"Stuck" in Buenos Aires

So I'm still "stuck" here in Buenos Aires. But please don't associate being stuck with having a bad time by any means. Long story short, it took 2 hours to get a new passport yet it has taken 10 days and counting to get new credit/debit cards. Moral of the story: don't get your shit stolen in the first place. During my extended stay here in B.A. I have fallen in love with this city. It has everything a young American male could ask for, it's cheap, the women are top-notch, weather has been impeccable and most importantly the beer and red-meat flow like the salmon of Capistrano. And although I yearning to continue my voyage into the frigid Patagonia, I know for a fact that this city hasn't seen the last of me.

Conrad's South African roommate, Stuart (ya I know, the incorrect spelling), lent me his camera to shoot photos for some articles he's working on. He is a free-lance writer who is currently working or has worked on all sorts of projects for the press back home, including stories about: A small community of Afrikaners who fled to southern Argentina during times of British oppression, cruises to Antarctica, and much much more.

So here are some photos I took today, still hunting for a replacement Canon battery charger :(

The Dogwalker: not uncommon to see someone walking 8-10-12 dogs at once for a living.

A statue in front of the Casa Rosada (Argentine Executive Building)

It turns out this march, comprised of a few hundred, had more intensity and rhythm than any "Anti-War" protest I've ever seen in the U.S. I'm ashamed.

Obelisco in the center of Buenos Aires.
My local Subte stop, Scalibrini Ortiz, which runs like a charm. My only complaint is that it was built by the Brits, therefore the trains run on the tracks the opposite way as the traffic does on the street above, it can be a bit confusing.

Bummer in the South American Summer

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Puerto Iguazu, Argentina:

After one of the best days of my trip thus far I came back to my hostel to find that my small travel bag with my passport, credit cards, travel notes, everything important etc. had been stolen from the luggage storage. Every employee played dumb and questioned if I brought the bag, with my passport and credit cards with me to go hiking in the Iguazu Park....oh ya that's likely!

So in order to get a new passport I needed to file a police report, which was basically a formality with no hint of justice in sight (go figure). The whole process was strikingly similar to The Dude's ordeal in The Big Lebowski as one officer told me, "ya...they got us working in shifts."

So now I'm in Buenos Aires, thanks to my brother who bought my 17 hour bus ticket online for me seeing I only had US$4 to my name, staying with the saint Conrad Brown of UT fame who has opened up his futon for me while I get my situation sorted out.

All in all nothing is lost other than time and money and a little dignity. But my trail is still untraveled and I look forward to picking up right where I left off in beautiful South America.

Here are some photos of the magnificent Foz de Iguacu/Cataratas de Iguazu (Brasil side/Argentina side), followed by some photos of a surprisingly quaint city of Curitiba, Brasil where I was just before Foz de Iguacu. Sadly to say these might be the last pictures I'm able to post seeing my battery charger and cpu/camera USB plug has gone the way of my passport. But I'll shop around in Buenos Aires and/or borrow equipment from fellow hostel dwellers throughout my trip to keep the blog alive.

CATARATAS DE IGUAZU, ARGENTINA:


FOZ DE IGUACU, BRASIL:


CURITIBA, BRASIL:

World class botanical gardens in Curitiba

Oscar Niemeyer Museum

Tchau Brasilia, Oi Sao Paulo

It has been amazing staying with the De Paula´s for so long during my stay in Brasilia but I knew it was time to get going again so I headed south for Sao Paulo. Latin America´s ´´New York City´´ goes 11+ million strong within the city limits and has everything and more that NYC has to offer (Chinatown, Little Italy, transexual prostitutes etc). I was fortunate enough to hit the city when I did because the weather hasn´t warmed up yet and along with the light showers the typically smogged filled sky was blue and clear for miles to see.

A farewell to Brasilia:

A goodbye All-You-Can-Eat slamming sushi dinner

From Left: Diane, Gustavo, Me, Mariana, Felipe, Carol

Hello Sao Paulo:

Just one angle of Sao Paulo, looking down upon Praça Republica.

The rare blue sky of Sao Paulo

The Japanese Gardens in Sao Paulo. The Asian community in Sao Paulo is enormous, and the Chinatown is really authentic, I think I knew more Portuguese than most people there.

Parque Ibirapuera: in the center is a spire being constucted into a large Christmas tree just like home sweet home.


So now it´s off to Iguacu Falls, sure to be plenty of stories and photos to come. Stay warm and happy Thanksgiving.

Salvador and Beyond

To beat the hustle and bustle of Brasilia I headed off to Salvador last week. On the central coast of Brasil this colonial town sits at the end of a peninsula between the waters of the Atlantic and the Baia de Todos os Santos, both sparkling aqua blue. But it wasn't before too long that I decided to head off to Morro de Sao Paulo, a vacation island about 2 hours south of Salvador, to do some major chillaxing.

SALVADOR:

To my right, Manoel (66) my Servas host in Salvador, complete with Brasilian trophy wife (32), maids who served me fresh cold coconut water unsolicited, along with a gorgeous city to rest my loins.

Rooftops of Pelourinho

Statue of traditional Bahian (Salvador's state) woman

Brasilian phonebooth

The municipal elevator, convenient travel from the upper to the lower city and vice versa.

Igreja Sao Francisco

(NOT PICTURED DUE TO RESTRICTIONS): a Candomble ritual. Candomble is an adaptation of a traditional African religion which has been passed on and transformed through the years since the slave trade began in Brasil. It was interesting (long) to say the least, but a must and definitely worthwhile to see the tranced and possessed church-goers moan and groan and shake and rattle all the while wearing intricate costumes.

MORRO de SAO PAULO:

Don't worry, I didn't lose Gisele's phone number.

The sun sets on Morro

All the beaches at Morro are only 2-4 feet deep providing plenty of comfort to contemplate where would be a good place to enjoy a beer at sunset.