Age of Aquarius
Sunday, November 9, 2008
The Worst Awards: Argentina
Now I hate to talk smack about a place that overall I loved, but some things just hands down really deserve the worst award. Here goes...
BUS RIDE: From Cordoba to Villa General Belgrano. Two hours of non-stop winding road car sickness + hangover with a puke and rally at the end. Horrible!
HOSTEL: Mar del Plata. Although it is my favorite overall city the hostel was completely unorganized and expensive, and the bathrooms were outside the room.
BEER/DRINK: Fernets. Its kinda like a mixture between Absenth, black liquorish, Jagermeister, and rubbing alcohol. Absolutely awful stuff.
PARTY NIGHT: Mendoza round 2. "You don't havvvve to come out, but it is kinda expected, otherwise you will be insulting me and my culture, but no pressure, no pressure." Famous quote from some guy named Hormiga (literally translated into English the name means ant) and this guy had an ant tattoo, ant necklace, and even an ant car mirror ornament. OMG it was bad, to say the least.
OVERALL TOWN: Salta. Again, although the scenery was some of the most breathtaking in AR the town is dirty and cramped and polluted.
INCIDENT: Me: Shit Liz, I think I broke my toe last night.
Liz: WHAT! How did you do that?
ME: Wellllll, after the booze cruise I was jumping into the pool with some British guy named Kevin when I failed to notice the absolutely minuscule concrete rim surrounding the edge. Running at full speed I jammed my toe into the rim and belly floped face first into the pool... with all my clothes on.
Liz: (No words, just shakes her head)
VEGETARIAN MEAL: Polenta from the farm. Should really be called barflenta.
CARNIVOROUS MEAL: Gas station rubber uncooked hamburger in Che Guevara's hometown.
DESSERT: Coyote. An awful super sweet mash of fruit with sugar which looked like it was food processed into a chunky consistency. Gross!
PURCHASE: Probably the Oktoberfest feather hat. Although I really do love it, now I am carrying around this ridiculous hat with a feather sticking 3 feet up in the air out of my backpack ever time we travel. Whoops!
PRODUCT BRAND: Pritty soda. A lemon-lime energy drink wannabe
MALE ROOMMATES: Americans in Iguazu. Obnoxious and stupid exchange students only in AR to party and not learn about the culture or be respectful to customs.
FEMALE ROOMMATES: Buenos Aires round 2 British granny. She accosted me about room and air conditioning info as soon as I walked in then walked around after her shower naked. Not good.
TRAVEL NECESSITY: First aid kit. Although It has saved my ass quite a few times and I am glad to have it when I need it I hate carrying this thing around and worrying about it. And it takes up like 1/4 of the space in my backpack.
BUS MOVIE: Some horrible Memento wannabe movie with Sarah Michelle Gellar. I think it was called Butterfly.
We arrived in Australia about 2 days ago, combated jet leg like professional travelers and have had no trouble figuring out the public transportation system. Ill post some OZ updates soon when I have more to report, but so far we have been to one weekend market where I bought a beautiful locket necklace and hung out at the beach. We are trying to figure out our game plan for the next couple weeks until the rentals arrive for X-mas.
Lots of love
XOXOXOXOX
BUS RIDE: From Cordoba to Villa General Belgrano. Two hours of non-stop winding road car sickness + hangover with a puke and rally at the end. Horrible!
HOSTEL: Mar del Plata. Although it is my favorite overall city the hostel was completely unorganized and expensive, and the bathrooms were outside the room.
BEER/DRINK: Fernets. Its kinda like a mixture between Absenth, black liquorish, Jagermeister, and rubbing alcohol. Absolutely awful stuff.
PARTY NIGHT: Mendoza round 2. "You don't havvvve to come out, but it is kinda expected, otherwise you will be insulting me and my culture, but no pressure, no pressure." Famous quote from some guy named Hormiga (literally translated into English the name means ant) and this guy had an ant tattoo, ant necklace, and even an ant car mirror ornament. OMG it was bad, to say the least.
