This opportunity is pretty unique so I
thought that I would document the trip and help you feel apart of this journey as best I can! I’ll try to keep it interesting by throwing bits of humor as they come
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I flew out on Delta at 9pm with a 10
hour flight ahead of me. Per my travels on the World Race, I was
looking forward to the more luxurious long-distance
airplanes…precisely why you shouldn’t have expectations.
My excitement immediately disappeared
upon my first step into coach. (Check out this Brian Regan bit about flying “coach”) I might as well have been flying AirTran back to Kansas.
Thankfully the plane wasn’t full and I got two seats near the window
by myself.
I did get some sleep. However, I woke
up to a grumbling stomach as the “mustard chicken and rice”
dish did not seem to agree with my insides.
The good news is that I was immediately
able to cheer myself up with a delicious microwaved egg McMuffin
type thing and some cheap coffee at 5am. Can you think of a
better way to wake up?
We soon landed and I took my first
steps in South America. I’ve now hit every inhabited continent!
Getting through customs, and bussing to
my hotel brought no major notable events, minus the ire from the
customs attendent as in my sleeplyness I wrote down the current date
rather than my birthdate.
My hotel is in the middle of the city,
a close walk to most of the important parts of town. It’s a nice
hotel, just nothing like an American hotel. And what the heck is up
with these showers?
A of all) I don’t want to hold the
shower head. I’m busy here people
B of all) I gonna get water everywhere.
Making messes is kind of my M.O, people shouldn’t enable me.
But I digress, after a quick map
tutorial from my hotel reception buddy Nicoli, I headed out to experience the city.
It gives off this European feel: the architecture, city planning,
and everyone walking.
However, it’s feels like it’s mixed
with a bit of Africa. Everything seems more condensed, and you
have no personal space. And with so many people walking around you at
all times it’s harder to just enjoy the scenery.
It was still very nice though, as I saw the Obelisk, which happens to be
on the widest street in the world (9 lanes either side)
I saw the Casa Rosada, the Argentinean
version of the white house (“The Pink House”)
Enjoyed a little bit of the
architecture
Old meets new?
And a tasty footlong hotdog with cheesy
spreads and french fry crisps (?)
Mmm, mmm good.
After trying to make contact with one
of the other people in my group (to no avail), I decided to do dinner
on my own and explore more of the city.
I stumbled upon an art show, a dance
studio, tango lessons (I was too late to join : /), street tango, and
some Americans attending school in BA.
Yes, that IS robot art
Street Tango
In the end, I was pretty exhausted from
the flight and decided to go to bed early. The next day I had my first economics meeting. It was something extra besides the conference, I wasn’t
sure what it was, but its economics so I’ll love it right?
