San Lorenzo - Salta - Bolivia

Day 2 in San Lorenzo and I was feeling a great deal more relaxed. I woke up to find L still at home, doing work on the computer (she is also an Editor of a magazine, amongst other things). Soon enuf I had distracted her to the point of coming downstairs to cook pancakes, play with her pois, get out her hoola hoop and twirling sticks (can`t remember the proper name), and dance around the living room. Good times.

We were talking about Burning Man in the States... she is going again, for the third time. I HAVE to get there one day!! I was trying, with mixed results, to use the hoop but fuck me dead, it really stresses your stomach muscles! And that, combined with me laughing, has given me sore stomach muscles for almost a week after. Hijo de puta.

When L went off for a siesta, I finally got myself out into the great outdoors, although the path I chose didn`t really go anywhere and I felt awkward not knowing whose land I was actually on. At least the dog didn`t try to kill anything this time. Well, not that I saw, anyway.

We bummed around for most of the day, with L promising she would go into town and so I could come with her instead of on the bus. But in the end, she didn`t so I jumped on the bus. No dramas. It was a quick ride into town and I bounced off to the hostel, full of excitement because I was going on an overnight horse trek for free the next day.

Back at the hostel, I called the horseriding girl and we arranged for me to come the next morning to her little village for what had now become a 3 day trek. Woot!! Super excited. So I bummed around on the computer for a little bit and cooked dinner... only to be interrupted by another call from R... bad news, the ride was now cancelled. I don`t know what happened but I was mega bummed :(

So that was it. I had no reason to stay any more time in such an expensive town, no matter how much I liked it, so I got my things and left for Bolivia on the midnight train. Salta done and dusted, onto bigger and better things. And cheaper. That was probably the most important part.

The buffet from hell

So it seems that buffet was the cheapest option for a reason. Although, technically, I did get to taste it twice so that could be perceived as good value for money.

I felt nothing on the bus ride back to Montevideo, but as I chilled at R's pad - bless him for staying awake to let me in - the uneasiness in my stomach grew and grew. I made cup after cup of special herb tea with the dried marcella I bought back from Cabo Polonio, but nothing seemed to help. The discomfort continued to swell and so I stayed up, organising things on the internet.

Eventually, about 3:30am I took myself to bed...only to be woken a few hours later covered in a cold sweat, shivering my ass off in the bed that had been so warm and comfortable last time I stayed there. I had the overwhelming urge to vomit but I kept myself lying down, clutching my stomach and willing the urge to pass. It didn't.

What a hideous night/morning. That fucking buffet.

It took all my strength the next day to get up and organise my things to go back to Buenos Aires. I had to keep lying back down, drinking water, dashing to the bathroom for false alarms... que horible!! But somehow I got myself to a semi-normal state again and to the bus terminal, only to have to wait for almost 3 hours on the fucking plastic chairs for my bus to leave. Grr... internet times WRONG! Cunts.

But I got back to Buenos Aires... finally. A nice old Uruguian man befriended me on the bus ride to Colonia and then bought me coffee (hideous, I pretended to drink it and threw it out when he turned his back - what part of NO ME GUSTA CAFE did he not understand) and sweet croissants (those I ate), and sat next to me on the ferry ride across to BA. Gave me all his details and asked for my number, which was a bit weird, but I told him I didn't have one. No way I am getting into THAT kind of situation. Could hardly understand him anyway.

Got back to BA about 10 in the evening and proceeded to walk - WALK - with my horrendously heavy backpack "just 3 more blocks, just 3 more blocks" as everyone I asked kept telling me. Well, it WASN'T 3 more blocks. It was about 20. But by the time I realised this, I had walked the entire way and was back at my hostel. Once inside, I was told "the best price I can give you is 50 pesos per night". I'm sorry... price?? I don't DO price. Hmm, how about if I work the pizza party again on Thursday?? Ahh, the things I have to do to survive in this crazy world.

Hello to the new, goodbye to the old...

