My Last Day in Buenos Aires . . .

Well, here I am flying the friendly skies with United, about 2 hours into my flight – 2 hours away from Argentina, 2 hours closer to home. Argentina just kicked my ass today. And, I am very very happy to be on my way home. I had a terrific sleep last night. But, then I had to drag all my bags (5 of them) down the three sets of very windy, very long stairs. It actually went much more smoothly than I anticipated. And, then I was off around town.

My big project was to get my hair done. I know that sounds a bit silly, but it was in desperate need and it’s about 20% of the cost of having it done at home. Well, that project went completely array and my request for a darker blond color led me to reddish brown hair. I was very upset as I watched the color solidify on my hair helplessly. But, after it was all done, I grew to like it. Truthfully, I have been considering going darker for a while, so it wasn’t a big deal. Plus, my hair is so damaged from all the time in the sun and on the sea this year that I think it could handle going bleach free for a while. So, surprise, I’ll be home as a new woman! I know my dad will love it because it’s closer to my natural color which no one has seen in over 4 years.

After having my hair done, I just walked around the city a bit and had a leisurely lunch. The longer I stayed, the more uncomfortable I was feeling in the city. I started thinking about all the things I didn’t see or do and how I might have forgotten things and becoming a bit moopy over memories of the time I lived here. It’s a weird feeling to know that I won’t be popping back in anytime soon after living there on and off for 7 months. At lunch, I heard a cell phone ring and I thought over all the times I had sat in cafes such as that and answered phone calls and text messages from friends about making plans for the evening. I had no use for my Argentina phone anymore, which was good because it seems to have broken when I tried to charge it. I feel much more connected to Buenos Aires than anywhere else I’ve traveled this year, because I actually had a real life there – school, work, friends, boyfriend, roommates, routines, favorite places. Everywhere else I’ve been, I’ve only been visiting.

The day flew, and before I knew it, I was getting into a taxi to go to the airport. The cab driver was very nice and chatted with me the whole way to the airport. However, when we got to the airport, he tried to charge me 69 pesos when the fare was only 47 on the meter. I had asked him before I got in how much it would cost. He told me 45 pesos more or less, which I knew to be fair. I couldn’t understand why he was trying to charge me over the meter, and I refused to pay him 50 percent more than the meter said. Nothing extraordinary had occurred on our drive and we had gotten there fairly quickly. But, he was insistent that I pay him this extra 22 pesos. So, we went in to talk to the police. We ended up just going to the information center where a woman translated for us. However, this translation didn’t help my understanding anymore than in Spanish. He was saying something about having to go back into the city a second time. Then he said that the man who got the taxi for me at the hostel (even though I could have easily gotten it myself – but they were so nice there) had told him that I would pay for the way there and the way back from the airport because he was getting off work and didn’t want to do the trip. That was absolutely ridiculous. There are tons of cabs, so I could have easily gotten another if he didn’t want to take me. It just didn’t add up. I’m not sure what he was trying to do, but I can’t help but feel like he was scamming me. At least I can’t come up with another answer. Anyways, in the end, he just walked away with the 50 pesos I had already given him. It was weird. I felt like he genuinely believed he should get this extra money, but the meter said 47 pesos and, from my past three trips to and from the airport, I knew this was the right fare.

Anyways, that all took some time and I was running a bit behind by the time I got to the United check in desk. Then I started the long process of lines to pay the airport tax, go through security, go through immigration, and finally the airline baggage check. Meanwhile, I realized that they had moved my flight up by half an hour. The lines were very long and they took ages to get through. I ended up having to throw away liquor which I had in my carry on (a bummer as it was gifts) and all the cream objects (of which I had many – notably suntan lotion, toothpaste, and some deep conditioner (unopened) that I’d spent $15 on today). Has anyone else ever heard of this law – no cream items on planes anymore. The effects of terrorism??? Well, I for one feel extremely safe now that I know no one on this plane will be attempting to shower or brush their teeth. I’m actually a bit angry as I always brush my teeth on planes and now I will have to wait until I get home tomorrow afternoon. If they say no cream objects, they really should give you toothpaste on the plane. That’s just a matter of hygiene. And through this whole thing, the people at the airport were not very friendly about it.

Well, I got on the plane just before take off. And, the atmosphere was immediately different. The flight attendants were smiling and very kind. The woman who walked behind me onto the plane was harassing me about my carry ons – saying that I might have to check one. As soon as we got on the plane she asked the stewardess if there was room (it really seemed like she didn’t want there to be). The stewardess was all sunshine and she said “of course”, we’ll find room,” and called me sweetheart. The man on one side of me sorted out my bags in the luggage compartment for me kindly without me even asking. And, the older gentleman on the other side of me was a very nice business man from Cordoba and engaged me in friendly chatter. All the announcements came on in English before Spanish, the attendants all speak in English, the cabin is nicely temperatured, each seat has individual tvs, pillows and blankets are provided, there is an empty seat next to me, and the food and drinks were very good and plentiful. Let me tell you, after the day I’d had (which was not stressful, but quite difficult), I was very happy to be on this comfortable plane with kind people speaking in English. I take this welcome improvement as a good sign that it was time for me to leave South America and head home. Indeed, I have felt this way often over the last few weeks. I am ready to go home. I can’t wait! And, by the time I post this entry, I will be there.

