Enemy of the States

No pictures on this blog, because I woulnd´t look too happy right now. We found out today that there is probably a further delay in shipping the car. We are fighting with agents in the US about releasing the title and finding out information on when the car will arrive. It is sounding like the boat has been delayed again and we might not receive the car for another week. I can´t express in words the disappointment that I have had with using this company. If you are reading this, and thinking about shipping a car anywhere in the world, I would highly recommend not using Countrywide Transports out of Virginia. They have been nothing but difficult, illusive, non-responsive, and sometimes on the edge of rude. We didn´t expect to find such difficulties with a company from the States.

We now might have to fly down to Ushuaia for our trip to Antarctica, and fly back to pick up the car. We are simply waiting in the dark, with no information and no light at the end of the tunnel. Wish us luck as we push forward.

On the bright side, Fabian´s family has been overly hospitable, and I am so happy to have met them. Also, I get to study, and practice, my Spanish a little more.

Drinking wine and the border patrol

We took a tour of some wineries, or bodegas, in Mendoza. We got to see 4 bodegas an olive oil plant and a family business of chocolate and liqueur. The trip was nice, however, was long and a little boring. We did meet some girls on the trip from the States. Cassidy and Erin are traveling in SA for a few months as well. After the long day we decided that we wanted to go and see Walter again. This time remembering to take pictures. The girls came with us and we bowled and drank until we ran out of money. Walter was very nice and gave us his address if we are to come back through Mendoza. Mendoza was an strange city and we are not sure that we liked it there.
Friday we decided to leave for Santiago and to meet our friend Fabian (one of Laura´s friend´s boyfriend). The small minibus was supposed to take only 6 hours, however, it took close to 10. Chile is very strict about customs and immagration. We waited at the border while they searched every bag in every bus. None the less, we are now here in Santiago at Fabian´s house. He has been an extreme help and is going with us on Monday to pick up the car. We are hoping that everything goes smoothly and we have no problems.
Last night we at dinner here at the house with his father, mother, and sister (Nivaldo, Maria, and Meme). Then we went to his best friends (Sebastian) house where he was having a party. My Spanish got much better the more Pisco I drank, but it was still not quite good enough. They only drink rum or pisco and coke, I am a little hungover today from all the sugar. They don´t like to drink beer! We are off to run some errands before the car arrives. Fuera!

Mendoza and El Pato

I am part of a team now! My sister Laura arrived on Monday from the States and we left immediately for the wine town of Mendoza in the west of Argentina. The bus was 14 hours overnight, however, was nicer than first class on an airplane. A little sad to leave Buenos Aires, I was starting to really feel comfortable there and was meeting some great people. My Spanish is getting alot better, however it is a little easier to get around now that my sister is here.

Mendoza is a fairly large city with a very outdoor feel to it. The main attractions here are the Andes and the wineries. The wine here is really quite amazing, they don´t export alot of wine, so it is quite unknown. Tomorrow we are taking a wine tour to a few vineyards and a liqueur factory. The weather has been cloudy and rainy, however it might have been the best thing to happen yet. We stopped under an overhang last night to dry off and we noticed a sign for bowling. We went down and it was the most amazing little bowling alley. They had a different version with a smaller ball and pins. We rolled a few games, had a few beers and laughs. El Pato, myself, was triumphant over Ms. O´Conner winning both games. The bartender was the nicest little man named Walter (seriously, Walter in a bowling alley? Dude!). We drank until we were crazy enough to run home in the rain.

We are leaving on Friday to head to Santiago, Chile. We are meeting Laura´s friend Fabian and to hopefully pick of the much desired car on Monday. Wish us luck!

¡El Pato......fuera!

Getting to know Buenos Aires

I am really starting to feel comfortable here. I am finding restaurants I like, and food that I like. I am starting to talk to more people in Spanish. I have met some really interesting people and now I am not so sure if I want to head to Mendoza next week. Class has been going really well and I am starting to feel more confident with my Spanish. Two of the girls from class, Rhiannon and Valerie, and I went to a wine tasting last night sponsored by the school. It was run by an American. He has a business here solely for Argentinian wines. There is a wine down here from the Malbec grape that is not made anywhere else in the world. This is due to the climate where the grapes are grown here in Argentina. Malbec in French translates to bad mouth. However, when grown here it turns into a amazing wine.








I have not really had time to really pursue photography yet because I am really busy. However, the graffiti here is amazing and I am looking forward to spending a entire day either tomorrow or Sunday taking pictures.
























P.S. I found a place that shows American Football...........YES!

A night out in between Spanish Classes

Hola. Yo soy Mateo. I just finished my second class relearning to speak Spanish. Alot is coming back to me and to actually have conversations is really helping. They put me in a fairly basic level. I am quite a bit ahead of the rest of the students, however, it is good for me to make sure I know the basics before I go on. The other students are really cool. One of them Peter, just retired and moved here on a whim, and is living here full time. The rest of the class is great. Two people from England, Rhiannon and Huw(not traveling together), a girl Chen from Israel, and a Natalie from Switzerland.
I met some more people from my hostel last night and we went out to eat and drink (along with Joseph and Mary from Isreal). They are a group of from the US (People down here do not like if you call yourself an American because they are American also). Devyn, her boyfriend Josh and her sister Ari. They are from Seattle and are for the realz. We wandered around looking for a specific restaurant when we came across a protest and a line of policemen. It looked rather intimidating, but after further inquiry, they were simply protesting the construction of a new government casino. We had a good night laughing about joking with babies.

Market at Plaza Dorrego

Today was a really good day, although I got a little sun on the back of my neck. I did not think I was so pale untill I came down here, everyone is so tan. Every Sunday there is a market at the plaza near my hostel, and it streches for about 10 blocks in either direction. I listining to a group congo drum while I am writing this. They have been drumming for about 8 hours now. There were great little tents with antiques, hats, and plenty of street performers. It was great to see this part of the culture, it was impressive. And to think, they do it every Sunday! I am not sure when these people sleep. Most people do not eat dinner until around 9 or 10. Well I am off to get something to eat and go to bed..... Spanish classes in the morning!

Settling in to Buenos Aires

I have done this many times, come to a new city, learn my way around and find things to do. However, this is the first time I have done it on my own. I got into town in the late afternoon and got situated at a hostel in San Telmo, a part of town to the south of the city center. It is a nice neighborhood with alot of cafes and churches. I simply just started walking, made it to Plaza de Mayo and found myself remembering why I love to travel. Most every city has a city square, however, everyone is different. The government building at the end of the square is made of a red stone and is quite picturesque. I then walked to the main walking street Florida. I found a Internet cafe where I checked in with my worrisome mother and checked the address for the spanish school I will be attending on Monday. I then made my way back towards my hostel where I had a chivito el panin. Basically a steak sandwich with a fried egg and slice of ham, they really like meat here in Argentina. I then went back to my hostel for a bit of a rest and met Claudio, who is from Rome. He also quite his job to come travel. He said he was going out with a couple he had met and I joined in. The couple was Joseph and Mary from Israel, no joke! They all were very nice and we went out to eat and drink. We had a little too much of vino de la casa and slept it off. They seem really nice, and are making there way north as well, and I hope to meet up with them again.

Finally... I'm gone!

The day is finally here. I am leaving today for my adventurous yet insane travels through Latin America. I am flying today down to Buenos Aires, Aregentina. I am planning on taking Spanish classes to freshen up while I wait for my sister to arrive in a week or so. I am really excited to get on the road and take on new challenges and meet new people. If you would like to contact me I will be available on email at romcevich@gmail.com. Hope to hear from you, and wish me luck.