OVERALL TOWN: Salta. Again, although the scenery was some of the most breathtaking in AR the town is dirty and cramped and polluted.
INCIDENT: Me: Shit Liz, I think I broke my toe last night.
Liz: WHAT! How did you do that?
ME: Wellllll, after the booze cruise I was jumping into the pool with some British guy named Kevin when I failed to notice the absolutely minuscule concrete rim surrounding the edge. Running at full speed I jammed my toe into the rim and belly floped face first into the pool... with all my clothes on.
Liz: (No words, just shakes her head)
VEGETARIAN MEAL: Polenta from the farm. Should really be called barflenta.
CARNIVOROUS MEAL: Gas station rubber uncooked hamburger in Che Guevara's hometown.
DESSERT: Coyote. An awful super sweet mash of fruit with sugar which looked like it was food processed into a chunky consistency. Gross!
PURCHASE: Probably the Oktoberfest feather hat. Although I really do love it, now I am carrying around this ridiculous hat with a feather sticking 3 feet up in the air out of my backpack ever time we travel. Whoops!
PRODUCT BRAND: Pritty soda. A lemon-lime energy drink wannabe
MALE ROOMMATES: Americans in Iguazu. Obnoxious and stupid exchange students only in AR to party and not learn about the culture or be respectful to customs.
FEMALE ROOMMATES: Buenos Aires round 2 British granny. She accosted me about room and air conditioning info as soon as I walked in then walked around after her shower naked. Not good.
TRAVEL NECESSITY: First aid kit. Although It has saved my ass quite a few times and I am glad to have it when I need it I hate carrying this thing around and worrying about it. And it takes up like 1/4 of the space in my backpack.
BUS MOVIE: Some horrible Memento wannabe movie with Sarah Michelle Gellar. I think it was called Butterfly.
We arrived in Australia about 2 days ago, combated jet leg like professional travelers and have had no trouble figuring out the public transportation system. Ill post some OZ updates soon when I have more to report, but so far we have been to one weekend market where I bought a beautiful locket necklace and hung out at the beach. We are trying to figure out our game plan for the next couple weeks until the rentals arrive for X-mas.
Lots of love
XOXOXOXOX
posted by Juli at 4:12 PM
5 Comments:
Love the summation balance of the good, bad and the ugly! I'm surprised the toilet seat didn't make the list along with the Peso swith and bait or the boarder frisks....Yes Darling your pain is our pain, felt around the world-as you reach for the stars and opps, have a slight belly flop. What is it they say: "we learn from our mistakes". Well, obviously "THEY" never experienced a hangover!!!Keep up the good work. I'm glad you are in Aust. now, See you soon
H&K Love you Loads,
Mom
Juli, Glad (if not a little surprised) you made it out of Argentina alive. OZ must feel like a slightly-off slice of home by comparison. Some quick advice: Tamarama Beach, about 1.5 kilometers south of Bondi, is the best, and the oceanside walk to get there is beyond praises. Not sure where you're staying, but get the hell out of there because it CAN'T be half as good as Eva's in Kings Cross! Now that you're down under, expect lots of useless advice from me, like telling you how it is totally worth taking a three day self-drive tour of Fraser Island, Brisbane is basically worthless, and do whatever it take to stay at the Platypus Bush Camp outside of Mackay (bushcamp.net) you will absolutely love the proprietor, Wazza.
Look out Australia, here come J & L and...the parents! Your wrap up of worst was fun reading. With the feather hat in tow, (for Jan toe), Mom and dad had best bring an empty suitcase with them.
Annis and I stayed in the Kings Crossing area and loved our hostel location, a block from the subway.
Best views in Sydney are from the giraffe area of the zoo & the very top of the Sydney bridge arch. My, oh, my, the traveling itch is overcoming me. Love you Auntie J
I have totally loved your blog. Yes Auz is the BEST! Ash and Robb are in Brisbane now--their Auz cell # 614-1096-0748. They really hope you can meet up somehow. Fraser is a must do! Enjoy
"Aunt/Cousin" Patty
DEFINITELY visit Platypus Bush Camp. It's amazing!!! I didn't want to leave...
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