I have a new camera. About friggin time I say. It involved illegal border crossings - as I technically needed a visa as an Australian to enter Paraguay - but this proved to be no problem. After a bus ride into Brazil and through to the Paraguaian border, we hopped off and walked the rest of the way. So I just joined in a group of other South American-looking people and tried my hardest not to look Australian as we crossed countries halfawy across the bridge (well, there`s nothing much I can do about that really, but I tried).

We had P from Hostel Inn with us - fluent in Spanish, Portuguese and English - so that helped a little with the bargaining. After the non-eventful border crossing (literally, "border control" is just a shed with a bunch of non-manned posts and some lazy-looking policeman standing around talking underneath), we dodged through the crazy traffic to the shopping centres parading electronics everywhere. My poor, flip-flop clad feet have never felt so exposed in my life. Ahh, watch that tyre mister!!

J was in a shit mood because he`d been charged 300 pesos to get OUT of Argentina, as he over-stayed his visa waiting for a replacement passport for the one that had been stolen (shit situation) in Buenos Aires. And I was getting annoyed asking the same question about cameras and getting basically the same answer from everyone. Eventually I settled on one, a Kodak which seemed to have some good features (including panorama - like a CHILD I am so excited!!) but of course as soon as I bought it, the next shop offered a cheaper price. Pelotudos.

It´s basically the same price in Oz but I don´t care, I have a new camera and I wasn´t thrown in the slammer for defying visa laws. Had a moment crossing back into Argentina where I thought I would be held for being Israeli (I swear, how does "Australia" sound like Israel??) but otherwise all was good. And I have a new camera. Oh how good that feels.

Got to work with perfect timing and proceeded to do fuck all all day... took some pretty sweet panoramic pictures with my new feature-packed camera though. Like children, we were well amused with the fact we could take a 3-photo panoramic with the same person in each shot, like they were 3 places at once. Wow! Amazing. Technology these days.

At work, the new guy continued to make eyes at me and once I hit full frontal flirting mode I knew I was in. Dang, he be a fine piece of ass. Spent 10 years in America too, so could speak perfect English (albeit with a kinda funny Mexican twang). Used to be in some East Side gang, though, so I guess it is a good thing I am only staying a short time here. Can tell I could possibly get tangled into a mess I didn´t need there...

The boss told me she actually did ring the hostel in BA and ask about work for me, and the boss down there said to just come by and speak to him when I get into town. Sweetness in a jar. So I haven´t booked anywhere to stay, just hoping he says yes and I can just stay there. Heard the new manager is actually a girl from here, so hopefully that will also help my chances.

So back to the new boy. A few fair of the crew came back to the hostel after work to drink with me and J, who was also still here after meaning to leave the day before, and after a fumar especial, they left and I scooted off with the new boy to firstly walk then get a cab (at my insistence haha...I´m wicked and I´m laaaaaazy). So cute, the hostel dog - who now comes to her name Freida and loves me lots - tried to hobble along on her 3 good legs after us. My heart melts.

Good times lay ahead of me at new boy´s casa... finally, a private room!!!

Hot monkey skatey man

Imagine waking up next to a girl you had just met, in a hotel room she had paid for for two hours (possibly more now that I had passed out) and who you couldn`t really understand and who didn`t speak a lick of English. And not knowing where the staff house was you had just moved your things into. A trifle of a pickle.

Once we had established that I only knew my house was "cerca de cementario" (near the cementary or something similar), we jumped in a taxi and drove about 2 blocks to the cementary. Could have walked there. After a failed attempt to get into a house that was indeed not mine, I found my place and got in. Getting into my room, however, was a little more difficult considering the lock stuck. So I climbed in the window and passed out for a few more hours before work.

Just then, I remembered I may have actually just repeated myself with that part of the story - sorry about that, I will blame it on the South American weed. Damn you, you tasty little morsel.

So where was I... OK, so off to "work", a word I bandy around here n there when I think I am actually doing something worthwhile or making an ounce of difference here with my presence. Still, I will maintain I have a proper job and I improve lives.

Am still really enjoying becoming friends with everyone that works here and also the people staying... it`s a good bunch and they are largely quite attractive so added to the already priming pool of talent in my workforce, I am one happy chappy.

