Vegetarianism?

Here's a link to my latest Elephant Journal post.

Sorry, I haven't written much lately!!

Soon to come:

Mendoza trip, report on the Superclásico soccer game, and university update!

Some Fresh Air

For Semana Santa, I needed to get out of the city. 

I was starting to feel smothered and exhausted and I just needed to see some natural beauty.

So, Javi, Facundo, and I hopped on 24 hour bus ride to Bariloche, Patagonia to chill out in a hostel at the foot of the mountains, see some lovely views, and soul search.

I got everything I wanted out the trip. I was much more centered upon my return to Buenos Aires and I have a lot of motivation to take more advantage of Boulder and the Rockies when I get home. I can't believe how lucky I am to be from such a beautiful and refreshing place.

Bariloche is actually pretty similar, visually, to the Rockies. It's a big ski town in the Winter. It's the size of Boulder, but there's an enormous lake in the middle of the mountain-scape. It's incredible--a little touristy--but I don't mind that when we can disappear into the mountains for the afternoon. 

We also met a music student named Mauro on the bus up. He is studying in BA but his family lives in Bariloche. He is a blues guitar player who will be attending Berklee next year! I am going to help him with this English while I'm here. His family cooked us an asado (Argentine BBQ) on our last night. It was incredible. 

Here are some photos!

when the carne and chorizo were almost done...

Mau, Facundo, y Javier: "The Back Lake Boys"

There are no words...

drinking Mate on Cerro Otto. 

Facundo and Mate: the view down the hill...

The lake from Cerro Otto

Javi and I on the lake front

On the hike. We found sticks. 

Cumpleaños en Provincia

This weekend, Javi, Flor, and I took a 2 hour bus ride to a birthday party northeast of the city to a small town in the province call San Martin Coronado. Quiet, modest, retro. 

The birthday was of the boyfriend of a friend of Javi's named Santi. He and his musician friends jammed on blues and funk rhythms all night and drank Fernet Cola. They built a fire to keep warm (it's officially autumn in Argentina) and I played the bongos. 

This was in the backyard of Santi's family's house:

                                                 

Now, I am neither a pot-smoker, nor a botanist, but this was SEVEN feet tall!! I couldn't help but be impressed. Welcome to South America! 

Here is a video of us singing happy birthday to Santi. I like "Cumple Feliz" with latin rhythm a lot better, don't you??