My latest BLURB photo book project is almost a wrap! After two solid weekends of work and long hours on the computer this second collaborative effort is looking quite smashing. I’m hoping the proof copy says the same. Having the first book to use as guide made the process of creating this second one much easier and faster. I didn’t veer far from the layouts of FIRST, because it worked so well. The only problem this time was there being three more volunteers from this group (three extra team member spreads) and A LOT MORE photos. I couldn’t use several shots of the ladies in the group who made injera simply due to page restraints. I made myself keep the book to a 160 page limit so not to drive the $$$ – cost up and to be able to have premium paper stock.

This is a what the section/chapter dividers look like. I scanned in a copy of the blueprint of a chika house provided to me by the HFHI Ethiopia National Office. Then, I used two photos that best went with the section content. The cover will have a similar look to keep consistency, but I’m still mulling over the back cover content.

Team member pages are the same as the previous go-round with the exception of the bio pages. In order to try to squeeze in as many photos as possible, I tucked one behind the text and kicked the opacity down between 16%-20%. Hopefully everyone will be able to read the text easily. I have to remind myself not everyone can read certain text/font color combos well.

Although this is the second book for an Ethiopia Global Village trip led by me the book will be actually be titled “Seven” or “Seubat.” Looking forward to seeing the finished project and as always, hoping those who were involved use it as a tool to get others involved.

Without a doubt, I’ve been a highly blessed and favored woman wallowing in the joys of sweet, sweet happiness throughout 2010. It is as if the universe positioned all the key ingredients for an awesome year right in the palm of my hand. Before I take my annual stroll down the year that was, I should provide some disclaimers to the secrets of my abundant joy. First one being, I’m broker than a church mouse. (That’s something my mama might say.) Yep! I did NOT expand my bank account with $$$. I did NOT tuck a little extra into my 401k or increase my stock options. I have neither. (But I do have Jesus!) I can’t even say I made any major career advancements. (Nada – Although you said it would happen Ms. Susan Miller. It didn’t.) Another side note: My children’s book “Isaac and the Bah Tree” didn’t soar the top-sellers lists, but ya’ll can still support a sister and get your copy here.

On the flip-side, I managed to suck dry every mile in every frequent flier program I’m enrolled with which lead me to some fairly exotic destinations. And don’t let me fool you into thinking my very merry matrimony to the most amazing man in my life took a back seat to my usual globe gallivanting highlights. (P.S. I got married this year in case I missed getting the memo to everyone. Click here if: A. You missed the memo. B. Are seriously nosy. -OR- C. Wish to know about our forces combined.) Aside from my husband’s love and affection, I was able to be surrounded by the good company of friends near and far.

So that’s the summary. Just beyond these type-written words is the 2010 full-shebang accompanied by pictures, links and more. (I did my best to keep it flowing in chronological order.)

Let’s hit it!

January, February and March were pretty dull. Can’t recall anything spectacular that occurred. Those cold Florida wintry days were consumed with the following: A. Working 40 hour weeks on a temporary assignment. B. Planning my elopement ceremony. AND C. Crafting up ways to visit places outside of Tampa.

In sticking to my usual theme of par-taking in activities, events and social-networks that the average Black American chick usually does NOT par take in, I did recite a poem in Farsi during Norooz this year. My most awesome tutor at the Infinite Edge Learning Center here in Tampa put me up to the challenge during a local Norooz celebration. No footage/pictures exist of my moment there, but you are welcome to hear me recite the poem here. Strange cookie – midoonam.

Flash forward to April. After fulfilling my commitment with the temp agency, it was time to have some fun. How so? By going to Kaua’i (a small tropical island mass belonging to the state of Hawai’i) with my then-fiancee. You might recall at the end of 2009 my being victorious in a Trazzler ‘Island’ Writing Contest, which landed me and my lucky dude an opportunity to va-cay in the Aloha State. (Sumo size Mahalo to everyone who voted once more!) Safe to say we had an incredible time.

Revisit my 2010 Kaua’i experience here.

