El arribo de mi amor!

Steven arrived today! Yay just in the nick of time, I was getting a bit bored again after my 20 day adventure in the south, coming back to the city is kinda...blah. So he arrived at 8 am and poor thing didn't sleep for two days practically because he stayed up for his flight so he could sleep and ended up not sleeping at all. So now he is passed out in my room while I write my blog. Anyway, its fine, normal people get jetlag, I on the other hand slept the whole way and arrived feeling great and refreshed! But I also took lots of drugs to help me sleep! Anyway, so poor Steven, I dragged him all around town with me today, first we went to immigrations to show them some more paperwork so that I could get my visa for the full year, fingers crossed, they extended it until March 28 and are going to let me know if they need more information after what I gave them. I really hope not because what a pain! Anyway, good news though, now we can travel across the border because my visa has been extended, so tomorrow we are going to go and buy the bus tickets to go to Mendoza and from Mendoza we are going to cross the border into Chile: going to Santiago and then to Valpaiso. I'm hoping so at least. Then what else did we do? O we ate lunch at a cafe near the house, Steven tried Argentine pizza for the first time, said he liked it but didn't eat very much, I really think he is worn out. Then we went to Puerto Madero so that we could pick out a restaurant to spend New Years Eve at and party on the port with the river and all. Its going to be great! Then we went to the market to buy groceries for tonight, we're going to make bife de chorizo al horno because I don't have a parrilla in the house, shucks! Anyway, should still be really good. Well, I'm going to do some yoga while Steven is sleeping, want to take the opportunity while I have it. Haha! It's like having a child jk.

Love you all!
Rachel

La Vispera de La Navidad

Well my first xmas without my family....eeek a little depressing. I was thinking if the flights weren't so expensive I would head on a plane and go home to surprise everyone. O how I really miss all of you! Why do the flights have to be so crazy expensive? Anyway, the guys went off to the coast to celebrate xmas in a apartment they rented with their friends. So I'm here all alone. My friend invited me to her house tonight to eat dinner and then afterward we are supposed to go dancing...jajaja. How funny no? So I'm making Gingerbread cookies to bring to her house and I actually found all the ingredients, bonus! I didn't think I would find the molasses but I found it at the Chinese Healthfood Market. Anyway, so now I just need to find some cookie cutouts of xmas stuff, that might be a little harder but I think I have an idea of where to look. If I don't go to her house, my friend from Peru has nothing to do as well, so he said we should just go to eat Peruvian food at a restaurant, so I will have something to do, just not sure what it is yet. It's soooooo hot here! But its raining and last night there was thunderstorms. Such strange weather here in Argentina, especially in Buenos Aires. I kinda miss the south because it was so dry and crisp, my hair was actually straight down there. Now its back to being an afro. jaja. So I signed up for my Portuguese class, it starts on February 10th and its Monday-Friday from 930-12, so that will be nice to have something to do everyday. Steven arrives in 4 days, o my god I'm sooooo excited. I just want to sleep until then and wake up and bam he's here. Ha ha how silly. I just want to start school again! I'm soooooo anxious to get back to learning. I'm really excited about my Portuguese class. I think it will be a great opportunity to get to know more people and more Latin American people. I was going to try and go to Salta in February during this time because I heard it was really lovely but now that I'm taking this class, I'm not so sure it will work out. So I'll probably have to go during a holiday with school, no worries. Anyways, so I think I'm going to go and try and find cookie cutouts and rent some xmas movies like ELF and Alvin and the Chipmunks haha. Talk to you all soon! You can check out my pictures on facebook, my account is open to all to see, here's the link:

http://www.facebook.com/#/album.php?aid=22930&id=1613649903

Its under mi viaje al sur y el sur parte II

Hope you like them!
Felicidades!
Rachel

Los Pinguinos!