After work, we had planned to go into town again but then decided it wasn`t gonna be the same as the previous night and we were a little tired so we opted to stay drinking by the pool. I had made friends with a cool English couple so I chilled with them, sampled the local produce un poco BUT most importantly, kissed my favourite boy that works behind the bar with me. He is so sweet and a bit reserved (well, compared to me anyway!!) and that is probably why I like him so much.

So I was excited about that, and that got me pumped for a couple more drinks. Then I saw a cute Argentinian boy with a lip ring and I was momentarily distracted. My game plan, I developed, was that I would spend my time getting the other guy at the bar and have possibly a more drawn-out affair with him. And this guy I could just get out of my system.

And that I did. A big, ol` system cleansin`.... Muy bien. I am certainly finding all the nooks n crannies of this hostel to enjoy myself. haha... skankarama!!! This guy is only 22, as most people here are, but he is sweet and cute. Kinda a skatey Argentinian... a little monkeyish but hey, monkeys are cute. I would certainly feed this one a banana. Or something.

We kept it on the downlow cos of office politics etc, also because he intists the guy I thought was gay that lives in his staff dorm is in love with me. Also, I didn`t want my bar guy to find out. Gotta keep the peace. But I did tell T about the other guy, just so if something did develop with him, I wouldn`t have to break his heart. Or something.

So there you have it. Another night spent away from my actual house, this time in a spare bed in T`s dorm... and work the next afternoon in the same clothes sans underwear due to lack of supplies at hand. Repitir... skankarama!!

South American plans... going south already??

The most remarkable thing about today was the progress I made in my plans for South America. After receiving the positive, hap-hap-happening Couchsurfing response... actually before I continue I will copy exactly what he wrote and you can tell me if it seems at all like something I would be interested in:

"During Carnivall we have a lot of diferent parties, usually some song in a big car, everybody singing or dancing. It's cool, but really hot. Bring light - or even lighter clothes. There is a lot of cars, everyday, in a lot of diferent places. It's also a party where you can date anyone. Usually is like a summer passion. What happens in the Carnival, stays in the Carnival. If you can live a passion like that, be gratefull, usually they are very intense, and ends in 7 days, but we can remember things like that for all our lifes. It happens just once or twice in our life, anyway, so don't worry too much.

It's also a party where you can be who you want. Bring a costume - or don't - dress like a poor girl, a princess, guys dressing like prostitutes, a lot of beer, a lot of sun. Yeah, it's a hell, but can be good.

What more can I say about carnival? Sometimes I just want to stay away from Rio, it's a too passional party, sometimes I just want to sleep in the beach, enjoy, go out without know when I will come back.

The best place to stay during carnival is a central place, or near the beaches. Do you want to stay here? I will host a couple, but I might host one people more. It will be a little crowded, but it's carnival. Bring some beers (I will wait for you with at least 100 cans in my freezer) and let's party!"

So there it is. Exactly what I wanted to hear in one message, wrapped up in a neat little package. Since I got that, I have been off the CHAAAAAAIIN trying to organise myself to get there and as excited as I am, even I have to admit I am continuing hitting barriers.

Firstly, there is the issue of price for the flight there. It is never cheap to get to South America at the best times of times, let alone Carnivale, so that is a challenge. Then I find out all the requirements I need to actually get into the country... those visa things and oh yeah, an onward ticket... WTF?? I don´t DO onward tickets. It means I need to put a semi-definite date to returning home for sis´ wedding, which scares me a little.

Then there´s the issue of earning money while I´m there. On what I will have left in the bank, I will last about 1 week (esp in Carnivale) so a job is a must. I already have 1 hostel saying I can work there but they have a 2 month minimum and also don´t feed me so I would still need money to spend. And I don´t particularly like the thought of being trapped in this hostel for 2 months, esp since I imagine I would be digging for another job straight away and want to move to that asap.

Ideally, I need a hostel with a 1 month minimum or even a salary (unlikely) instead of just accommodation but who knows... The search continues. Bless me world, you know I´m good for it.

Driving or low-level flying???