Upon my return from Kaua’i, I was summoned by the U.S. Census Bureau. On I went for another stint as an office clerk at a new local LCO. If you’ve ever seen an episode of ‘The Office’ or better, worked at a government office – you can imagine what the environment was like. I have to say that I met some really unique individuals during my short employment there. Because they made the job so enjoyable I am going to give them a round of sound right here and right now. (Jhessye, James, Sandra, Michelle, Tracy, Ray, Flor, Lyon, Patricia, Dan, Linley, Elaine, Eric, Carol, Trish, Jonathan, McPhail, Chris and even Mr. Dixon — it was a tremendous pleasure being your colleague from April to August. Thank you for the song, cakes, laughs, flexibility, energy, patience and more. Thank you.)

Moving onward into May, my elopement planning was pretty much complete which only meant one thing: party time! I opted to mix and mash my birthday and bachelorette fiesta into one so twice the amount of fun could be had. I was fortunate enough to have most of my best gal-pals come from out-of-town to celebrate with me. As one can imagine, we did the manicure / pedicure thing, visit to the bridal shop, beach, club, dinner and made a trip to Orlando. Thank you to all my gorgeous girlfriends for being part of this.

Revisit my 2010 Birthday/Bachelorette weekend experience here.

June was all about wedding bells. It was about counting down the final days of being a semi-unclaimed and unhonest woman. It was also about answering the question: Why Montana? On Thursday, June 17th, 2010 – I proudly became Mrs. Abiodun. With that being said, don’t let me forget the amount of time I spent in June getting people to say the new surname right. Still in need of a how-to yourself? Reference the July video blog.

Revisit my 2010 Marriage in Montana experience here.

July was snoring boring so I’ll bypass the details of cleaning house and clipping my toenails since those are fairly uneventful happenings. August stood for Argentina. This is the trip I did not truly plan for, did not budget for or probably should not have even gone on, but I am glad I went. Natalie and I always have a good time when traveling together, so I’m pleased she made the suggestion of going somewhere before children appear in our freshly married lives. We ate well, met some awesome people (Celina, Pablo, Nazeli and Solana) and did what tourists do when in Argentina. What we did not do well was speak Spanish. We should really get better at that.

Revisit my 2010 Buenos Aires & Salta, Argentina experience here.

Enter September where I spent a few days in my favorite U.S. state – California. This trip was purely pleasure (for the majority) and consisted of going out with friends, visiting family and the tour of babies! Very many thanks to my amigo Quar Brown for taking these deliciously vibrant photographs of me in the Artists District in downtown L.A.

Revisit my 2010 California experience here.

Later in the month I ran a full 26.2 marathon in Toronto, Canada. You’ll notice I didn’t seem very happy after crossing the finish line. I wasn’t. Let’s just say disappointed THEN and thankful for the good health and experience NOW. I’m also very thankful when moments like this are captured in photos. Not everything I do or go through ends with a big cheesy smile. This was one of those moments.

Revisit my 2010 Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon experience here.

Come October I was back in Ethiopia leading my third Habitat for Humanity GV project. I spent ten days in Debre Markos working on the last seven plots of houses and a few days relaxing in Addis. From Ethiopia I went on to Zanzibar, an island situated off the coast of Tanzania. Visiting an island in the Indian Ocean was something I’d been hoping for forever. If you’ve got this on a bucket-list some place, get to it! Allow me to suggest Zanzibar. The place is simply stunning. The people are friendly and the food is delicious. The air always carries the smell of fragrant spices.

Revisit my 2010 Global Village Ethiopia experience here and my Zanzibar photo gallery here.

Last month I started temping again, so life took a slight turn for the unexciting. (You know I’m just being a brat.) Aside from finding my 40 hour 9-5 work groove again, I made some successful efforts at just cooling it around the house. Hung with the fam-bam, my friends and so-on. EJ and I scoped out the larger than life sand castles and carvings at Siesta Key. FUN! I celebrated my friend’s last fling the weekend before her wedding. Both were bucket loads of fun. I always love hanging out with a group of drama-free, fun and intelligent ladies. Two cheers for girl power. They were also great sharing the camaraderie of being a bridesmaid or simply part of the party. My friend married during Thanksgiving weekend and it was quite an event. I am thankful to have been invited and I wish the happily shackled couple an eternity of love. The photos below were taken by Akada Studios out of Atlanta.

