The Many Faces Of Buenos Aires

Like a banshee from the mist, I have finally emerged from the haze of hangovers to begin to see the other sides of Buenos Aires. As previously mentioned the frequency of posts has decreased somewhat due to the fact that I'm not moving from place to place at the moment, however it was always inevitable considering the difference between my first and second months travelling. However, there is definitely a tale or two to put down from the last week or so...

Primarily, this last week has been consumed by my language classes, and resulting homework. I'm currently doing 1-2-1 with my spanish teacher and fell that I'm coming on brilliantly. In fact I've started talking to every spanish speaker that I can about anything and everything. Coming from virtually speaking no spanish to actually being able to have pigeon spanish conversations is such a rewarding and wonderful experience that it has made extending my trip by an extra month totally worth while.

However, staying in one place for a while also has its downsides. Everyone that I arrived with or met when I arrived has now moved on and there have been a few days in which I have been masively tempted to pack and go. Notably I struck up an excellent friendship with my little travel buddy Matt, and two other english guys called Bobby and Rob, who all left to travel north around four days ago. When you're in an unfamiliar environment friendships are struck very quickly, and people who you've been around for a few weeks become like family to you. Watching them leave the place that you are staying for a while, with the knowledge that you have to strike up new friendships all over again with people who are also going to leave almost seems futile. However futile though, it is necessary and always worthwhile. Leaving people when you are moving yourself is a blow much softened as you are moving yourself. To many this may seem like the same think, but I think the feeling of being left behind is much more difficult of leaving others behind. Still, all part of the experience. Now on to a much more important topic than my feelings: steak.

It was inevitable, from the moment I crossed the border into Argentina my mind was set on getting my teeth into the largest, juiciest, most tender and tasty steak that a man could. In Buenos Aires the word on the street was that my dream could be realised at a place called La Cabrera in Palermo (an area of BA) but could it live up to the hype. Suddenly my planning and dreaming was about to be satisfied or destroyed, the day had come, the hour had come and, more specifically, the waiter had come to take our order. I froze. Imagine someone had told you beforehand that you were about to experience the hardest laugh or best sex of your life beforehand, how would you feel in anticipation? This how I felt. My eyes locked with the waiter for a moment; an air of mutual understanding descended, and then I said those words that I needed to say: "I want your biggest; best steak". He smiled wryly. "biggest?" he said. He clearly thought he saw another traveler out of his depth. It was my turn to smile as I nodded and repeated my request. Time passed. Minutes felt like seconds and before I knew it the waiter apeared with a goliath steak. I heard people on other tables gasp and exclaim in spanish to their fellow diners. The words of Martine McHutchinson sprung into my mind: this; was my perfect moment. Cooked to absolute perfection the 1kg (36oz) steak did not disappoint in the slightest. Every single bit of meat was destroyed in no time, and upon returning to the table both a mutual respect and lifelong bond was struck between myself and the waiter. A night to remember forever.

In spite of my working hard at my spanish and my search for the perfect steak, I have had one more aforementioned responsibility to fulfill: the pink vest. For that reason she has been donned at numerous fiestas including the most recent 90s rave party. The black lighting lit her up like the beacon of light that she is, and much promotion of 'the cause' was done. At times the pressure of constantly searching for a successor can be a little irksome but the attention and overwhelming enthusiasm for its plight is always a pleasure. If you haven't joined the adventures of the pink vest facebook group (at www.mypinkvest.com) then you should because it's a fun and noble cause.

Coming up this week I have two more fancy dress parties and a continuation of the mission to nail spanish. So hopefully so stories will result. I have also posted a lot of new pictures on my facebook and been tagged in many so please have a browse as there are some great ones.