Yesterday I took a boat ride to go see the penguins! We rode on the Beagle Channel, the waters that are shared with Chile, the ones that Argentina once tried to take from Chile back during the dictatorship. It was an interesting boatride. We spent most of the time upstairs outside which wasn´t that great for my cold but anyway I did it because I paid 160 pesos for the ride. So we saw the sea lions, some birds that looked like penguins, and then some actual penguins! It was great! Then we got home around 9 pm, ate dinner, and I went straight to bed. Im still not feeling that great. My friends went out on the town last night and just arrived home about 1 hour ago and its 9 am. We supposed to go hiking today...we will see about that one. Anyway, nothing much else to report. Hope all is well and its almost xmas! Merry xmas to all!

Chau
Rachel

Mi primer vuelo en Argentina y Ushuaia

Well, I have made it, I am in Ushuaia the end of the world! How exciting. Its soooooo pretty here and the cool thing is that it doesn´t get dark until 1130 pm. I swear to you, we left a restaurant last night at midnight and it seemed like it was only 830 because of the light. So cool. I took my first flight within the country last night and it was wasn´t bad, only 45 minutes. But I was still scared as usual, but I´m getting more use to flying now. I actually like it a little bit more, its quite exciting, but I still do prefer to use the buses, much safer lol. Maybe. Anyway, so we´re here in Ushuaia and it is really really really cold. We are supposed to be camping but I´m not sure if thats going to work out with the weather and plus I´m sick or atleast starting to get sick. Too many buses, traveling, planes, people, not enough sleep or food. Really catches up to you. I will be happy to arrive back in the city, I really miss the guys. I´m going home at 10pm on the 21st and will arrive in the city around 230 am or so on the 22nd. Then Steven comes on the 28th only 6 more days, I can´t believe it! It will be so exciting. Well, today I´m not so sure what we will be doing, my friends are at the tourism office right now, trying to figure out a plan. All I know is that I have to be in the airport on the 21st at 830, other than that I could care less what I do. I just want to see the penguins and the national park here. Anyway, we stayed last night is this comfy hostel, I really liked it and I finally got to use my discount card. Everything here in the South is sooooo expensive! They wanted 40 pesos for a tshirt that said Calafate and I think that Ushuaia is even worse. Its all because these places are just for tourism, I feel sorry for the habitantes of these places because their whole life is tourism. I guess they get to meet lots of people from different places but its always to serve their needs and their vacations. I don´t know. Anyway, I hope that I feel better soon because I don´t want my last two days to be sick sick sick. Nos vemos todos! Hasta luego, me faltan dos dias hasta que vuelva a la capital!!!!!!!

Perito Moreno y Torres de Paine

So, now we´re here in Calafate, its a pretty nice town, lots of tourism however and quite expensive. Yesterday, we got up and took a bus to Perito Moreno to see the glaciar. It was amazing but it was soooo cold and rainy that it was hard to enjoy it. We spent most of the time drinking mate inside the rafters because we weren´t allowed indoors with it. I could just sit and stare at it for hours and hours, it was amazing! Then we took a boat ride to get real close to the glaciar and we hoped to see a peace fall but we were unlucky. However, it was still great! Then we took the bus back and got off at a camping site where we spent the night for free. SCORE! We were so cold so we spent our money on wine and sat around the campfire eating our little food that we had and drinking wine. I learned a new german game from my two traveling partners. Its quite like UNO actually. Then we talked politics and traveling and our countries and blah blah blah. Today, we woke up early to go for the hike that was estimated at 4hours to the top of a mountain so that we could see the Torres de Paine, the mountains that border Argentina and Chile. The hike only took two hours because we went really fast because we thought we wouldn´t have enough time to make it back in time for the bus home, and this was important because we were in the middle of nowhere. And the hike I swear to you was 2 hours incline, no flat no downhill, complete incline. The last half an hour was basically straight up. But it was definitely was worth it. The top was sooooo cold and windy, there was snow still and it was amazing. Great view! Then we went back down which was harder than hiking up there, I almost fell and actually did slip a few times. I think going down is harder than going up because of balance and what have you. Then we arrived exhausted to the campsite, packed up, and layed in the sun and took a nap. My face is so dark because we are soooo close to the sun here. My skin is really dry and gets tan really easy here. In the city, its quite hard to get a tan but now when I get home, I got a really good start haha. Anyway, so tomorrow we are off to Ushuaia then when I get home on the 24th I will have the house to myself because the guys are going to the beach with some friends, so I might spend xmas alone. But that will be fine because I will definitely need some rest. Anyway, I´m going to go back to my friends to chat, MERRY XMAS ALL!!!! BESOTES! USHUAIA!!!!!!!!