Revisit my 2010 Naija Wedding Bridesmaid Experience here.

This final month of the year was/is much like the rest of the year in theme. A little hard work, a lot more play and 12 times the laughter. Although the winter solstice was greeted by an amazing lunar eclipse, I’m still hating the weather these days. It slows me down almost to sloth like speeds. I only wish to stay indoors and hibernate like all the smarter species do during times of coldness. Because I am a lowly human being I am forced to be productive and make the most of every breathing moment. Huzzah & Hooray! If you are a regular reader here you probably just read about the quick weekend warrior trip to Troy, Alabama where I went with my mom and hubby to surprise my bestie during her 3rd decade born day celebration. She’s actually a Christmas baby so I suspect she’ll be celebrating more this weekend.

Aside from that I’ll be spending these last dog days of 2010 gearing up for 2011. More on that to come.

Other noteworthy moments:

Previously I dedicated August to Argentina. Well, I should also dedicate it to African Ancestry and the anticipation of my paternal ancestry test results compliments of my father. I now see Cameroon and the Tikar people as a future journey worth taking. I cannot thank my father enough for this wedding gift. There is so much research to be done though before trip to the country can occur.

Hmmm… I went kayaking for the first time in Kaua’i this year, but my swimming skills have not improved. Perhaps I’ll toss it on my list of resolutions once more.

My analogue cameras got more play than ever this year since I started with my Lomography addiction in 2003. They challenge me in more ways than others and I’m just starting to pick up speed. I just wish film and photography wasn’t such an expensive hobby like traveling. To conclude this year end journey, I leave you with a gallery of some shots taken with my toy cameras across the globe.

Enjoy and have the happiest of holidays. Here’s to many good years to come and the ability to be strong in the years that test our spirits the most. (Trust me, I’ve had my share of those.)

Cheers,
Adrienne

All photos taken by Adrienne Abiodun or Hannah Tadesse. Permission requested before use of any photograph from this gallery.

One thing I don’t do nearly enough is return to destinations I’ve previously visited. Coming back to Ethiopia was well worth the second time around. Naturally, the familiarity made Addis Ababa feel more like home and less like an intimidating lesser developed metropolis. But do not allow me to fool you. This second time around wasn’t an exact replica to the first which is full of the warmest and fuzziest memories of any trip ever taken and marked with a stamp in my passport to prove it. There were definitely some differences and only a couple challenges worth noting.

For starters I was accompanied by four individuals I’d previously built with and 13 new faces. Meaning aside from Yoseph, there were 16 of us total. This was the largest group I’ve lead on a GV project to-date yet, I didn’t do it alone. The project was Co-Lead by Hannah, who was a volunteer on the project in 2008. Together, I think we did a pretty awesome job. The hard part about Co-Leadership is ensuring that the secondary leader is seen as such by the group and as a Team Leader, making sure I’ve relinquished some of the responsibility to that person. Crazy as it may seem, hoarding the responsibility is something that can easily happen.

Having Hannah around for this trip was good. As much as we are alike in our desire to heal the world (especially Ethiopia) of poverty housing, we are still different people. Our thought processes are different which was great in dealing with issues when they arose. Thankfully, there were very few problems with the group.

The team was diverse. They were mighty and committed and dedicated to the project. For the most part they were all flexible. Not everyone is a fan of Ethiopian food which is understandable given the texture and the abundance of delicious veggies. I’m just so grateful that the families in Debre Markos continue to do such a great job of prepping the food on site that no one gets / got sick on the build.

Because of the timing of the project we were also able to celebrate World Habitat Day in the field. This actually landed on the date of our arrival in Debre Markos so it got mashed up into the welcome ceremony. It was quite the pleasant reception too. Those of us who were returning to the community were met with large banners draped on houses and the break tent with our names in both English and Amharic. The priests were there drumming, the families were clapping and children met us with yellow wild flowers. Personally, I was highly elated.

