After a kinda restless sleep in my new bed in Colonia Suiza, Uruguay, I woke late morning to all the other girls checking out and heading towards Montevideo. Glad to have just the animals and M as company, I bid them farewell and tucked into the 2nd anti-contamination stab at my hair. I would like to think it´s working but who knows...

Nestling down with my Dan Brown book, I was interrupted almost immediately by a curious cat and dog, who clambered all over my line of sight and nudged me incessantly until I gave in and patted them. Well, it didn´t take long, they were so damned cute. Ahh, I miss animals...

So the only thing on my agenda, now I had washed my hair, was to go riding with M on his Criollo horses - a typical breed for Argentina that are not too tall, sturdy, stocky and good for endurance, similar to Icelandic ponies I guess. I was explained about each one...now this is the calm one, this is the good one but she is a bit lame atm, and this one here, she´s crazy. Do you want to ride the crazy one?

I guess all my talk about my experience on horseback had led him to believe I could handle anything, and I suppose by this stage I like to think that is mostly true. At least I no longer let myself refuse a ride, even if it is a bit bonkers. So after a quick jot around the paddock bareback on the partially lame one to test her foot, then another quick lap with the crazy one (they all had hard Indian names I can´t remember) that was anything but quiet, and I made the snap decision, fuck it let´s take this one out on the open road. Haha...oh dear.

So the horse liked to run. No problem. After our first gallop, I was exhilerated, and M outstounded. He started gabbering on about how good a rider I was, and I was slightly miffed about why he thought I was so good... until he told me I ride like a gaucho, lounging deep into the saddle at full gallop - and this horse GALLOPED like all hell had broken loose. Wow. I love it.

Next gallop was a little less successful...after seeing the main highway looming ahead, I was pulling her back and we came across some bumpy land, I lost a stirrup and therefore my sense of balance, and meanwhile she saw some friends across the dirt road we were on and broke to the right straight into the fence. It was at this point I chose to sacrifice myself, breaking my fall on the fence before sliding into the grass and rolling away from the massive beast about to descend on me from above. Gracefully, the horse also saw me and veered away, avoiding me with her hooves. Like all good horses should.

M was understandably concerned, not knowing what the hell had gone on in the 5 mins since he was proclaiming my brilliance as a rider. I got up quickly and walked over, ensuring him I was totally fine and by this time in my life I am an expert faller, and we sat for a bit in the countryside next to the oldest cheese-makers in the town. It is so beautiful there, quite similar to Australia in landscape (except greener), with hardly any cars and such beautiful weather.

After the ride, which was longer than anticipated, we relaxed with dinner, a bottle of red and eventually, a joint, which was unexpected but nice. I was the only guest there that night so I guess he felt a little more at ease. Funnily, one of the girls staying earlier had asked me if I had any so obviously the same courtesy had not extended to her during her stay. I guess this little rasta woman has that effect on some people...

All in all, a fantastic day with fantastic company...despite my niggling feeling of uneasiness sitting by the fire drinking wine stoned with a really nice (and not that old) Uruguian man... maybe my female paranoia getting the best of me... who knows. But he was nice and didn´t do anything wrong, really, so I shouldn´t be feeling that. He told me I was a nice girl and the best rider he´d had in the year they´d been operating, so that is a good thing at least!

Free (but pretentious) bar

Getting back to my hostel was a little more time-consuming than first thought... once my hot flight attendant gave me some cash to get home due to lost wallet, I got into the main bus terminal and decided to walk back to the hostel. Hmmm... would have been fine had I not decided to walk down the exact streets several hundred drunken protesters were also walking down. Although I wasn't exactly hassled, I did find it extremely embarrassing to have a whole st of men yelling after me (in Spanish) ¨gorgeous, beautiful, I wanna fuck you, oh my god, mamma mia...¨ and so on... Sometimes I couldn't help but smile but in reality... eek!! I was scared to go out after that.

When I got back, I found my new little crush from the reception of the other hostel, R, had invited me on FB to the opening of a new bar in Palermo which apparently had a free bar until whenever... and I soon ran into the English girls and the Guatemalan, who said they were keen to come as well. So it was sorted. I was going to this party.

I didn't know the directions so R offered to come by Tango City when he finished his shift and explain... at this stage I still had not showered from my return from hot flight attendant's house, so having him meet me was a little daunting but I thought, fuck it. That's the life of a trashbag unfortunately. So we hung about the reception talking shit for a little bit, me not wanting to go cos I liked his company so much, and him not leaving for whatever reason... sigh. Who knows if he likes me. Time will tell.

