchased four new paperback in BA. I didn´t even finish the first one.
I took my sleeping pill, as usual, around 9:30pm, and fell asleep around 11PM for the whole night. Didn´t even wake up to go to the bath room.
During the daylight hours on the first day, I could have been crossing Kansas on the Interstate. That´s how uninteresting the Pampas are. There were even crops of Sun Flowers.
PRODUCTIVE DAY.
Forty-five minutes after arrival, I was installed in my hotel room, which was satisfactory. It´s hard to compare anything to the nice apartment in Buenos Aires. The good point were that there was little to no noise. The bad point being two single beds.
I then went in search of a Spanish school, as I knew that if I didn´t do it here and now, it wouldn´t get done. I checked out the ABC school, then La Montaña. I chose Montaña, and Karen also reserved a private room in a host family for me for one week. I hope I like them. The cost of the school and the room for a week is less than the cost of the apartment alone in Buenos Aires.
An internet search for a rental car turned up nothing. Most everything was taken. I walked to where I thought a location might be, and ran into an obscure little local car rental place, and the guy said he had two cars coming back on Saturday, and I could have either for the week. So I gave him my deposit, and will go back tomorrow at noon to pick up the car. I haven´t driven anything except the golf cart in Uruguay since December 1. I´m looking forward to it, and also to travel around the beautiful mountains and lakes.
For my first lunch, I had a trout in lemon sauce and a small bottle of vino tinto.
For dinner, I happened onto a street that was roped off from cars, and a band or group was setting up. So I selected a table from where I could see the entertainment, and ordered pizza and beer. Anchovy, needless to say.
The entertainment was not bad. It didn´t even get dark until about 9:30, and the transition from evening to night was hardly noticable, since there was a full moon.
I´ll report more next week as to my new accomodations, the Spanish lessons and the car.
The bus left Retira in Buenos Aires on time at 1:15PM, and arrived on time in Bariloche at 10:45 AM the following day.
The trip was uneventful. They fed us two times on board, and the last time at a stop about 8AM. The bus was big and quite and comfortable; however, having now experienced it, I don´t particularly look forward to the ride back on a yet to be determined date. They ran several movies in English with Spanish sub titles, and, in preparation for the trip, I purchased four new paperback in BA. I didn´t even finish the first one.
I took my sleeping pill, as usual, around 9:30pm, and fell asleep around 11PM for the whole night. Didn´t even wake up to go to the bath room.
During the daylight hours on the first day, I could have been crossing Kansas on the Interstate. That´s how uninteresting the Pampas are. There were even crops of Sun Flowers.
PRODUCTIVE DAY.
Forty-five minutes after arrival, I was installed in my hotel room, which was satisfactory. It´s hard to compare anything to the nice apartment in Buenos Aires. The good point were that there was little to no noise. The bad point being two single beds.
I then went in search of a Spanish school, as I knew that if I didn´t do it here and now, it wouldn´t get done. I checked out the ABC school, then La Montaña. I chose Montaña, and Karen also reserved a private room in a host family for me for one week. I hope I like them. The cost of the school and the room for a week is less than the cost of the apartment alone in Buenos Aires.
An internet search for a rental car turned up nothing. Most everything was taken. I walked to where I thought a location might be, and ran into an obscure little local car rental place, and the guy said he had two cars coming back on Saturday, and I could have either for the week. So I gave him my deposit, and will go back tomorrow at noon to pick up the car. I haven´t driven anything except the golf cart in Uruguay since December 1. I´m looking forward to it, and also to travel around the beautiful mountains and lakes.
For my first lunch, I had a trout in lemon sauce and a small bottle of vino tinto.
For dinner, I happened onto a street that was roped off from cars, and a band or group was setting up. So I selected a table from where I could see the entertainment, and ordered pizza and beer. Anchovy, needless to say.
The entertainment was not bad. It didn´t even get dark until about 9:30, and the transition from evening to night was hardly noticable, since there was a full moon.
I´ll report more next week as to my new accomodations, the Spanish lessons and the car.
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