Back to World Habitat Day though. The theme this year is “BUILD LOUDER”. For 2010 Habitat for Humanity International is looking for ways to encourage people to become advocates in eliminating sub-standard housing. How will you build louder? What will you build? This was something I tried to bring back into the reflections and other meetings when appropriate while in Ethiopia and even right here and now. World Habitat Day is everyday if you ask me. Make sure you visit their site to learn more on getting involved.

Another cool thing that happened that was different than on any other build… We stampeded the local government office and DEMANDED more land so that more homes could be built for families in Debre Markos and surrounding areas. Okay, so we weren’t full out bullies and we did get permission to speak with the co-deputy to the mayor of Debre Markos before kicking in any doors. There was roughly ten of us (dirty volunteers) that decided to go and make our plea for tenure. Our requests were noted and we were able to capture a few snapshots of the whole event. They’ll be included elsewhere.

What else… I suppose I should mention the super important stuff. We worked on what is the last seven plots in DM for the time being. Yoseph said when he heard I was coming back to Ethiopia he wanted to hold onto the last seven plots so that I could go back to DM because of the amazing build lead there the first time. Now as flattered as I was to hear this I felt a bit sad. I hope people were not locked out of decent shelter because of our trip schedule. I mean I don’t ever wish to be considered a “Slum Lord” who makes their rounds when at the convenience of their own schedule. So anyways, the last seven plots were ours to work on and we dedicated a total of eight homes during the farewell ceremony.

The families we were building for and with had some very touching stories. Seeing them in their present living conditions is always the hardest and a highly emotional part. One of the volunteers on the project (an architect) left the group with a truly thought-provoking reflection one evening. I am hopeful that I will be able to share his notes with those of you who know me personally on a more personal level. It is my intention to include it in another keepsake book I’ll be creating for the group which will have a wealth of photos to paint a more detailed picture of what went on during my time in country.

Lastly, there wasn’t a large R&R planned for this trip like the last. Instead we had two days off in the village for rest and local sightseeing. We attended church services very briefly as there was a funeral planned that day, had an Amazing Race style competition in the market and did a hike to two monasteries. And that was enough quite honestly. Anything else would have been exhausting given the time-frame.

Oh, and have I forgotten the teeny-tiny challenges? No. I’m just playing with whether to discuss them here in this platform. Since starting this entry I’ve decided not to, but for those who are curious I’m only a phone call away. I’m always open to hear from others in leadership roles if it means becoming a better leader for future projects.

In summary I had a great, great time in country once again. I know there will be a third visit someday. How soon? I don’t know yet, but it WILL happen.

P.S. In addition to making coffee on site all the women in the group had the opportunity to bake injera. My coffee ratings weren’t as high as the previous trip and despite what you think of my injera as seen in the photograph above, I can assure you it was/is the BEST injera EVER! Alemwerk (pictured with me) can vouch for it.

P.P.S. Martin Howden, a long time supporter of HFHE, has written a gem of book titled “This Stuff Really Works,” for those interested in taking a peek. The book is a fundraising tool to help get more houses built for Ethiopians with leprosy. I’ve not visited these communities in Ethiopia, but Martin has been many times with his wife Liz. He does a much better job of describing their condition and his book. Do check it out and if you feel compelled to do so — just give.

P.P.P.S. Don’t forget to vote for my Trazzler Smart Travel piece on volunteer vacationing in Ethiopia with Global Village. Voting ends on November 13th so hop to it!

1. Forward this blog entry to your friends.
2. Make sure you are signed in to Trazzler when you “save” your trip. If you have any problems, you can sign up here http://www.trazzler.com/signup and then go to my page and vote. Remember “save” = vote.
3. Tweet about this trip on Twitter.
4. Share this trip on Facebook.
5. Include this trip in a blog entry or website.
6. The prize is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to visit one of the most beautiful places on earth–and help preserve it for future generations! Please help get me there!

10 million thank you(s) in advance!

For our second day trip around Salta we headed towards the south into the country’s white wine country. Unlike the previous day, this tour had fewer stops, but got us back to the hotel in a timely manner. The trip was relaxed and simple. We drove through the Quebrada (ravine) de Cafayate. We sampled wine at the Domingo Hermanos. We ate Torrentes flavored ice cream and sweet pastries along the way. When we weren’t feasting with our mouths, we feasted with our eyes. Fire colored mountain rock of all shapes, resembling a frog (el sapo), castles (los castillos) and windows (ventanas) were all along the path.

