Bienvenidos a Buenos Aires

So I finally got around to starting this blog as it seems like the cool thing to do for people abroad. Also the best way to share my experiences with whoever cares to know about them. So far I am loving Argentina, as I knew I would, since it is my third time here and each time has been better than the last. Buenos Aires is a very laid back city, and my laid back self fits in very well here. Time is more of a concept than a real thing here as dinners start around 10 and can linger on for 3 or 4 hours. People don't really hit the bars until 12 and clubs until 2 or 3. From there you can party for as long as you want, they have after-clubs that stay open until noon. We haven't done that yet, but all made a vow to try it at least once.
For the first month here I am staying in a homestay. My madre is very nice and accommodating, but I think I will move out come March mainly because I want my own fridge and food and to have people over to my place. There are three other Americans here: one from BC, one from Utah, and one from Jersey. We get dinner cooked for us every night, and its good to eat what the Portenos eat (portenos is what Buenos Aires residents call themselves). However, the people here don't believe in vegetables besides potatoes, and we eat mostly meat and carbs. I never figured I would complain about too few vegetables and too much meat. I also miss milk and spicy food, something they surprisingly don't have down here. I did have a spicy vodka shot last night though which somewhat satisfied my cravings.
There are ten people from BC here and we spent the first week getting to know each other and the city. We went on a bus/walking tour of the city which was fairly cool. Some pictures follow from my fabulous camera.
The biggest flower I ever saw. BA has thousands of beautiful
sculptures and statues all over, one of my favorite parts of the city.




Like this dude, probably telling some crazy stories about the founding of the city to his grandkids.





















This is the casa rosada, the old house of state that was built after the jackass spanish got kicked out, it pink because it was apparently painted with cows blood. The Perons used to give political rallies from this place.




Here is the really angry horse from in front of the casa rosada. My theory is that he's pissed at the mistreatment he got under the bastard spanish and is about to stomp on ones face.





















This is a building in the Boca neighborhood next to the stadium of the Boca juniors-Argentina's most famous soccer team. I went to a game here 6 years ago and it was probably the craziest sporting event of my life. The fanaticos are crazy, they were singing and chanting the whole time, throwing random stuff on the field, and chucking rocks and bottles at the opposing fans. Here are two of the crazier fans decked out in the requisite gold and blue.

More pictures of the vibrant and beautiful Boca neighborhood follow
























































That's some regal looking guitar player, and then Brenny and I dressed up as tango players. I must say we look pretty sharp.















These are the highlights of the Boca neighborhood. This is really just the touristy area, and unfortunately most of the Boca is a poor run down place with 4 to 5 families crammed into a single house. To the left is a plaque I found in La Boca which roughly translates to
"Venerated Master, Quinquela is the immortal dialogue you had with your color, its the natural smile that Riachuelo (area of Boca) has with the birds of heaven among the tallest chimneys, with bridges, maps, tenements, and the love of a neighborhood soaked in the sun. Remember your Bocan neighborhood, because it will always live in your heart.

Later that week we went to a Tango and Salsa club where they taught us the most basic moves of each of those dances. These dances require some serious skill and concentration, nothing like the mindless grinding in America. It was a lot of fun, but our moves paled in comparison to the ones performed for us at the end of the night. It was awe inspiring to see some professional tango dancers, and most of them performed with their eyes closed using only the music and their partner to guide them. This past weekend we went to Uruguay which was a lot of fun, but that trip deserves its own post, which should be coming soon enough.