When I woke up on Sunday in Munich, I felt I had had the strangest dream that someone had climbed into my bed uninvited and started trying to hook up with me. The fact I was in a different bunk kinda made me wonder if it was in fact a dream. Then, when all but one of the boys left to get breakfast and I tried not to get up at all, one comment from the remaining boy confirmed it was not in fact a dream. Dammit.

Doing my best to forget it happened at all and not give said boy any impression that it was to be repeated in any way, shape or form - as well as reminding him he actually had a gf - I turned over in my bed and tried to mentally ready myself for checkout. That done (and me having gotten away with not paying anything!!), we went downstairs and threw our bags into the luggage room before heading to a beer hall for a hair of the dog. Took me a little longer to invite any hairs or dogs back in my world but I managed. What a trooper.

At 3pm, I had to meet the lady who my new German host family had arranged to take me to Hamburg in her car. At 3:30pm I was starting to worry - I couldn´t get through to this lady and she apparently already left by the time my host had gotten through to her. Luckily she turned around and picked me up. Hey, it was easy money for her, she had 2 others in the car already!!

I dozed on and off during the 6 hour trip as she cruised at a pleasant 220km/hour down the autobahn. Yes, I admit it, I was shitting myself at first, having never been that fast in a car in my life (even with my dad driving race cars) but eventually fatigue took over any nervous emotion my body cared to throw at me. At least we got there in good time.

I got my ticket to Luneberg at Hamburg train station and managed to jump on the wrong train, so had to break the news to my new hosts that I wouldn´t be at Luneberg til 11:30pm. Oops. Finally got to the house about 12:30am and just collapsed.

Nighttime swimming and ridin' with the silver surfers

Feeling well chuffed with my choice of hostel - great location, cheap price, clean and well run - I set my sights on putting together some options for the Swedish girls once they arrived in Budapest. After getting a good night's sleep - and fuck knows I needed it after the multiple disruptions from the night before - I was up and ready to meet them at Keleti station next morning.

It had started to rain but the walk there was quick and painless. Finally collecting the girls from their late-arriving train, I attempted to make the walk back to the hostel as uneventful but managed to wander too far down the street and get the poor girls soaked while I turned my map in all manner of directions.

Once safely delivered to the hostel, we headed for breakfast and decided then that we'd check out the House of Terror and try for some monuments in the big park. The rain persisting, quite appropriately, as we checked out the place of torture and interrogation during fascist and soviet rule, and by the time we finished we were more concerned with food than seeing monuments. I'd already seen them and they could always go after I left the next day.

At the hostel, I arranged to meet the American guy and his Slovakian girlfriend I met last time that owned an English school for a drink and talk about potential job opportunities. At this point, I left the Swedes to their own devices and pushed them in the direction of Buda. A few beers and one confirmation of work later, I'm scrambling around the city in the general direction of Buda and after arriving late, we scouted the uber-expensive restaurant district of Buda for some semi-reasonable food and drink.

Our meal, while tasty and not tooooo expensive, was most interesting because for the most part we spoke in the broken Romanian we'd learnt in the past 2 months. And it was pretty funny! Much easier to talk about the people around you when you're speaking a language virtually no one else would know. And we did alright!

We then headed off, at my suggestion, to the baths nearby for some night swimming. It took forever to find the damned things but when we did, we paid about £10 and went inside to the modern-day version of a Turkish bathhouse. Mostly young people, quite a few couples, gross Hungarian men staring at the women and even a woman with what I can only assume was Elephantisis on her legs. Mixed crowd.

We messed around wrestling and jumping in the different temperature pools before my alcohol-soaked brain started to melt in the water and we called it a night. Not too cheap but a good and unusual way to spend a Friday night, particularly with people who don't tend to drink much.

Now I'm on the plane to London with the silver surfers on BA (none of this low budget airline business!!), so very excited to see everyone! I need to get my cowboy boots fixed too. Pronto. Lots more use for them to come!!

Oh, and another Help X host contacted me from Wales asking for help in January at a cob stud. The website is quite good and the horses just beautiful, I'm seriously considering it but awaiting more info on what kind of training I'm needing to do. Cos I am OUT if it's dressage!!