Back in the big city

Hey Friends and Family!

I´m back in the big city, where it all began. Though my heart aches for the stillness of the wilderness, the city air restores my bones. The streets are awash with young and old competing with the frantic traffic to wind their way home. My hotel is more an apartment, complete with kitchen, in the Recoletta district. For the night, I will sleep like a real Porteño!

I supplied myself from the local Super Mercado for a quiet dinner in. I´m still craving vegetables like you can´t imagine, but I think I will never tire of Argentinean wine. The local people are so kind, a nice man holding my place in the long line so I could get the veggies properly marked. His generosity was poorly rewarded, though, as I held up the line unable to provide the 20 cents in change the lady needed to round up to the nearest peso, and we had to wait for someone to bring her pennies. Sigh. Friggin tourists! :-)

My flight from El Calafate was a bit of an ordeal. I showed up at the airport early and was bumped onto an earlier flight, due to the extensive delays of my scheduled departure. The new schedule was less direct, transporting me first into the deep south to Ushisia, the southernmost city in the world. Though it added 3 hours to the commute, I was delighted to see the it, if only for a short time. The buildings are pastel colored, just like it shows in my guidebook!

Tomorrow I have a long list of places that I simply must see (Murray´s given me the tips on the ones absolutely not to be missed), so I bid you a good night!

Love Tory