Yesterday I finally felt like I was in a bit of a routine. It was a great day! Another gorgeous day here – back to typical spring weather, thank goodness!
It was my last day of school. Honestly, I was glad. And nervous. I had to take an exam. I tried to remember the last time I took an exam and I think it was when I was getting my Microsoft cert. That was about 10 YEARS AGO! And I kept thinking, “Why the heck do I have to take an exam????” I think it was more for the students who are doing multiple weeks at the school to make sure their placement is spot on. Anyway, it sucked but I guess I passed because they gave me this cheesy certification document.
I decided take a walk down this lovely street I’d passed while on the Buenos Aires Bus. It’s called Avienda Alvear. It’s a street in the Recoleta neighborhood and is the upscale part of Buenos Aires. This is the street where couture boutiques and high-end art galleries and luxury hotels exist. It’s amazing how different this street is compared with the rest of Buenos Aires that I’ve seen. There’s no trash and no graffiti and definitely no homeless. I was finally able to wear my backpack on my back instead of on my chest! And the architecture – oh, so beautiful! I kept looking up with this silly, awe-filled expression on my face. The typical tourist, right? It was absolutely stunning!
After walking I was desperate for a rest and some lunch so I stopped by a little steakhouse with outdoor seating. The problem with being desperate for rest and food is that you’ll put up with a crappy meal. Oh well.
I’d signed up for a “crash course” at Expanish. These are very quick – 2 hours – courses to get students familiar with useful words and phrases for travel. I was running late and didn’t have the time to walk back to school so decided to try the bus system without any help. Like I’ve always said, you learn a lot more when you get lost in a place. And I actually did very well! Got on the correct bus, told the driver where I was going in Spanish and got off at the right stop. Went the right direction to the school and got there right on time. Sounds silly but I felt very accomplished in doing this!
The crash course I’d signed up for was supposed to be about everyday fundamentals; how to ask for what you need in Spanish. Well, it ended up being about shopping in Spanish; the vocabulary relating to clothes and drinks and snacks. Shopping for clothes in BA is actually the last thing on my mind. Oddly enough, right? So I was a little disappointed with the crash course. BUT – I met a new friend! Her name is Emma and she lives in London but grew up in Dublin and has traveled all over the world. She’s in South America for over 2 months – 2 weeks of which she’ll use to learn some Spanish at Expanish. Well, we got on very well and I offered to show her the Subte (the subway or metro) because it would be her first time on it. So off we went. On the Subte as we sweated with the rest of the many, many people there, we chatted and decided to have dinner together. I was sooooo happy about it! I’d get to have a nice dinner with a nice person and speak in good-ole-English! I really needed it at that point.
After a shower and another Subte ride to the barrio where she is staying – Palermo – we met for drinks at La Pharmacia – an Italian restaurant on a busy intersection in a great area of Palermo. We managed to find – accidentally – a place that offered the white wine I’d fallen in love with the previous night – Torrentes. So we shared a bottle and very good conversation there. I swear, looking at and talking to Emma was like looking at and talking to a mirror image of myself. Except she’s better! She’s adventurous and ballsy and open to learning about this crazy, cool, different culture. Like I said, she’s here for over 2 months! After her Spanish class, she’s going to travel. But she has no plans or accommodations. She’s completely doing things exactly as she wants all the while knowing things will work out just the way they’re supposed to. It’s very, very impressive and I’m not afraid to say that I was very, very jealous. We just had the best time! After drinks, we went to a restaurant right next to her apartment that she’d passed by and looked great. Emma wanted steak and I was completely up for that. After almost a week here I’d yet to have a steak. I know, that’s embarrassing…the restaurant and the food were lovely. We both decided we were not up for a club or a bar crawl. BUT – Emma has a friend of a friend in Buenos Aires that’s been trying to get together with her and she’s going to see if he’ll take her and her new American friend out dancing tonight! I’m really hoping this comes together. Not only will I get to spend another evening with a beautiful person but I may get to go dancing with a LOCAL. Yay!!!
Then came the scariest part of my trip – maybe any trip – so far! It was around midnight when I headed back to my apartment. I didn’t realize the Subte would be closed and it would be an hour walk back to my apartment so I decided to get a taxi. Taxis are very easy to get here and I got one immediately. He didn’t speak English but I know enough now to get by and we were off. Our first stop at a traffic light and this man fell asleep! He fell asleep! I had to yell at him to wake him up. Then, while he was driving he fell asleep! Again! We were all over the road, cars were honking everywhere and he’s asleep at the wheel. Well, I’m not afraid of much but I was freaked out – obviously, right? So at the next light I would hop out. Which I tried to do and he said, “no, no, no” and drove off. Thankfully, he just drove over to the curb where he said “Es gratis” (it’s free). Seriously?! Did he really think I’d pay him?!? My response, “Si, es verdad!!!” (yes, it’s true…a.k.a. f*ck yes, it’s free!!). Perhaps I need to learn a few curse words for these types of situations…
Another taxi came along and I got home just fine – a little shook up but just fine. Well, at least it’s a good story…