La Vida Errabunda

I feel like I belong in a Dr. Seuss book - from here to there to everywhere, trying to check everything off our lists before we leave. Must do: Palacio Barolo, former tallest building in Buenos Aires with intense symbolic and literary architecture. Dante's Inferno is the inspiration for how the building what constructed and how the statutes were carved. There's even free mason symbols. A Friday evening we showed up and began our visitada guiada tour with a dapper tour guide. Unlike other tours we have taken, this one was quite excellent. We started in the lobby of the building... After a classic elevator ride, we landed in the next ring of Dante's Inferno. We went up as high as the elevator would go and then climbed six flight of stairs to the first lookout. If I hadn't been in love with Argentina yet, this view sealed the deal. Up we went one more flight and saw some old typewriters from the building and peered out the little window...

The sun was warm as we got off bus #10 at el camino de vino the wineries of Maipu, just outside of Mendoza. It was shaping up to a summer day, despite the fall season. Nobody in their right mind would bike from winery to winery in Napa Valley. But in Maipu and the carefree mind of Argentina, why not? We rented our bikes with baskets before noon, and started off with map in hand and plan in mind. Our first winery included free wine. The wine was perhaps the worst thing to ever to touch my lips; I don't think it was even worth being free. But the winery was pretty and included a tour of fabcrica de vino wine factory. Copa gratis In the dry desert of Mendoza, olive grow aplenty. The olive oil farm we went to included not only plenty of delicious oils and tapenades, but also liqours. We tried some absinthe, which brought tears to eyes and cleared sinuses. Absinthe flames We road the long journey (about 8 km) up to Di Tommaso, a beautiful family-owned winery....

Cielos con sol, alergias malas y muchas fuentes. Sunny skies, bad allergies and many fountains. Our Media Trip to Mendoza was part of our program, meaning Carolina was coming with us, a nice hotel, and planes. Oh, the luxurious ways of traveling. We landed in the desert of Mendoza in early afternoon. It hardly ever has rain, which makes it perfect for growing the Malbec grapes. It was a clear day, but not refreshing. As soon as we got to the hotel, we already noticed problems with our allergies. The city has many trees to try and help the problem, but our city bodies just couldn't handle all the fall air. After check-in and a rest, we went to the media conglomerate for a tour and meeting, Diario Uno. It is made up of a daily newspaper, an online version, a TV station and a radio station. We discussed the media climate in Mendoza, which is relatively free of the controlling government advertisements. It was the most zen building I have ever seen for a newsroom and very pretty...

Donde estoy? Porque Bolivia? Que es la fecha? Where am I? Why Bolivia? What day is it? These thoughts swirled through my head early Sunday morning. Oh right, my 21st birthday. In a third world country. In the middle of nowhere. A town with no wifi. Certainly not conventional, but it ended up being one of the best days of my study abroad experience. Starting with a traditional Bolivian breakfast of bread, coffee, and milk, my lovely roommates surprised me with white chocolate m&ms! Oh the joy! Notice GIANT water (less than 1 USD) A Tupiza tourist staple is montar los caballos horseback riding, less than 15 USD with tip for three hours. After walking to the edge of town, we met our 15 year-old tour guide for an exhilarating few hours. I have always ridden Western, not English saddles. English are much more difficult to ride (there is no horn), but that is Bolivians ride. After getting settled, my speckled horse and I were really getting along. I was seeing amazing sce...