Adios!

So we´ve finally reached the last day of our journeys through Argentina, and what an experience it has been. From walking the streets of Buenos Aires, to feeling the mist of the Iguazu Falls, to trekking across the glaciers of El Calafate, this trip has definitely been a once in a lifetime experience. The sights of Argentina have been indescribably beautiful and the memories made too many to relay. Through the sun burn and the wind burn, this trip has also given us the opportunity to make unique connections with the members of our group. These new friendships will undoubtedly be carried back to BSC where they will certainly continue to grow. Even though I´m very ready to get back to my family and the familiarity of the States, I´m already beginning to miss Argentina. Overall, there is no doubt in my mind that any one of us will ever forget the time we´ve spent together here in Argentina.

And now it´s off to the airport! Chao Argentina and hello United States!

- Megan

Calafate Horseback Riding

We spent 3 hours on horseback prowling through the foot hills of the Andes mountains. We all met the Gauchos (cowboys) and their horses at a hut down the road from our hotel. The Gauchos and the horses were unforgettable characters! My horse's name was Rompe Culo (break your ass) and others had names like Asesino (assassin).
It was a fulfilling feeling to be on horseback experiencing the beauty of Calafate's landscape. The small city had so many views of the mountains reflecting off the icy blue lake and tackling the terrain on horses allowed us to experience those colors up close and personal. Of course handling the cool temperatures accompanied by an outrage wind chill was no piece of pie on our skin. Most of us left with wind burn but I left with a cold! Regardless it was a priceless experience.
After our 3 hour excursion we parked our horses at the post and joined the Gauchos in the hut for some pan and mate (homemade bread and tea from a gourd). There we met new friends from Israel who had just finished their 3 year term in the military. We all played around with a skinned bob cat and random other trophy kills in the hut.

All in all it was a very surreal day. I felt at home on horseback in the country side and very cultured after spending some bonding time in the Gaucho hut. Meeting so many new people from other countries was definitely a highlight as well. I LOVED IT!

-- Kimber

Off-roading in Patagonia

On Monday, Megan, Ellen, Jackie and I went on an off-roading bus excursion. Our adventure consisted of 3 stops. The first stop was at the top of the mountains in Calafate. We got to see a beautiful panoramic view of the entire city that stretched from the Patagonia mountains all the way to the end of the city of Calafate. The wind up there was enough to not only blow you over, but hold us up at a 45 degree angle!!

The second stop was a collection of massive rocks that we were told were left over from a previous glacier from years ago. Then we stopped and had the best hot chocolate I've ever had as well as a snack. The third stop we went to a different rock formation that had separated from something else a long time ago and formed what they call "sombrero" shapes in the rocks.

Our guide made the trip for sure! It ended up being great fun and very informational. None of us want to leave here - we love it! That's it for now... Chao from Argentina!

--Brittany

Glacial Delights

If those of you in the northern hemisphere aren’t jealous of our trip yet, you should be now. Our first full day in Calafate introduced us to Perito Moreno Glacier, wind burn, and a stuffed leg of lamb. Hotel Imago is our current host and has graciously welcomed us to Patagonia. This morning before we departed for Glacier National Park we found our packed lunches in the lobby and met with Ignacio, our new favorite tour guide who interestingly enough learned his English form an Irishman. His accent is to die for and he has been great thus far.

When we caught our first glimpse of the glacier, I couldn’t quite get a grasp of what I was seeing. After we embarked upon our trek to the refuge before the glacial hike I began to soak in the magnitude of what we were experiencing. The water of Lake Argentino is wha

t they call glacier milk and is a cloudy, but beautiful, greenish blue because of the sediment in melting glacial waters. The spires, crevasses, and walls of the glacier radiated an indescribable spectrum of blues and whites which were magnified by the gorgeous sunlight of the day.

Following a brief introduction to the park and strapping into our clamp-ons we began our journey. Luis was our fearless leader and Gabriel was his spritely companion who pounced around the glacier, aiding us in traversing questionable spots. After finally getting to a clearing, stomping my feet into the ice, and taking a look up, it occurred to me that I was actually having a once in a lifetime experience and it was clear that everyone else felt the same. While our windbreakers were protecting us from the elements, the magnificence of it all permeated their surfaces and we soaked it in. During our traverse this natural wonder we drank from glacial waters, peered into a sink hole from a foot away, and toasted the completion of our trek with a splash of whiskey over Perito Moreno’s own ice.