El Chalten y subiendo un glacier y un montaña!

Ok, I went to El Chalten, what a beautiful town. We arrived really exhausted after a 30 hour busride from Bariloche. What a great busride with no food, no water, no stops barely. Really lovely blah! So we arrived, checked into the hostel and went straight to bed, we were exhausted. The next day we woke up early hike to the top of the mountain of the 3 lakes so that we could see the glacier Fitz Roy. It was amazing! Then afterwards, we walked to see another glacier called Pierdas Blancas. This hike was really difficult but worth it because it was sooooo beautiful! In total we hiked about 30km or something like that 12 hours! It was exhausting and my whole body hurt afterwards but definitely worth it. Then the next day we went ice climbing! We hiked in a glacier, it was amazing! I can´t even explain! But it was a long day as well, 12 hours again! We arrived at the hostel, dead and hungry, and ate dinner and dragged our tired, injured bodies to the local brewery, where we kicked back a couple of beers with some girls we met on the hike from Holland. Wow, i´m so exhausted still because we had to wake up at 7am to catch a bus back to Calafate and now that´s where we are. Probably going to take it easy today and just relax, it was a difficult two days. I belive we´re going to go to Perito Moreno, the huge glacier here and then after we´re going to go to catch a flight to Ushauia! Yay! I´m going to arrive back in the capital Buenos Aires, really really really tired but all completely worth it. Then my love comes and we supposed to travel but I will need at least a week to relax. Anyway, hope all is well with everyone! Merry XMAS soon! I´m going to get a cafecito ahora!

Chau!!!!!!!!

Cerro Campanario y un paseo relargo!!!!!!

Yesterday was as always a great, long day full of beautiful sights and ended with all of us exhausted from walking and being stuck in the sun for too. First we went to the Cerro Campanario, which is the best view and the most breathtaking place in Bariloche. We sat up there after the 1km hike up a steep mountain, for about 1 hr, chatting and drinking mate. We chatted with some Argentines, and I decided from now on I´m saying I´m from Italia because everytime I say o I´m from California, o ok they say, but then my friends say we´re from Italia, o Italia how lovely how great! Haha, its a riot. Then afterwards we took a bus to LLAO LLAO. Wow! What a hotel! But it was out in the middle of nowhere. I´m kinda glad that I didn´t end up staying there because it probably would of been full of people that spoke English and not very authentic to the area. I love where I´m at right now, a hostel, its great and we meet lots of people from all over the world. It gives you more opportunity to learn and grow. LLAO LLAO is nice to relax but you really don´t get to meet the people of Bariloche. Anyway, it was a nice sight but not for me. Then we WALKED the trail for about 15KM to the Colonia Suiza. This was a former Swiss Colony and supposedly a historic site but nothing was open! I think we arrived too late because we walked for so long! O my gosh, by the end I was dying! I wanted a hot shower and tea and a change of clothes. But that´s the life of a student: no car, no money, and lots of walking. Then we took a bus home from this colony and Klaus and I went to the store to buy food for dinner. I made Mediterranean fish with mashed pumpkin. MMMMM it was nice and fresh and healthy and delicious. Great end to the day! Then we all passed out around midnight. Today we are headed to Cerro Otto. Its a shorter hike and we need to take it easy because we want to go out in the city tonight, so no 8 hour hikes today. Then tomorrow we´re heading on a bus at 930 am off to Calafate. 29 HOURS!!!! Lots of sleeping I´m assume haha! Anyway, I´m having a great time! The guys are playing ping pong right now, then we´re off on another adventure. I miss you all, I can´t believe that its almost XMAS and then January. I´m half way done wow!