If you ask me what my favorite part of the entire day was, I’d have to give it to the meeting with the llama. Despite my dining experience a couple days prior, I was delighted to pose with the furry creature and not eat it. Ever since my uncle had a picture taken with one in Peru, I had always wanted one too. And I got it.

For the rest of this entry, I leave you with photos.

On the second day in Salta, Natalie and I got out of the city limits to explore higher grounds in the north. The day before we had settled on doing two day trips in the region with a local tour company whose name I cannot remember at the moment, but will have to locate. At first we considered renting a car to travel the area at our own pace, but one too many recommendations about the long, lonely, stretch of rough road caused us to revert to plan B.

The first tour took us along rusted railroad tracks through mountains dotted with cactus and painted colors. Roadside offerings for Pachamama were easy to be seen as we made our way closer to the Salinas Grandes, but there would be many stops before reaching the climax.

Our guide, a heavy smoker with tattoos of his children’s names lining his arms/hands and need to chew cocoa leaves the entire drive, had offered a revision to the original tour package just two hours into the tour. No one in the car bit. Not even the two 20 year-old ladies with baby doll faces from the U.K. Completely fine with the itinerary and we continued stopping in small towns with populations of 5 to 25 people. Only a few were slightly larger.

We stopped for lunch in an area called San Antonio de los Cobres. I cannot recall the population count here, but the rows of yellow houses with orange colored tiled roof give me the impression there were at least some 300 people around. At least. The streets around the restaurant were a dusty white color, full of people one moment and empty the next. It was a quiet place for the most part, but the restaurant was packed with tourists (mainly European) riding the circuit.

I’d heard about how good the llama was in this particular area and was hopeful of munching on some for lunch. In a total slip of the mind I forgot that the llama was safe during Pachamama. I ordered the beef dish instead and wasn’t disappointed. With or without a squirt of lemon juice the beef was incredibly tasty and I devoured it within minutes. Natalie’s cut wasn’t as nice and a little on the fatty side, so she did the best she could.

After lunch we left San Antonio de los Cobres and pressed further into desert and what seemed like tiny deserted towns. We stopped at one, this one with a population somewhere around ten. There was a church, a tiny museum, a restaurant and a few homes. Our guide told us to spend 30 minutes looking around (so he could nap), but there wasn’t quite 30 minutes of attractions to look at. We entertained ourselves by taking more pictures of cactus and the rabbits that would probably be eaten later.

When our guide finally decided to rise, we were off again. This time the next stop would be the Salinas Grandes, but the road there was paved, unpaved and long. The high sun was starting to slowly sink away into the evening on the horizon. Natalie and I kept busy by snapping pictures of the other passenger every time her sleepy head bobbed over and landed on Natalie’s shoulder. We tried to keep our giggling to a minimum. When we had both passed enough time being goofy, I fixed my gaze out the window.

Then the salt flats came into view. I sat up in my seat with eyes fixed on the grand prize. To simply put it, I was excited because it was something new. Something I’d never seen before.

We wandered around the Salines Grandes snapping photos of the cracked earth and salt ponds with crystals sparkling in the late afternoon sunlight. Then we did what all the other tourists do. We took more pictures playing on perspective. We probably could have been a little more creative and taken about 20 different shots with Natalie stepping on a tiny size Adrienne or vice versa, but I think we just wanted to enjoy the scenery if anything.

It would be great if I could say that the tour ended in a salt flat paradise, but it didn’t. A stop in Purmamarca was on our agenda and when we arrived we were a tad bummed that we only had 10-15 minutes to spend before having to head back to Salta. Our tour guide wasn’t particularly good with time management. Maybe it was that 30 minute stop in the middle of nowhere. I don’t know. Purmamarca was bigger than some of the other towns we passed through and it had a great little market that would have been just perfect for finding souvenirs.