I met back up with my amigos and we grabbed some cheap Chinese food - OMG I ate so MUCH - and then headed out to this club. It was still relatively early because we wanted the free bar... but of course so did everyone else, so we were stuck at the back of this queue that didn't seem to be moving. We found out that was because the bar wasn't yet open (that doesn't tend to help), so when it turned 11pm we shuffled forward a little.

Still, we had no idea what was happening with guest list or names or anything... I had asked R if we needed to be on the list but he had insisted no... so I was looking confused and at one point, a man asked me who I was with, and when I replied with my friend's name and that I didn't know what was going on, he said ¨follow me¨ and before I knew it, we were in. Don't ask me how, and considering how casual we all were compared to the rest, I still couldn't tell you how I managed to get in.

Anyway, so we were in. Of course the bar was packed, but they also were understaffed and weren't really bothered TBH, and so we managed to get 3 beers for free apiece before they stopped the free bar. And also some nice finger food, and unexpectedly some empanadas. Yum. Not like we needed anymore food after that Chinese meal explosion, but hey, free food is free food. And hence why I am putting on weight here. Sigh.

I was looking all night for my cute little friend but he never appeared, and so at one point - about the same time most people in Argentina tend to leave their houses to go out - we decided to call it a night. After the free drinks, we didn't buy anymore because it was so expensive - like Sydney or London prices - and I will be fucked if I am paying that for a tiny beer. Got to be kidding me. Also, the crowd was beautiful but pretentious and the music shitty house that basically sounds the same song after song for me.

At one point, a guy gave me half a joint and I smoked that until just before the bouncer passed through... but otherwise, we were all pretty sober. When we left, shortly after 2am, it had started raining harder and we were not in the mood for another 8 block walk back to the bus so we grabbed a cab. Probably the nicest cab driver we will ever have in Argentina, we finally got back for the right price and called it a night reasonably early. How very responsible of me. For once.

Clarity through the smoke

OK, so there's been new developments in the saga that was last night's dramatic ending. Apparently part of what I can't remember in the toilet with my friend's hot bf included smoking a joint. NOW it makes sense why I went into the damn bathroom in the first place!! I was racking my brain trying to figure out what the hell was going through my brain, because I was clearly not going to sleep with my friend's bf, no matter how hot and fun he was, or how drunk we were.

Now if it involved weed, then yes, I believe that could be a perfect explanation. He says we did kiss in the bathroom, which I thought I remembered but couldn't be sure - now with his confirmation it must've happened. Well, at least HE can remember!! I don't feel bad about kissing him, though, because about 5 minutes earlier I was kissing his gf in front of him! haha... useless. Actually, she told him I was a better kisser than him... bahahaha. He was gutted.

Sooooooo......... now the self-punishing phase of my day is over and I can truly start to enjoy this wonderful above-zero sunshine. I think it's reached about 10 today, for sure, which is so weird considering yesterday's sun was matched with -12 degrees. But hey, I'm not complaining!!

More on last night... we got off to a great start after an expectantly scrumptious feast at E's with several glasses of sect and wine. Already tipsy, we arrived at the pub where J had convened most of the people I'd made friends with through her during my time here. So sweet of her to organise it! We kept drinking, and of course the tequila shots came out. I told everyone there was only 1 way to do it - the Australian way (salt on chest/breast, lemon in mouth) - so that sufficiently amped things up.

Donning our matching hosenträger (braces) - and looking mighty fine, might I add - we then moved across to the Roadhouse which played more rock music but was full of 16-year-olds so we had a drink, a boogie and left. L managed to fall ass over tits on the way to the next bar - and yes everyone saw, poor girl - then we were back at Friends, the bar we went to last time that let us basically do whatever we wanted.

I ran into some guys I'd danced with (to no or little recollection) last time, most of which even remembered my name (oops) but some of which worked behind the bar so were giving us shots etc. In fact, I don't believe the stream of drinks stopped once, at all, during the evening. I think I came away having spent less than 10 euros. Somehow. Generous people. Got plenty of photos so stay tuned for some tasty treats!!

Had a tumultuous drive home with D screaming and sobbing hysterically in the back while I was out of arm's reach in the front seat, and then I passed out for about an hour before getting up for the stable work. L somehow beat me out the door and I was confused when I saw the feed already ready to go to the horses and some things already done... turns out the machine had yet to go to bed and was just pushing on through the stables! What a trooper. Even after breakfast she stayed up on the internet before going to bed.

She had to drag her feet out of bed when I asked about riding... at first it was a no then after looking out the window, reconsideration turned it to yes and she begrudingly came out to help get the horses ready. I swear I've never seen someone take so long to saddle a horse. Haha. She perked up a little after the ride (horseriding tends to lift the spirits) and the weather/riding combo was even starting to peak some sunshine through my cloud of depression.

Now just to get my head together enuf to finish this damn poem for G's farewell present!!