World Trip 2008

-Walked along Florida earlier in the day to get Zsolt´s plane ticket changed for when he goes back to Hungary; trying to meet up in Paris before he arrives later in Hungary. The place was changing locations so their system would be down for about a week - not something that typically happens in a first world market economy, but in South America business is more of a hobby anyway.

-Nearly got crushed by the Olympic torch and its entourage, and the meager protest which marched just ahead of it, I guess Argentinian freedom-fighters were focused on the agrarians.

-Continued walking to Puerto Madero to buy bondiolas but found that the main street there was littered with Olympic torch press and fanfare, so we waited awhile to see it. The helocopters pushed us around and so did the harbor patrol, then the torch came round and people became oddly excited, like they actually watched the games, and we also walked on with the torch, and waved to the Chinese press in the RVs with their McDonald´s.

-Then we went to get the bondiolas and found that the health inspector had arrived earlier, probably because of the Olympics festivities, but they cleared out the tables and seats, and removed all the picnic style sauces, so we were only left with ketchup and mustard - awesome nonetheless.

-Came back to Bait after hanging out on Florida for a bit more, then hung out in the bar when everyone was there. Later went to Cronico, Post Street and Buenos Aires Bar, helping out Chris and Zsolt work their magic on a dumb Argentinian girl from the Bait bar, whose accent was worse than most - she unfortunately messed up our chill dynamic, but in the end Zsolt won out. We mutually agree that she isn´t invited from now on.

-Finally was able to go with Zsolt to Walrus Books on Perú y Estados Unidos and I found that they did in fact have a well varied selection, more than just Steele, Grisham, L´Amour, etc. Traded in my Kafka on the Shore by Murakami, which seems to be a traveller´s favorite currently as I´ve encountered a fews times now and in German as well, for a novel I´ve meant to read for awhile I am Charlotte Simmons by Wolfe, even though I don´t care much for him. Had churípans on the way and hit a post office on Florida.

-Met with Sandra and Lorraina off [/i]Florida to see a movie. They saw 2 Days in Paris, we saw 10,000 B.C. - it was nice.

-Made some pasta and salad back at Bait Hostel and then went out to the Post St. Bar, on Thames[i] a little after midnight. Pablo from the hostel met with us later. We celebrated Zsolt´s namesake day (Hungarian thing, or apparently a European thing - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Name_day).

-Took the subway and walked to Puerto Madero to have some Boniolas (half baguette sandwiches stacked with 4 or so fillets of steak) for AR$7 each.

-Walked over to Peru and Estados Unidos to find Walrus Books, which supposedly had the best variety of cheap English-language books in all of South America. It was closed since it was Monday, but just by looking through the windows I knew it to be true.

-Later came back to Bait Hostel and soon after went to Post bar on Thames for hamburguesas y fritas ranging between AR$6 - $10 depending on what filler is in them. Kept on drinking and playing darts, and came back to the hostel early.

-Went to San Telmo for the street bazaar that happens on Sunday.

-Later went to Post to play some darts with Lorena and Julio.

-Saturday; got out of bed late and missed lunch, stayed out too late last night.

-Met with Tim and friend Dan for a Boca game, there was no rioting, lots of singing, some good Chorípans and Hamburgers, bathroom flooded, headache - tied score

-Took a taxi back to Palermo for night at Post bar as usual, located on Thames 2 blocks from El Salvador (I like to call it Hollywood in Cambodia, which may refer to the stencil/street art gallery upstairs).

-Johnnie the Stomach Parasite is doing much better these days; after acquiring a severe poison from a pharmacy in Cordoba I hope he is now enjoying a fairly agonizing death at my hands.

-Moved from San Telmo to Palermo today, and walked around Palermo; went to 4 or 5 bookstores where the only English language books are junk novels.

-Met with Zsolt and later went to a nifty bar whose theme was the popular pop-styled grafitti art ,where then met an Equadorian and Chilean with whom we played darts.

-Post Street Bar http://poststreetbar.com.ar/

-River Rafting in the Rio Mendoza; intended to do rafting but since there were only 2 of us we ended up kayaking instead, which is great but haven´t been rafting before. Class 2 rapids...

-Returned to Mendoza for Panchos y Pizzeta and some Ice Crean (Mantecol).

-Posting pictures online now.

-To bus to Cordoba later tonight after meal near bus station; hopefully will not be slowed or stopped by farmers strike currently affecting all parts of Argentina, wherein trucks of all sorts, chiefly produce transports, have been stopped - I wonder if they have thought about torching them yet; mostly protestors just dump product and slow passengers.