Cordoba and Argentines

First of all let me tell you that no amount of time is enough to do backpacking in South America. You’ll be a fool like me to think that 6 month s would be enough. I mean I haven’t even scratched the surface and I already know that my time is too short and I plan to visit only 4 countries.
I am in Cordoba right now which is the cultural capital of Argentina. A tall claim to live by but when you come here it’s not difficult to see why. The city is steeped in history with colonial building all around. It’s built around plazas and people fill them up all the time. It’s a student town and quintessentially Argentine in nature with its laid back lifestyle. It’s also the adventure hug of Argentina but I am reserving all that for Patagonia where I am headed next. Cordoba is a big province and the hills are close buy. The locals in this heat love to head for the mountains and camping and just about everyone in the town are out doing that because it’s boiling right now.
The city has got culture but the trick is to get away from your guide books and roam around the city especially parts which aren’t mentioned in books – places where the locals visit. Like yesterday I went with a local friend who was as inquisitive about India as I was about her country took me to a bar where they experiment with electronic music and tango. The whole experience was great. Its fusion like ive never experienced.
I have already started feeling that I don’t have enough time in this continent so now I have decided not try to see little of just about everything and want to spend 2 weeks in Patagonia. It’s a 20 hour bus drive but these buses are really comfortably. They serve you meals and wine and you can also travel first class but it comes at a price. The bus terminals have information boards like in airports and it’s pretty easy to find your way around.
The Argentines have to be some of the friendliest people in the world. My Spanish is no where close to be good expect for the touristy phrases but you just need to spot someone for help and they would go out of their way to help you. Not like Europe where there the most unfriendly especially to backpackers. Argentines are very interested about Indians and respect out culture and way of life. They want to know more about us and just about everyone wants to come to our country, but then who doesn’t.
Everyone in the hostel is surprised when they come to know I am from India especially because they haven’t come across Indian backpackers but I guess it’s about opportunities.
And yah, I finally learnt how to do laundry and took my first tango lesson. The later was for free. Viva Argentina.

Buenos dias

Relocceta cemetery
Sab Telmo
Music is in the Argentine blood

City centre

Dakar
La boca
A novel idea to make some money
Outside the Boca junior stadium
La Boca again
Cemetery
Space party - crazy one

Music again - this time on the subway or the subte
Flee market
La Boca
Space party
Tango in San telmo
Hola….
I´ve been in Argentina for a few days now and its great. The hostel i am staying, the people you meet from around the world and the Argentines as well. Its just fantastic. For example i meet a Swiss guy, all of 18 years and he is bagpacking across SA. I dont think i would have ever had the courage when i was his age to do that.
Buenos Aires is a great city with tons of things to do and see. Its got culture, history, friendly people, awsome nightlife- still hungover from yesterday, or was it day before. And the best poart is that unlike Brazil its cheap.
There are awsome place to visit like San Telmo – live Tango going on, beer flowing. Really nice. San Telmo has your European style pebbled streets and has got its own character. I dont know what is it with these South Americans. I mean their dance. Brazil has samba and Argentina has Tango. If Salsa is sexy then Tango is sensual. The intensity with which they dance its just fantastic.
For an Indian it isnt very difficult to get used to Buenos Aires. The europeans find it a little difficulty with the poverty but we´re kind of immune to it i guess. But unike our big cities BA isnt cramped. The economy of argentina went bust in 2001 but now things are looking up.
Then there is La boca, the palace where the soccer team Boca juniors came from. BA is all about its neighbourhoods. La boca was earlier a slaughter house and there were blood stains on the walls. The authorities found a novel solution to this and painted the walls and in different colours. Now La boca is a tourist attraction with tango shows and thousands of tourists flocking there. A little touristy i think but still nice. La boca is a run down neighbourhood and from the poverty comes the rise of excaptional soccer talent. I saw kinds playing there and those guys are definattely better than any of our international players. I am serious.
BA is very easy to walk around. Not alot of people speak english but you can get your way around with a map. Brazilian women are hot but the Argentine women are no exception. And they are really frindly as well.
The adventage of staying in a hostel is that not only is it cheap, you meet alot of people and make friends easily. Like yeaterday we went out to a club and there were two guys from isreal, one from norway, myself, two brazialian girls and another one from america. An awsome cocktail if you ask me. There are people from all over the world. Japanese, koreans, swiss, brazilians, isrealies, argentines, germans, brits- the most unfirendly, scots, aussies. Some have only come for christmas and new years but alot like me are bagpacking around SA.
I am going to be in Buenos Aires till new years because its a great place to party the up into the andes before going to mandoza – the wine capital of Argentina before going into Patagonia which i am sure will be the highlight of this country.
Ciao