There is a legend in Calafate that says anyone who eats a Calafate berry will return to the spot they ate the berry one day. Considering we all consumed one of these delightful treats it looks like we are all wishing to return to this amazing place one day.

-CeCe

La Recoleta!

On Friday the 21st, after our normal classes, our group traveled to the cemetery known as La Recoleta. We were accompanied by one of the BASP instructors who led a fabulous tour. I think all of us were in shock of this immense, hauntingly beautiful place. Aside from its size, the age of the cemetery alone is something worth taking note of. Created in 1822, La Recoleta is a truly a work of dark art. This excursion was by far one of my favorite of the trip. Surprising, I know, but this was not just a simple graveyard. There honestly is no good way to describe it, the only thing I can say is to visit! It is truly something to see.

After touring the rows upon rows of cobblestone and tombs we were sad to have to leave, not having nearly enough time to see all of Recoleta. We walked around the part of Buenos Aires directly around the cemetery and did a little shopping. Some of us went on to see an art museum and others stopped to eat at some of the local cafes before returning home by way of the subte.

Unbelievably early tomorrow morning we leave for Calafate for our last weekend here! So we all plan to have a good last Friday in Buenos Aires! It's sad how quickly this trip is going by!

Adios!
Shay

La Boca

Thursday we went to the barrio of La Boca. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Argentina, it's one of the first things that comes up when you Google pics of Buenos Aires. We started off by scarfing down some amazing empanadas from La Continental... three jamón y queso for me! And then we hopped into our mini tourbus for La Boca.

Boca started as a neighborhood for Italian immigrants, and today much of that Italian influence is still felt. Many of the colorful buildings originally got their color from their early inhabitants, workers from paint factories that would bring home the excess paint and then use it to paint their houses. These houses are made of wood and sheetmetal (most are no longer houses today, but small art galleries or shops) and very prone to fires. The popular pedestrian walkway "El Caminito" was a corridor for trains to pass (so no buildings have doors that open to El Caminito!) but today hosts plenty of amateur artists selling or showing work. We got to see a tango show, look around and see all that the vendors had to offer (crafts and artwork). Many of us bought souvenirs for our families and friends.

La Boca is also home to one of the worlds most famous soccer teams, Boca Juniors. We passed by "La Bombonera" (or chocolate box), the Boca Juniors home stadium. The rivalry between Boca Juniors and River Plate is such a big deal that the Coca Cola logos on the stadium are black and white, as opposed to the traditional red and white, the colors of River Plate. There are stencils of Maradona everywhere around La Boca, as he once played for Boca Juniors.

Our visit to Boca concluded with a visit to the house of Argentine artist Benito Quinquela Martin. After viewing his rich palette-knife paintings and colorful house, we all climbed up onto the roof. An amazing view! We could see the small river, and all of Boca, and in the distance, the rest of BA. Our visit to Boca was short, but still fun. I just wish we would have been able to explore more of it :/ .....

-Alessandra

MALBA

Today we awoke to our first experience of poor weather in Buenos Aires. The whole trip has been hot but beautifully clear and sunny until today. When I boarded the subte this morning, there were signs of showers but when I exited I found myself in a monsoon without an umbrella. I was able to hide out in a little cafe and enjoy a traditional Argentine breakfast of cafe con leche y croissants while waiting for the rain to slow down. Despite the rain, we still made it to school but looking like wet coaties. The plan for the afternoon was to visit Recoleta, the cemetery where Eva Peron is buried, but the rain put a damper on those plans and our group split up for our last free afternoon in Buenos Aires. Some people went to Alto Palermo to enjoy some shopping while another group decided to visit the art museum Malba. Not being a fan of shopping, I decided to attend the latter and had the opportunity to view works of art by Marta Minujin, Diego Rivera, Emiliano Di Cavalcanti, Antonio Berni, Fernando Botero, and many more. I think being a dude and color blind might hinder my ability to appreciate art, but I still enjoyed seeing the creativity of the artists, especially Marta Minujin who has completed "works of art" like the Pantheon made out of books, the Obelisk (the large tower on 9 de Julio in BA) made out of bread, and a room made entirely with mattresses. Altogether it was another great day in Buenos Aires despite the bad weather, and hopefully tonight everyone will be able to find another great restaurant with more amazing Argentine cuisine (Bife de Chorizo being my favorite). Adios!

--Hardy