Back in BA

After around 6,000 kilometres, 74 hours of travelling by bus, 4 cockroaches (3 dead and 1 still alive), 45 degrees in a salt desert and an extremely painful sunburn…(on my thumb!) I am finally back in Buenos Aires.
Los Cataratas de Iguazù (the waterfalls of Iguazù), were our final destination on our trip around northern Argentina and also one of the highlights of the journey. The scenery and tropical climate of the small city Puerto Iguazù including the massive garganta del diable were breathtaking…literally! After a very adventurous, but somehow not so enjoyable trip through the tropical forest (too many weird insects!) next to the reserve of the Guaranie tribe (real Indians, believe it or not guys), we even sneaked out of the country for a few hours to enjoy jugo de cana (jus de canne a sucre).
In fact, Claudio, Fernando’s uncle drove us out to Foz do Iguaçu (to be pronounced with a strong Portuguese accent), so that I would get:

1) a renewed visa for Argentina, which you automatically get by crossing the border and seems hereby to be an extremely silly procedure
2) a new stamp on my passport, cfr the Brazilian visa
3) the formerly mentioned drink, which is very sweet and provokes stomach aches
4) and to buy two essential goods in a Brazilian grocery shop that doesn’t exist in Argentina: strong, drinkable coffee and GALAK white chocolate (which survived almost 10 minutes in the burning heat of the car befor turning into milk!)

But after some miss happenings on my side, due to a massive sun exposure that made me puke all the beloved empanadas con queso y jamon I had for dinner, I am happy to be back in the city were the number of taxis exceed by far the population and where dogs seem to be the stupidest beings on earth (unexplainable, you have to experience it for yourself).

Right now, I am eagerly typing on my computer, trying to ignore a banging headache followed by the shaky feeling of hangover. Yesterday night, Fernando and his dad decided to invite some friends from uni (yes, yes, they are here as well) and some Argentinean friends and family for an asado (or parrilla; Argentinean BBQ...yummy) and, as well to celebrate my birthday.
First thing I noticed: it is so much easier to speak castellano after one bottle of champagne and nine bottles of red wine!

I even had a birthday cake. It was made of a tiny crust of chocolate withholding three tonnes of dulce de leche.

Now, dudes and dudesses very important:
(DULCE DE LECHE…for those who don’t know what I am talking about: Mmmmmmmhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!! A sin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A paste in a glass just like Nutella is, and just as addictable and “light” as Nutella. Honestly, you have to try it.)

As usual, we made a move to the next best club around 4ish (a.m.) and as we got out it was around 6.30. The best part was, not only was it the first time that I celebrated my bday in summer, but as we stood outside the club waiting for a taxi we were all gazing in the bright sunlight (with blue sky) and bathing our wrecked bodies in the warmth of the 20 degrees (remember, it was 6.30 a.m.!!!) All in all it was a fantastic night as long as I can remember.

Tomorrow I am having my oral language test followed by my first Spanish class…I am extremely nervous. The fan on the ceiling of my room has been on overdrive for the last few hours, but I am still soaked. The heat is getting heavier and it is already 9 pm.
While I am listening to the background noises of human chatting, some distant screams, old bus engines soaring and the cartoneros’ horses riding through the streets, I am wondering, if I should go out out tonight. Fernando is taking his flight tomorrow for cold Brussels which leaves me alone in this massive city.

Am I afraid?…Yep!

A.