BESOTES
Rachel

Bariloche y Cuatriciclos!!!!!

The other night was my first night of a full sleep, thank god! I felt so much better. We woke up, ate breakfast and went off to the tourist information center inorder to find out where we should go in the city. We got some great information and then headed towards the Catedral because we had already spent half the day getting prepared for our adventures. The Catedral is a ski resort that also has a lago quite close to it. When we arrived, we decided we wanted to ride quads in the sierras, it was completely awesome! It was a bit pricey but hell, we are being quite frugal on everything else. Then afterwards we headed down the mountain to the beach where the lake was located. I can´t remember the name of the lake at this moment but it was beautiful, but because we walked about 8KM and we spent the whole day in the sun and dust, we were exhausted. So we hitched the bus home and arrived at the hostel in time for everyone to be there and making dinner. It was huge! So we went to the store and bought some meat and stuff to make veggies and joined in on a parrilla with some kids from Israel. I just found out that those from Israel have an obligatory 3 year commitment to the army (I can´t imagine that in my own life) and then after they all travel. They must go to the army at 18 and at 21 they can begin their university studies, but most travel. And the government doesn´t pay for their schooling like in the US. I asked well what about those who don´t agree with the army or those who don´t want to do it? The girl got quite offended i believe and said well why should they have protection, anyway, I knew it was a hotspot so I dropped the conversation. I´ll keep my opinion to myself. Anyway, then we met this guy from Holland who was a real good spirit, more my style of person, real liberal, real cool, and we discussed travels and his country and mine and fútbol! He said that I really need to get into it because its the most popular sport around. I do feel embarrassed sometimes when the topics of: futbol or the metric system, o and military time come up, I have nothing to contribute. I get the military time now but man it was hard when I first got it, I´m not used to it and the whole world uses it besides us! ha! Metric system, if I study it again I will get it, I just don´t use it. So it left my brain, obviously I learned it from my Biology and Chemistry classes but other than that I would never say that I am 1.67 meters, which I discovered the other day. O the guy from Holland is 6ft 8inches, I´m a midget compared to him. HA! And every picture with the Italians, I´m always in the middle and it looks so funny. The guys are killing me, but in a good way nothing bad, no worries, just they think I´m there mother and that I´m going to cook, clean, and make mate from them haha! I´m such a feminist I mostly tell them they have two legs and hands, they can do it! HA! No, but we are a great trio, good traveling partners. So, today we are going to Lake LLAO LLAO!!!! I´m really excited! Supposed to be one of the most beautiful sights in the world, haha a little joke on the trip, everything says that it is the most beautiful sight in the world. And then I think we´re off to Calafate tomorrow. I haven´t decided yet, but I´m pretty sure that I am going to go to Ushuaia with them until the 24th. If so, I need to buy some long johns because I was freezing in San Martin de los Andes and Angostura and there wasn´t even any snow. Anyway, we will see.

Off to eat some breakfast! I´m sitting here with my mate, my new favorite drink of choice! I have drinken more of this here than my whole stay in Argentina, anytime we stop haha! It´s great! Oh and my Spanish is so fluent now, I can switch back and forth anytime I want. I have no problem speaking English to one person and then turn my head to speak Spanish to someone else. I love it! I feel like a human being once again!!!! Next Portuguese!!!!!!!!

