Real World Salta

So tuesday mourning I returned from Salta (in the Northwest of Argentina) and had the most amazing time. I did so many things and had so many funny situations that this is going to be one long blog. For the practical way to go about this I am going to do it day by day.

Weds: Departure
We got on a two story bus at 10pm on weds to begin out 19 hour trip to Salta. Now reading this you may think that that would be hell. I mean 19 hours on a bus, yeah that doesn't sounds like the most amazing thing ever. But anyway we got on the bus, and five of us were on the bottom level and two of us were on the top level. Well the five of us on the bottom came to the bus prepared. I had my dinner(gnocchi from an Italian restauraunt) and we all had a bottle/box of wine for ourselves. :D We all drank our portions and were sufficiently intoxicated, and just passed out on the bus (not to mention the seats on the bus were the most amazing things in the entire world). We woke up the next morning in time for breakfast (consisting of a mediluna and wierd biscuit thing) and watched movies and ate the rest of the way.

Thursday: First Day Decisions
We got in around 5pm on thursday, got our bags and walked the 8-10 blocks to our hostel. The hostel was awesome, clean, spacious, and at that point we were the only ones there. Upon arrival we talked with the guy that was working there and were given a list of activities for us to do. We had bought return tickets for monday at 1pm which gave us 3 full days to adventure. We had a team meeting and cemeneted the plans for the weekend. After this was finally done, it was shower time, dinner time, and fiesta time. We went to a really nice restaraunt that specialized in Parilla (grill) but also had some good vegetable dishes as well. Afterwards we went to the three or fous blocks in salta where all of the bars and clubs are. The first place we went to was called Amnesia and walking in it was prety empty, but it was 2x1 drinks so how could we turn that down? I don't know when or how is happened but all of a sudden the place was packed, which is good right? Except for the fact that it was packed with people no younger than 35! Why do I always end up around older men? I don't understand. Anyway, we had fun there but got our fix and left. While walking around looking for something else to do we ran into these three guys. They were nice, younger, and also looking for something to do. Well I started talking to one of them and he happened to be Israeli. I attempted hebrew with him, but I have basically forgotten everything I know and it was a disater. Jajajaaj he asked me if I wanted to go to temple with him, JAJAJAJAJA I bought died when he said that. I mean we are out drinking and you are going to ask a girl if she wants to go to temple, and I mean I don't exactly give off the religious vibe so....jajaja. We went to a nother bar with them, danced a lot and went home, very late mind you.

Friday: Peeing in Ruins
We had to be up and ready to be picked up by 8am on friday which for our group was a very hard thing considering we hadn't been asleep for that long. Lets just say that we were a little hung over when we woke up. Jajaja anyway we were picked up and got on this small tour bus and began our 12 hour twon through Salta and up to JuJuy. I wouldsay for the first hour and a half we all slept on the bus. But once we woke up it was amazing. We went through beautiful hills and plains, we saw ancient ruins, and even climed to over 4,000 meters above sea level in the Andes. One part of the trip was visiting some Salt Flats, which were very cool. But on the way to the salt flats we had to enure 2.5 hours of VERY bumpy roads, it was like sittting on a bad electrical massager. In the middle of this we stop on the side of the road next to an old partially tour down ruin room. They told us there were no bathrooms close so if we had to go in the ruin, sin TP. Awesome, I peed in the ruin. Jajajaj.We were provided with lunch on this tour which we had in this very small town, with a lot of not so very wealthy people. Well let me first start by saying that I don't know what it is about the bathroom in Argentina, maybe they are made differently or something but I have gotten stuck in like 5 since I have ben here. Well at lunch, I had to go to the bathroom, and after getting the job down I attempt to leave, and well surprise surprise it isn't that easy. Finally I blast the door open and there is a man standing directly infront of the door about to help me get out of the bathroom. Funny yeah I know, we all laughed, but the story doesn't end there. Our last stop on the tour was a place called JuJuy where we were able to buy goods and what not. While I was walking back to the bus I hear a man yelling "I love your eyes, you are so beautiful, I really love you" I take it as a noth argentine and don't even look and was towards that bus. After we are back on the road the tour guide come back to our and group and is talking for a little bit, then pauses and looks at me. This is what she says, "I don't really like to do this but..." I'm thinking am I in trouble, how do I get in trouble in JuJuy? "...do you remember the man at the restaraunt that tried to help you out of the bathroom?..." What the hell os she talking about?...Oh now I remember. "...well he wanted me to tell you that he is in love with you, I'm sorry I didn't want to tell you this but I wouldn't be able to sleep if I didn't" Yeah so man around the age of 35 (of course) was in love with me?!?!?!?! Any way when we got back to the hostel we had a huge asado (BBQ) with all you can eat and all you can drink wine. And they even made me some special food sin carne. :D Afterwards we all wanted to get a good nights sleep because we had a big day ahead of us. So we were getting ready for bed and I went upstairs to give the last girl awake the key to the room. I don't know what happened but forty-five mins later we were dressed and walking to the club. I got back around 630 and had to get up at nine ...damnit.

