Cordoba- Capilla del Monte (Ongamira)

The Sierras of Cordoba remind me of a more arid spring of the Roaring Fork Valley. The hills roll on with yellow grasses, and more specifically in Capilla del Monte (north of the city) there are untamed horses, cattle, and sheep that roam all through the hills. The first day we went to the estancia and took a hike to see where the land had been divided by the Comechingones. The next day we went out to Las Salinas or the salt flats. The ground was crusted with snow like crystals of salt, and nothing grew here. You could run with your eyes closed for hours and never trip over a plant. The sunset was outrageous, and the stars were extremely bright due to the lack of light pollution. The next day we went to Las Grutas, which are indigenous caves, and we rode horses to the top on the mountain Colchequín. Here it is believed that the condors that glide along the summit, are the soles of the Ayampitín who killed themselves instead of surrendering to the Spanish. The food was fabulous, and I didn't feel like I needed to add Chalula to everything (we didn't even have one meal with jamo'n y queso hooooooray), and I was one of the lucky few who didn't get sick from drinking the water!

Iguazu

Iguazu Falls is by far the most amazing natural beauty that I have seen in a long time. The trip started with a 12 hour bus ride in a semi cama. We awoke in the providence of Missiones and went to the Ruins of San Ignacio. Here we viewed crumbling sandstone and basalt in orderly formation. these ruins were built in the 16 hundreds and were later abandoned after the Spanish revolt. Lizards skuttle across the bricks, and papaya grows wild. There are even arboles borachos (drunk trees) that produce a terrible fruit and look like they are swaying. Later that day we went to La Chacra. A mate and black tea farm. The weather was perfect, and the asado was fantastic as well. Missiones is the only providence that can grow yerba mate in Argentina. The soil is rich in irons, and plants grow as if they were in the rainforest. In fact this region is a subtropical forest.
When I arrived at the national park to electrify my senses, I felt like i was going to the zoo, except this was the real thing. Tucans and Monkeys are common, but the Coati (brasilian ardvark, really the racoon of Iguazu) are the most common. They will attack tourists for any food that they smell in your bag, but mostly they just look like house cats with perfectly striped tails. When we arrived to el Garganta del Diablo ( devils throat) we all over soaked in the Iguazuan Rivers mist. The water falls are never ending. Every place that you walk through there is another outragously gorgeous picture to take. I left there happy and completely drenched from the raging falls.
The next day we cruised through a Guarinian village, and learned about their hunting techniques that they used to you to catch armadillos and Coati. They sang songs to us, and showed off their cultural jewelry. The trip was amazing.

Primera Semana

Currently, I am taking an intensive month of Spanish in the University of Belgrano. Its a vertical university that has elevators that only stop on the floors 5 9 and 17. Its a private school and all the Argentines are very trendy. The city is huge with many places to see and things to do. I went to a park near Palermo this weekend where many people were slack lining. There was a large lake in the middle of the park and people were roller blading 80's style with cones. A parade came through that was practicing for Carnival. We ate helado con dulce de leche.
Its been fairly cold here, which is a change from the warm sunny beautiful weather at home( i miss the sun). I went to a Boliche called Kika and some other local spots for some dancing and night life. Its very fun, but they stay out til 7 in the morning and sleep the whole next day... its my kind of owl life.
I also went to the Feria de Mataderos. It's town where they slaughter cows, but on Sundays people come to dance Folklorico, and sell things. It was kinda like Mountain Fair at home. I tried the local food like Churri Pan (basically brotworst) and Locro a stew that is a little bit spicy. The food here is like the midwest, ketsup is hot sauce. After I went to Havana Chocolates and had a Submarino (hot milk were a bar of chocolate is dropped in.
Can't wait to try more food!