But we had to go. It was 7 o’clock and the two girls sharing the vehicle with us had a bus to catch from Salta to BsAs at 10 o’clock. We were two hours away from Salta and we were supposed to have been back at our hotels by 7:30 or 8 PM at the latest. Apparently, our tour guide drove a bit recklessly the entire way back. I made myself fall asleep to avoid being frightened, but Natalie stayed up the whole time wide-eyed and very aware. We didn’t get back to the Design Suites in Salta until 9:15 PM. For this reason I wouldn’t recommend this particular tour operator or at least this guide.

All-in-all we arrived alive and well, if only a bit frazzled. I will keep the beauty I experienced that day in mind and forget all the rest. Viva Salinas Grandes, juicy beef eats, colorful mountain rock and vibrant fabrics from the market stalls in Purmamarca. Next time, I’ll collect your souvenirs.

Choosing a destination outside of Buenos Aires was difficult once we decided that Patagonia probably wasn’t the best idea. Too little time and my limited budget makes for zero glacier hiking. However, if you ask anyone in country and they’ll tell you almost everything is AMAZING. Of course locals gushed about the expansive beauty of Iguazu’s waterfalls. As much as we believed them, Natalie and I were uninterested in waterfalls this time around. Then there was the option of cycling around the vineyards of Mendoza. This is Natalie’s type of thing and I can’t say that I would have enjoyed it much. I drink wine every now and then. It puts me to sleep.

Then came Salta, a region in the north west of the country and area with great mestizo societies with Andean backdrops. There are jungles, desert, dunes, wineries, arts, entertainment and more to be seen all in Salta and the surrounding towns. In the end, I think I picked Salta because of the diverse options to choose from and it didn’t hurt that the weather was possibly the warmest out of anywhere else in country during the winter season.

Getting to Salta was a trip. On the way it was only supposed to be an 18 hour bus ride, but our bus was experiencing some technical problems and we had to switch to another bus maybe two hours outside of the city. So our trip into Salta was roughly two hours longer than it should have been. Thankfully buses in Argentina are not like Greyhound. They were very cozy (seats reclined all the way back into a bed) and they feed you A LOT.

When we finally did arrive we checked into the Design Suites. I booked this hotel because it looked like a pretty hip boutique spot and it had a gym. (I needed to be sure I could get my runs in.) I really wanted to like the hotel 100%, but I can only give it 85%. The sinks splashed a wee too much water out onto the floor and the 4th floor spa could use a little upkeep. Otherwise the staff was very nice, the morning breakfast was awesome, the view from the gym was cool and the Osadia restaurant is excellent too. Beware: that the portion sizes are very hearty and very tasty! The art displayed around the hotel was interesting and they had a nice display of jewelry from local artisans. The Design Suites is a nice base camp for day trips outside of the city of Salta to explore Salta, the province.

I really enjoyed the city of Salta. It is small, but clean and very attractive. Most attractions can be easily found in Plaza 9 de Julio. The Iglesia Catedral is a must see by day and by night. MAAM is a small museum and for 30 pesos we got to see the one of the “Llullaillaco Children.” They are one of the most important archaeological finds in recent times and tells about ancient rituals of the Incas.

Aside from these two sites my top two favorite places in Salta have to deal with shopping and food. I’ll start with the food.

Jose Balcarce. Yum. Delicious. Fantastic. This is where I had my big opportunity to try llama (pronounced sha-ma in Arg Spanish) and the chef didn’t disappoint. From appetizer to desert I think I was hypnotized. I’ll describe each briefly. My appetizer consisted of salted shrimp, fennel acidity, raw ham with reduction of aceto. My entree was llama loin, quinoa llaswa and filled achoschas. My dessert: orange blossom custard. There were only two wishes I had while dining at Jose Balcarce. I wished Natalie had enjoyed her trout more and that my husband could have joined in this particular dining experience.

My second favorite stop in Salta was at Objetos de Agrado. I think I nearly went bananas at this small jewelry shop. The owner was a nice woman named Solana. She was very down-to-earth and humble. I could sense the pride she took in being able to create pieces that spoke to many different types of people within Salta and worlds beyond. Swing by her place if you are ever in Salta.

Above are a few scenes of the city from the rooftop of the Design Suites and below are only a small handful of photos from around the area.

