La Boca...the true spirit of Argentina

So yesterday me and my amigos finally made it to La Boca, the area famed for its colourful corrugated iron buildings, traditional life-sized figuirines lining the streets, endless tango dancing and cute little cobble-stoned streets. We were firmly instructed NOT to bring anything of value and not to flash around our cash, or we would likely be robbed. La Boca itself is quite a poor area, but the little pocket of tourist trap heaven is regularly patrolled by police so that part is at least OK.

We walked around the markets, H fucked the risk and bought her half-broken digital camera so we at least got some shots... of which I am super glad, since the place was actually beautiful and we didn't end up being robbed.

We did, however, almost get the shit kicked out of us by one of the waiters.

It all began when we tried to pay for our bottle of wine, requested to be the cheapest as we're all on tight budgets, but upon receiving the bill we saw we'd been served the bottle twice the price but the same name. Hmmm, intentional much?? So we kicked up a fuss but eventually paid the money, sans tip.

Apparently, the ¨tip¨ is not an optional thing... and we were chased down the street by some guy who worked at the restaurant who we hadn't actually seen before now. Of course, it kicked off when the Guatemalan basically shoved the extra 10 or whatever it was down the guy's shirt, and said something obviously degrading to him. Well, there was no stopping this guy now. He kicked, punched and ripped off his jacket to get things started.

By now, everyone had stopped and was looking at us, us girls were basically just worried for our safety - I know I was not looking forward to the bus ride home and potentially getting jumped by this guy's mates in some dark alley... We begged the Guatemalan to just leave it, but when he walked away he found a cop and brought him back to the shop to tell him he'd been assaulted. We hung back while a small crowd gathered around the restaurant, and eventually he came back all satisfied he'd given the restaurant a bad name, at least for that day. Pelotudos.

We scurried across the road and literally bolted for the bus, and we were on the way home as the sun faded into the distance. Thank GOD that was the last we saw of the crazy Argentinian... but fuck me dead, that was scary for a moment. At least we got a TRUE La Boca experience though... ha!

Opening cans of camel whoopass

Had a new experience when dealing with the camels this morning. One of the bastards - the former stallion, no less - kicked me. Yes, kicked me. With it's front leg. Odd.

Although the action didn't actually hurt - with their pads, it was more like a soft thump - but the incident caused me to immediately freak a little that I'd lost the 'alpha' status I needed to be able to control them during the early morning feeding process. My reaction? Open a whole caaaaaaaaaaaaaaan of whoopass on the prick. I used what I had in my hand - a bunch of collars - and whipped him a few times until I was sure he was scared of me, or just fed up with the whipping. Then I grabbed a whip and made sure I tied him up with no more instances.

Now I don't want y'all to think I've gone crazy with power ("what's the use of going crazy without power??" sorry... Simpsons movie quote there - when you watched that one a zillion times while teaching English in Bratislava, it happens)... I really had to take charge of the situation, and if you knew how big this guy was... his humps sit about 2m off the ground I reckon. If he goes over the top of me, I am finished.

So. Besides this, today was good. Another sunny one, and we used the opportunity to do outdoorsy kinda work with the hay and oiling some of the tack. Actually, we got a lot done today, and when G called me from her health retreat (sounding relaxed, I'm happy to report), I told her we were on a break because our arms were about to give up on us. I swear L will punch me next time I ask her to get the wheelbarrow.

W asked when we were going to Vienna, and as I thought he was perhaps organising the trip for tomorrow, I confusedly said ummm, Thursday?? He said OK, then I checked my email and the girl who took us out on Friday said she could also take us to Vienna that day. So now I am sure I will be there on Thursday, no matter what. Everything will be sorted. Fingers crossed.