CHAU
Rachelllllll

San Martin de los Andes, 7 lagos, Angostura y más

Wow Patagonia is amazing!!!!! I arrived on Saturday with the Italianos after a 21 hour busride that didn´t seem like anything. We got into town in San Martin de los Andes and immediately went to see a mirador of the beautiful lake. I can´t explain it, it was amazing. Then we went to the hostel, made dinner, and started to chat with all the hostel kids. There were people from everywhere Spain, Australia, France, Italy, Argentina, US, and Israel. We all ended up singing to the guitar outside and discussing politics and travels. It was great! Then we all went out because the Argentines made us, and danced the night away. The next morning we woke up and got a late start which was ok because we ended up renting a car with the guys from Israel. So it was five of us in the car and it costed 40 pesos each of us, that´s nothing. We saw all 7 lakes in Patagonia, and each was amazing, packing lunches and drinking mate at every stop, so Argentine. Then we ended up at the campgrounds of Angostura where Klaus, Stefan y yo stayed the night. The two Israelites went back to San Martin de los Andes. The Italians and I made a parrilla on the camp fire and sat around discussing our countries and our next hopes of travel. I am having a real hard time speaking English right now ugh haha! Anyway, then we spent the night in the freezing cold, I had to wear 3 shirts, two pants, and two pairs of socks. It was awful! But still great! Then we woke up today and walked into the center and walked all over to see 3 spectacular sights. We went to three miradores and had to hike up a long ways to the top of the mountain in order to see the entire lake. It was amazing. Now, we are waiting for our bus to take off to Bariloche! I am super excited! We are going to rent quads and run around this city as well. I love Patagonia, it is sooooo beautiful and the people are so kind! I´m really having a great time! I´m so glad I came here.

Well, I´ll write more later! I´m soooooo tired!

Love Rachel

Jardin Zoologico y hasta el SUR

Yesterday I went with my friend Melissa to the Zoo, oh it was great! I am doing things here in Buenos Aires that I have never done or haven't done in a loooong time and its so great. The culture in this city is amazing! There is a museum on every corner, a theatre performance everyday, and historic parks with lots to see and learn. I'm so cultured here haha. Anyway, this zoo was amazing! It has elephants, I haven't seen an elephant in person for I don't know since I was 3, a loooong time! And there were tigers, lions, bears, antelope, deer, monkeys....everything. My favorite of course is the beautiful Giraffe o and Zebra. It was great! Can't explain how great it was. Then I went and had coffee with her. We chatted about what we are going to miss about the city when we go home like the public transportation. I told her we need to make a wave in Sacramento that we need a better transportation system and we could be the starters of the project since we lived in a city with a highly developed public transportation system. And its soooo true, that's what I will miss most. I love taking the bus to every part of the city or hopping on the subte or the train. Its just so easy and great and cheap. Its so awful that in a developed country like the US that we don't have a system as complex as the one here in BA. Anyway, what else? Later on I bought my tickets to go to the South with two Italian guys: Klaus and Stefan. We are going to rough it in the South. The plan is as follows:

Friday we leave BA at 6pm and take a bus that will arrive on Saturday at 3pm in San Martin de Los Andes. Then off to the ruta de los 7 lagos, villa la angostura, san carlos bariloche, not sure how much time in each place, we winging it depending on weather. Then we will end up in Calafate around the 10th. All this we are doing will be camping, I don't think we are staying in Hostels, well if we are not for many nights. Lots of camping! How exciting!!!!!!! And it will be so beautiful. I got to check the weather. Then we are ending in Calafate, they are going to Ushuaia, I am going to head to Neuquen on the 15th to meet with Bill, my mom's former boss from Trece. I am going to meet his distributor in Neuquen, it will be a great opportunity for me to get a look at one of my future paths for my career: agriculture. And I will be the translator, how exciting! Hopefully, it all works out. No matter what I will be going to the south, but not sure when and where I will be meeting with Bill. What else? Then when I get home, only one week left until Steven gets here! Yay!

O then last night I met with an Argentine girl who once a week we are going to meet and have one hour of Spanish conversation and in exchange for her Spanish, I am going to correct her emails and help her with her English. She is preparing to take the TOFL exam so that she can work for a company in the US. I want her to have the same learning opportunity that I am having here. This is a great exchange I feel. Anyway, she is really sweet and is 27 today. Ha her birthday is today.

Well, now I'm off to check out prices on tents and later on I have a free conversation class in the Recoleta. I'm going to try and go every Wednesday until I go home. Its FREE! haha!

Talk to you all soon, I will NOT be bringing my laptop with me so when I get connected, I will write in my blog, so stay tuned.

Besotes
Rachel