Tick Tock . . . Tick Tock . . .

In just 8 1/2 hours I'm leaving for the airport. This time tomorrow, my plane will be getting ready to land in Chicago. I'm unbelieveably excited to get home but a bit hyper about the fact that it means I am really done with Bs As now. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH . . .

The Clock Ticks Down . . .

It took 3 HOURS to repack my suitcases. Pushing. Proding. Squeezing. Fighting. And, leaving a whole suitcases worth of things behind. And, I finally got it all packed into three suitcases. I just hope I'm not over the wieght limit!

Anyways, that took up most of my day. And, tonight, I've decided to just stay in the nice cozy, comfy, WARM hostel. I went to a nice deli and got things for a nice little three course dinner (cheese and olives, pasta with broccoli, and strawberries) and a bottle of wine. I've barely slept the last couple of nights, so I suspect I'll call it an early night.

Then tomorrow night, I'm going home . . . It's a really really strange, unbelieveable feeling. After all this time, this is the end.

Take Three . . . In Buenos Aires again . . .

Returned to Quito for Saturday night. Seb took me out to celebrate my departure - dinner, Champagne, clubbing. It was a very rock star night that didn't end until the morning. Then, last night, onto yet another plane to return to Buenos Aires, yet again. This time just for one night to retrive my things and catch my flight home to Chicago.

After an overnight plane ride, I've arrived in Buenos Aires this morning . . . for the third time. Each arrival has been so different. The first time I arrived, in January, I was full of excitement and scared to death of the big, foriegn city where I didn't speak the language. When I returned from my impromptu trip in late June, the city felt sad to me. The weather was growing colder, I had no more classes (thus purpose), and many friends had left the city or were on their way out. This time, as well, has its own feel. The weather has grown very chilly. It's only 30 degrees F (0 degrees C). It reminds me of the dry, brisk air of late autumn, early winter at home. And, something about returning to this city, even though all the people I was close with have long gone and I have no particular thing to do here, somehow feels like coming home. I've come back to the hostel that I stayed at in June. It's also comforting with it's warm, starbucks like reception/bar/dinning room/lounge, friendly people, mellow but trendy music, and big comfy couches. It's only 830 in the morning here. I am waiting until 11 to see if I can get a private room. So, I'm hanging out in the main room and taking advantage of the wireless connection. They've told me to help myself to breakfast. The breakfast here is the best I've ever had at a hostel. So, I'm going to go have breakfast now.

What am I going to do here? Hmmmm . . . Well, I'm going to wait to get my room. Then, I'm going to get back my suitcases that I left here. Hopefully, I will have a private room and I can open everything and repack. The errands I want to do while I'm here is shipping things home and getting my hair done. Besides that, I'm going to relax and maybe do a nice dinner out and a walk in the cemetary in Recoletta between the next two days. My plane home leaves tomorrow night at 9:30, and I'll be home for good on Wednesday, late morning.

This is truly the last stop of my crazy adventure of a year. It's a bit sad, but I am ready to go home . . . I am so looking forward to it.

I¨M IN A LITTLE VILLAGE ABOUT THREE HOURS OUTSIDE OF QUITO FOR MY LAST FULL DAY IN EQUADOR: ITS KNOWN TO HAVE THE BEST SATURDAY MARKET IN QUITO: SO I PURPOSELY STAYED IN QUITO LONG ENOUGH TO COME HERE ON A SATURDAY: I ARRIVED YESTERDAY AFTERNOON: AS IT TURNS OUT; THIS LITTLE TOWN HAPPENED TO BE CELEBRATING ITS ANNIVERSARY THIS VERY WEEKEND: SO THE WHOLE TOWN BECAME A HUGE STREET PARTY COMPLETE WITH BEAUTIFUL PARADE; LIVE BAND WITH DANCING ALL NIGHT IN THE SQUARE; STREET FOOD; BOTTLES OF DOLLAR WARM SPICED RUM; AND LOADS OF PARTYING ECUADORIANS: IT WAS A BLAST! I AM SO LUCKY TO HAVE ARRIVED WHEN I DID: EVEN THOUGH I WAS OUT LATE; I WAS UP EARLY TO GO TO THE MARKET: IT HAS CERTAINLY LIVED UP TO ITS FAME: IT PRACTICALLY ENCOMPASSES THE ENTIRE TOWN: ITS FABULOUS: IVE BEEN ON A BUYING RAMPAGE: AND; NOW; I¨M OFF TO DO MORE: BACK TO QUITO TONIGHT; DINNER; OUT: THEN TOMORROW; I¨M FLYING BACK TO BUENOS AIRES TO (HOPEFULLY) RECLAIM MY SUITCASES: I¨LL BE HOME IN NO TIME AT ALL: