Quick two-week roundup

Two weeks ago, my program took us on one of two mini-vacations provided during our semester. We went to the province of Mendoza, aka Argentine Wine Country.

Even though the trip involved 50 American college students traveling together, I had a really wonderful time. Fresh air (a great break from the gross polluted city air) and complete isolation from the outside world ensured that I wouldn't feel ashamed to be with such a large group. We went on a few wine tours (who knew I would find the fermentation process SO incredibly boring?,) as well as on a group hike and ziplining. Plenty of free time, chances to play soccer, and wine were also included.

After my little vacation, I returned to the city, ready to get back into my routine. Hah...Actually, Jen arrived from Ohio into Buenos Aires about three hours after I did. We traipsed around the city, ate a ton of good food, shopped, and traveled. Our trip to Bariloche, Patagonia was espectacular.

After a 22 hour bus ride and check-in at our $8/night hostel, we had an empanada and waffle dinner to prepare us for the next days' hike. We started from the ski town of Cerro Catedral and climbed three hours up to Refugio Frey, enjoying all manner of terrain on the way - mountain, river, lake, etc.
[here we are at the Refugio, nestled in the saddle between two peaks]
As delicious as our nourishment was for the day - Clifs, Lunas, and dried pears - we all the while we looked forward to our upcoming dinner at Chabad in Bariloche. Not joking. It was an interesting and very international night that consisted of jumbled conversations in broken Hebrew, English, and Spanish. Abundant that night were: delicious food (amazing challah,) tons of Hebrew, and, in keeping with Chabad tradition, a bottle of Smirnoff.

The next day, our sore legs allowed us only a ride up a chairlift
[view from the top of the chairlift]
and then some chocolate sampling in the town. After a canceled flight home and replacement 20-hour bus ride, we arrived back in the city for our last day and a half. I'll miss Jen, she brought Akron here.

I know I was joking in my first post when I talked about including piercings/brandings/tattoos, but I actually did get a new piercing. As promised, here it is.


Tomorrow morning I leave for Jujuy, which is in the northwestern-most corner of the country. More pictures (and thoughts next time) to come.

And now, I sign out with one of my favorite dirty pickup lines that litter the soundwaves on the sidewalks here.
Te lo pongo ahora, y no te lo saco hasta la Navidad.

Good luck figuring it out. It's really disgusting.