“Something will happen”

Tonight I shared a delicious bistek de chorizo, a well prepared steak not chorizo, with a woman from New Zealand. She arrived today at the guesthouse I am staying at and invited her to join me for dinner up the street at a place called Parilla. The sign outside was not impressive HOWEVER it was an extraordinary dining experience. As we arrived at 8ish, it was empty since dinner is not eaten until 9:30 and on so we had the place to ourselves and a good thing b/c there was of course, a language barrier. I ordered dinner and she said copied what I ordered, she ordered the wine, a malbec.

The meal, the service and the company was superb, worth missing the big bathtub experience again. Karen has been to BA 3 times before and still cant speak much Spanish though she understands quite a bit. We exchanged notes on the translations of the waiter and pretty much decided we understood enough, maybe. She is so bright and enthusiastic, reminded me of who I am. Last night it was hot tub heaven BA and tonight a delicious meal that only the rich in Argentina will ever enjoy. We talked about traveling and life and how you just have to go for it, try it, and its not about getting it right but know that “something will happen”. So many possibilities and who’s to say if its good or bad, not important.  What it will be who knows but to sit in the mystery, beauty and expansive freedom of that: something will happen.

My 4th day of Spanish class, love the teacher Lucho. He’s so funny and I admire how he can communicate such humor with his expression, body language and so so English. The 3 other students include Miwa, a smallish woman from Japan, a guy from Australia and one from Ireland. Mark, the Irish fellow, was mugged twice on the day he arrived in BA. Not sure of the details but Sarah, from Australia, told me about it over lunch. Something about him taking a bus into the Retiro station at night, I dont know. He’s a slight fellow, glasses, not very confident, fair skinned. If i were a thief he would be a great target for sure. Still, its not helping his confidence.
Sarah and I found a burrito place on Florida Ave for lunch, just down the street from school. It was heaven except I was freezing the whole time. Almost as good as the burritos as home with beef, cheese, salsa, guacamole, rice beans. We got there before the lunch crowd which rolled in at 1, early for them actually. She started her travels in Febuary via Japan and Europe and on her last month in BA before she returns home. She also stayed at a similar place to my situation for the first week and said she was so happy to have her own apartment, made all the difference. I still dont have enough information to make a decision about an apartment or traveling throughout SudAmerica at this point.

Saturday I’m going to spend the day at an Estancia, a ranch, about an hour out of town. Weather reports say rain on Saturday and a whooping 55 degrees. Tengo fria, that means I am cold. I’ve not packed the appropriate gear for this weather and looked at long wool coats tonight. It’s crazy b/c come Bali, I wont even be wearing much clothes and yes I am so looking forward to that. Tonight, after sharing a warm bottle of Malbec wine with my new friend, there is nothing I dont look forward to. The stares, the jacking up of prices for my tourist status, the exhaust and smoke, its all worth it to live at the corner of my edge of heaven.

It’s good to know you are reading my words. After 8 days of this journey I’m confident that something will happen. To me. To you. And what that is doesnt really matter. Thats life.