Saturday: Risking our Lives
We were picked up at 9am and whisked away in a small van that I drove like it was sports car. Whipping around turns, flying down straighaways it was insane. Any so we arive at the this huge, beautiful lake, and walk across this bridge, stop in the middle and begin to suit up for Bungee jumping. Are jump was 40m and I went second. It was awesome. I loved every second of it and want to do it again but higher! Amazing Amazing Amazing. After the jump we got back to our hostel changed our clothes and went to lunch. It was about 90 degrees and so walking around was nice. We spent he rest of the day just lounging and having a good time. That night I had asked if there was anygood mexican food around and we were sent to this place abour 8 blocks from us. Let me tell you that was the best Mexican food I have had in a long time. It was awesome, and cheap. There vegggie tacos and burritos were insane, and the hot sauce, it wasn't like incredibly hot but it had really good flavor. Afterwards, in the mexican spirit we found a place the 3 peso tequila shots and 2x1 liter beers :D So that was a good start to the night. Four of us kept going after that and went to this bar with live music, got some drinks and hung out. On our excursion back home, we stopped twice for food. Yes twice. Jajaja in a matter of an hour we had two sandwhiches, jajaja.

Sunday: Leg Pain
The net morning we were also told that we were being picked up a 9am when actually it was 10:15, awesome for us that had gotten home late. Anyway we were picked up at 10:15 and whisked away in a small truck we three of us in the bed, up through the hills and atop some mountains. WE got out, and hopped on some horses for a 2.5-3hour horse back ride. We started off slow and went up in the hills for some off roading which was cool, my horse slipped a little once too. But on the way back we were allowed to go fast and my horse along with another girls horse were the only ones that really rode fast, it was awesome. Afterwards we had another asado that last about 2 or so hours, and they made me lots and lots of veggies, I was very content. So we did that for a while, and went back to salta. Once we got there five of us left again and hiked up 1080 stairs to the top of this hill/mountain where you were able to see all of Salta, it was gorgeous. We got back showered, napped, and went back to the Mexican place for dinner, it was that good. Because it was our last night we wanted to go big, which included, a Brazilian dive bar (speed con vodka) then kareoke (long island iced tea, and a bottle of wine) Oh the kareoke bar was full of old people and the machine read to fast so when I sang BIlly Jean it was horrible. Afterwards we went to a club, which we got into for free and danced the night away it was awesome.

Monday: Return
We hopped on the bus at 1pm and got the top level and the frontsseats so we could see everything. Fantastic, We watched The knowing (horrible) and bad copy of Pelham 123 (good movie though) and I can't remember tha last movie, the slept and woke up at 730 in BsAs. WEnt to class the next morning and have been going ever since.

:D
More updates soon.