nitaps » america ‘10

07.04.2010 _Back Home / Berlin, Germany

nitaps — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 23:11:06 +0000

I realized that trying to post things chronically will bring me in huge delay, trying to post some news once in a while. Sorting out some 400 pictures of pinguins and another 300 from my sidetrip from Buenos AIres to Fireland (Tierra del Fuego) takes way to much time, as I also have to cope with the new challenges facing me back home. So I’ll just share some thoughts of my time back home, before crawling back down fourteen thousand kilometres in my next post.

Just one preview pic of Tierra del Fuego '10

What bothered me most on my way back was the cancellation of the flight to Basel, where I planned to finally find some time to hang around with my brother. After a lot of trouble in Madrid-Barajas I had to change my flight directly to Berlin, arriving after a 30h travel hassle. Being back in my flat with my flatmates and starting a routine here is actually nice and the right thing to do after a year on the road.
Still, I had some chaos days, finally moving into my room, shooting down the efforts of Max and Tini to have a tidy, well organized place.

moving in, causing chaos

It’s all in order again and life starts running now. I enjoyed my first days at university and work, eager to finish my studies in less than a year from now.

To get back in touch with my beloved friends was nice and German culture kicked in fast.

Beer in a Stiefel. Pretty German, still my first time

I am back, not planning to leave again for a while.

At last, let me thank all the guys in Berlin for awaiting me and all you lovely people I met during my last year. A special thanks goes to Maria from Lima (Turku), Chris from Tampere (Berlin), Inken from Tampere (Erfurt) and Gilda from Buenos Aires for adding so many special moments to my trip and being close friends in fun and troubled times.

15.02.2010 _Week 4 / Buenos Aires, Argentina

nitaps — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 05:25:28 +0000

In terms of filling my blog I’ve been Garfield lately. Time has passed so quickly and those who are awaiting my report on Iguazu and the Chaco will be disappointed. Still in Buenos Aires. Yes, plans have changed. I decided to take it slow, not moving on, but spending my entire journey in Argentina. There are quite a lot of reasons, but in short, days without electricity postponed the finishing of my work, I had great company around and everything I was looking for is here, so I decided to stay.

tango show at milonga la viruta in palermo

I’m in my daily routine now, relatively slow paced and unspectacular. Spanish classes in the afternoon, working and doing homework (Yes, Gilda, I try hard) in the mornings and trying to get into argentinian customs in the evenings.

Waleria left last weekend and is already moving on to Brussels right now and I moved into a new flat with lovely people. First conversations in spanish were held, Fernet con Cola eased my tongue significantly. Two and a half weeks left until my year off finally passed, although I don’t see me back at work and at my home university yet.

passion for tango, elafronte orquestra tipica, san telmo

So right now, I just want to send some greetings back home and to all the people around the world that follow my blog once in a while and share some pictures I took in the last weeks. (Been a lazy tourist and photographer too…)

traditional chacarera dance, san telmo

And finally two pictures of the carneval that took place two weeks ago on the street right in front of the place where I was staying at that time.

carneval on av. corrientes, villa crespo

¡Suerte!

15.02.2010 _ Week 1 / Buenos Aires, Argentina

nitaps — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 15:44:00 +0000

Monday morning, week 1. I arrived last Wednesday to Buenos Aires after a pretty long and exhausting trip. To get a flight as cheap as possible, I flew from Berlin to London by easyJet, starting the Buenos Aires via Madrid connection served by AirEurope their. Due to a ten hour stop in Madrid I had the possibility to have a glimpse on the Spanish capital. Seems like an interesting and fun place and a spot I can see myself visiting again.
The flight from Madrid was scheduled at 23:55, actually leaving at about two, as my plane had a puncture and all passengers were fascinatingly following the change of a tire on a pretty big long-haul aircraft. On board the On-Flight entertainment wasn’t working, but a huge 13h nap was enough entertainment for me. Dehydrated and starving (What a service on that plane, but well, so cheap) I arrived in Buenos Aires on midday, feeling the sun and warmth crawling into my for months in Finland and Germany UV-hungry body.

characera dance in san telmo

Since these first seconds I am basically hanging around, enjoying the amazingly long Buenos Aires nights, Steak by Steak and the company of Waleria. Parallel, I am still working on that little project, which I need to finish before packing my stuff to leave to Bolivia. I hope that this will be at the end of the week, leaving for Iguazu Falls, Asuncion and the Paraguayan Chaco.

Buenos Aires, compared to the South American cities I’ve been to so far, seems a lot more European/Western with the usual massive differences concerning cleanliness on streets and in places or the punctuality and reliability of the Transport System. But there is a good government-run Underground and Bus system, a lot of places I’ve been to in the last week could have been in every European City (Except for the prices and the quality of meat…) and compared to f.e. La Paz or Lima, traditional lifestyle and clothing isn’t as present as on the other side in and near the Andes. But, the Tango follows you wherever you are. Shops for shoes and clothing, places to learn, listen and perform Tango are literally everywhere. I do understand, why this is the best place for Tango in the world and why Waleria loves dancing here so much, the Tango catches you and actually drags you into it. Nearly everywhere in that city you are reminded of it. Sitting in my first Milonga was a really new experience, as it opened up a new world I didn’t get in touch with until now.

Leaving a sentence to my first Bife de Lomo (Possibly the best part of a cow you can chew on). WOW. 400 grams of pure meat, slightly bloody with a nice pepper sauce. No extras. Just meet… (Sending thoughts to Chris!) And it goes well with a great bottle of Argentine wine.

Unfortunately, I didn’t take a single picture here until now, as everyone is warning you about taking your camera with you, but I’ll take some in the days to come…

Walerias cousin Elina and her friend Zoe left yesterday and today and after beautiful but exhausting days of Steaks, Wine, Music and following the girls through huge Artesania and Antiguedas markets I’ll try settling this week to get my job done.

If everything works out, next news from Iguazu or Asuncion in Paraguay.

Hugs and Kisses to all of you!

Martin