Before I went to Buenos Aires, I had done a little bit of guide book, blog and news reading to better acquaint me with one of South America’s largest cities. The more I read, the more excited and interested I became. This particular article in the New York Post almost lead me to having mixed feelings. Thankfully, I know better. For the most part the only few things I ever really thought Argentina were; war criminals from Europe and tango. There is no question that these two images will remain on the list, but now I can add to it. That being said, the best way for me to approach a possible conversation I might have about the metropolis is to just go down my list.

Buenos Aires is a large city packed with people, traffic and fairly diverse barrios (neighborhoods) much like New York City. It has a huge theater district along Av Corrientes. If I’m not mistaken it is one of the third largest in the world. There are tons of shops, fine dining, cheap dining, events and you name it! It almost felt like any big city in the U.S. and this made it slightly less exotic and less appealing. (Keep in mind I am a woman with a heart for mud huts in the sticks.) The exceptions being Spanish as the primary language and a sea of brunettes and dark haired citizens bobbing about packed sidewalks and streets. I truly didn’t see many blond or red heads and the city is definitely lacking people of African origin (exception: a few male street vendors).

What the city isn’t lacking are a number of women who have had some type of plastic surgery done. Don’t get me wrong, I’m certainly not against getting one’s nose tweaked or giving some aging boobies a lift, but it’s more extreme here. I had the opportunity to go on two free city walking tours and the guide, an Argentine native by the name, Macarena, shared some disturbing facts about the plastic surgeries. Go on the Aristocratic tour if you’re in town. If she’s your guide then you’ll hear all about it. It will either make you laugh or make you want to barf.

Overall, the buildings are much older and the architecture much more detailed than the modern pieces here in the newer world on the opposite side of the equator. Many buildings lining the street architecturally, reveal various stories about the immigrants who came or simply people who had too much money. There are enough monuments to keep any tourist on the beaten path and shutter happy for days. The Oblesico (pictured above) is one of the most famous landmarks in Buenos Aires. It reminds me of the Washington Monument in D.C. and there are jokes of it being a giant white penis all the same.

Surprisingly as this may sound, I don’t personally know many people from Argentina in the states. In fact, I’ve only met one in Tampa. Maybe I need to make more trips to Miami. Anyways, I had heard some rumors prior to my visit that Argentine’s are somewhat on the arrogant and pretentious side in comparison to their South American neighbors. I wouldn’t have known it. I can honestly say that everyone I met or couch surfed with was pretty grounded and nice. Perhaps if I stayed longer my opinion would change, but I’m happy the way it is now. La-la-la!

Being bored in a city like Buenos Aires should never happen. There is far too much to do and see and feast upon. The great part is a ton of money isn’t necessarily needed, but it could certainly require stamina. I’ll explain later. Because I’m still in listing mode I’m going to tell you exactly where I went and what I saw. I used Lonely Planet’s Buenos Aires Encounter to decide on what I wanted to do while in town with Natalie and without. (I really recommend this pocket-size guide.) In no particular order here are my experiences:

Jardin Botanico Carlos Thays This free botanical garden in Palermo is not worth going out of the way for unless one really craves green space of any type. I hate to compare, but I do it anyway. I’ve been to some great gardens across the world and this one didn’t mow me over. I tried to imagine it in spring or summer and possibly with fewer abandoned cats lurking the property. Just okay if you ask me. The green house pictured above is cool though.

The nearby Jardin Japones is different. First of all, entry is eight pesos. It is properly attended to and without cats digging up the place. Small, but tranquil. Peaceful and pleasant, the only thing that snapped me out of a zen state was the scent of miso and Japanese fare being cooked up in the restaurant. A good visit if you’re in the neighborhood.

Modern and contemporary art can be found at MALBA, but don’t expect five floor levels of bizarre artworks. It is smaller than Natalie and I expected.

Caminito is a popular tourist area in a grittier part of the city named “La Boca.” It’s known for the colorful painted houses and Italian immigrants from Genoa. Sadly, Natalie and I didn’t get much time in La Boca. I would have liked to have sat for a while with a drink (maybe Malbec) and watched as tango dancers swirled passionately on the stage. (The shot above was one Natalie snapped in passing.)

The area is definitely fun for photography. I didn’t take any with my digital camera here so I’ll have to see what my holga produces.

