Monday, Oct. 13, 2003 - 7:53 a.m.
Blisters and a Bottle of Wine
I went sightseeing with Laszlow and Froukje today. The only thing I wanted to do was buy a bottle of wind for Kate, who is in Santiago. I'd e-mailed her from Cordoba and told her I'd be visiting Santiago soon. At first she said she had no room for me to stay with her, but that she looked forward to hanging out with me. Yesterday monring, before leaving for my tour I got a message saying that unexpectedly she could host me after all, which I was thrilled about. Santiago was expensive to stay in, I'd looked in my guidebook. So I knew I needed to get Kate a little gift for letting me stay with her. I decided to get her some Argentinian wine. I knew that Froukje and Laszlow would be able to help me pick something out, since I know nothing about wine.
First Froukje, Laszlow and I walked around downtown Mendoza. Lazslow wanted to buy a matte container, they are very Argentinian. I still haven't drunk yerba matte, but I hear it's an aquired taste.
Then we went to some of the plazas, Plaza Italia, Plaza Espana, which has a fountain and beautiful tile work, then we wwalked to the Parque San Martin which is a huge park (420 hectare) with a lake in the middle. The day was hot and I was wearing my T-vas sandles, which were hurting my feet and causing blisters. I should've known better to wear them on a day of doing so much walking. I've noticed the last few weeks, since at least San Pedro de Atacama, that if I wear my T-vas for any length of time they chaff my skin and start to cause blisters. Ouch!
So while walking around with Laszlow and Froukje I started limping slightly and tried to ignore the pain, which was almost impossible. We strolled around the park and walked around the lake. Lots of people were there, mostly locals hanging out, having picnics, playing soccer and volleyball and walking their dogs. On our walk back to the hostel we passed through the spacious Plaza Independencia.
We stopped at a grocery store on our way back to the hostel. Froukje helped me pick out a bottle of Cabronet Savingon wine for Kate. It wasn't the cheapest or most expensive, about average price at $4.50AP, which is about $1.50!
Both Froukje and Laszlow were both returning to Buenos Aires, where they both currently live and work. Froukje has an internship and is studying International Business. Laszlow works in Finances. Froukje is flying back to B.A. (about 1.5 hrs) and Laszlow by bus (about 14 hrs).
We exchanged e-mail addresses and hope to meet up again when I visit Buenos Aires in about 3 weeks. Then they were gone. When I returned to the room I found 3 Israelis had moved in. That night I had dinner on my own at a restaurant off the main street. I sat outdoors, as did most everyone else. The food was mediocre and the bill was cheap (about $3).
That eve the Israelis insisted on leaving the windows open, it was stuffy in the room, but it also allowed mosquitos to get in, and also wanted to door left open which meant the hall light attracted the mosquitos. I was really annoyed and tried to fall asleep with the sheets covering as much exposed flesh as I could without getting too hot (and a pillow over my head to block out the annoying light). While I swat at the mosquitos buzzing in my ear and was quietly being feasted on by the carnivorous insects, I reminded myself that soon I would be enjoying the comforts of Kate's apartment in Santiago.