If I had money and lived in BsAs, then I would either live in San Telmo or Puerto Madero. Puerto Madero is clean, green, close to the water and there is good food to be had. I know this for certain. I spent a few hours walking around and in that short amount of time could feel a connection to the area. San Telmo is older and more bohemian. I was probably sucked in by all the artsy-fartsy antique shops and restaurants there, but that is what gave it more character than Puerto Madero. To even compare just these two together is a little silly. It’d be more accurate to compare the P.M. with Palermo. Palermo wasn’t my favorite neighborhood. High end shops and so-called trendsetters make this area. Although I tend to like both, I wouldn’t want to sleep with either.

It feels like I am forgetting something… Ah, yes, TANGO!!! For me I felt most like I was having a real Argentine experience when learning to tango. Natalie and I took one class together at Darcos Magic Shoes and then I took two more after she left. The classes were great and easy to follow. The basic seems tricky, but don’t be fooled. Practically everyone in every class I took nailed it. Regretfully, I never made it to a milonga to practice these moves. GASP. I am very sad that I didn’t work harder to make this happen. It could be my old age, but I couldn’t get on the late night social hours of the city. (STAMINA)

Mmmm… Steak + Wine + Ice Cream = Heaven. The food is very good in Argentina. Hands down the beef is grand, but please pass the chimchurri sauce. The wine was tasty for someone like myself who isn’t a big sampler. The best for me was the ice cream. I’m like a 10 year old like that. The ice cream made me happiest while in country. The empanadas made me less happy. Getting empanadas before a meal was almost like their tortilla chips and salsa. However, even when I felt as if I were starting to get tired of empanadas, I always found myself reaching for one. (Greedy)

Here are my favorite places I ate at in BsAs: La Chollita (parrilla), Miranda (parrilla), I Fresh Market (deli), Freddo (ice cream) & Moderna (ice cream).

1. Not having ice cream every day.
2. Missing the Thursday vigil of the Madres
3. Not going to a Milonga or Tango show during the Tango festival.
4. Not going to visit a pena for Gaucho grooves and moves.
5. Not knowing better Spanish. Habla Espanol muy poquito. :/

Aside from the above I think I made the most of each day. I did more shopping than I would have liked, but that’s my trouble with cities anywhere and I’m not even a big spender.

So in summary… Good times. Not incredible and certainly not terrible. I cannot lie. I feel a little unfilled. Outside of BsAs, each region in the country is begging to be explored. As much as we had hoped to do Patagonia, it wasn’t in the cards. In addition to BsAs there is the northwest which I will bring to my blog in the very near future.

Scattered ashes into the sea and a nice shaded bench is the way I had always planned for remains to be handled in the event of an untimely death. Considering I typically don’t think about death on a regular basis, I actually don’t even have these last requests on paper. Eek! I’m sorry — I’m too busy living. I’m too busy daydreaming, traveling and far too busy revisiting my recent excursion to one of the most extraordinary labyrinths of a cemetery in the world.

Seeing how dead-tired and jet-lagged Natalie and I were when we arrived in Buenos Aires, a nice leisurely stroll through the 14 acre Cementerio de la Recoleta was quite fitting. The cemetery is home to some of Argentina’s presidents, very well-to-do families and military greats. Although neither of us went hunting specifically for Eva Peron’s tomb, I’m pretty sure I can speak for the two of us by saying it was probably impressive like all the rest. Recoleta is like a little city. It was as if I could approach any one of the beautifully designed mausoleum doors, knock and someone would answer. (Shudders) Now you know I never knocked on any glass doors. I did peer inside of many and discovered stairwells descending into what I am guessing was six feet underground or deeper.

The photos here certainly don’t do the experience of wandering the narrow alley’s of Recoleta the kind of justice deserved. This place really left a mark on me. Perhaps it is time I sit down and pay some serious mind to the details of my afterlife. Scratch that simple-minded shaded bench idea. Having my ashes tossed into the sea where oil and whales swim together will not work. I’ll do it bigger. A mini-palace made of marble with a swirling gold stairwell down to the casket bearing my skull bones sounds much more like my style.

Or maybe not.