Okay, I couldn't resist adding this picture... you know, when Harry and Lloyd finally make it to Aspen after riding on a ridiculous scooter and Lloyd says, "We're There!"?
After 35 hours (yes you read that correctly) we finally made it to Cordoba, Argentina. It used to take us 35 hours (or more) to get to Penang, Malaysia which is way further. We had a 6-hour layover at JFK in New York last night....why we flew to New York instead of Miami or Atlanta or even LA, I don't know. I hate to say it, but I have to say it- JFK is a complete dump- it's even dumpier than LAX. Below is a picture taken at Aeroparque Jorge Newberry in Buenos Aires...it clearly is not a dump! We thought we'd be able to get a "New York hotdog" or "New York pizza"- something unique to New York, but no, it was all junk you could get at the Provo Town Center Mall.
The security guard immediately came over and told us no pictures after the shot above was taken. Maybe they thought we were staking the place out for a heist or something?
So we backed up a bit to sneak another picture.
Our flight from Buenos Aires to Cordoba was delayed an hour... I took this shot while we were waiting to board- turns out we never did board this plane because our flight was cancelled right as we should have been boarding. We mad-dashed to the information desk, had new boarding passes issued, and then took a little bus out onto the jetway to board a different plane (from the rear end of the plane which is a first for me).
I haven't snapped any photos of the city yet because it was dark when we arrived; I was also having a "What The Hell Did I Just Get Myself Into?" moment. For those who have traveled: is there really a better way to phrase it?
The professor we are working with in Cordoba- Alicia Sersic- was nice and picked us up from the airport. She had us over for dinner and we met her husband Andrea, and her two kids (I can't remember their names). They had made three different types of Empanadas- one was a carne or beef, one was cheese and onion, and the other was another type of spiced beef- they were all really good. They had a type of "salsa" they put on it...it was good but not spicy like my Mexican mamma has taught me to appreciate. I have to admit that I was freaked out a bit- Amanda has been practicing Spanish and I have not (I have no excuses). She was able to ask questions and reply while I kind of just sat there and listened. I could understand just about everything that was talked about which I guess is a good sign- they didn't speak Spanish the whole time so I wasn't left out. I should take a crash-course or hire a tutor or something.
Where We Are Staying:
Dr. Sersic and Dr. Andrea have converted the top floor of their home into a Hostel- there are two entrances so we can come and go as we please without bothering them. We are the first guests and have the whole place to ourselves!
Here is the living room/common room. There is a TV/DVD player and a really beautiful fireplace we'll never use.
The bathroom... the best part is that we have a bidet (I figured no one really wants to see that though).
Our Room: it's already a mess. I don't stand a chance.
Dining room/entrance
Kitchen: fully equipped with a gas stove, oven, microwave, fridge, pots/pans, and dishes.
There is a really beautiful terrace as well... Dr. Sersic's daughter is an artist and painted some murials. (Don't mind Amanda, she's loopy from the jet lag).
It cooled off nicely and wasn't too humid. This is going to be a perfect spot to play my new guitar- as soon as I buy it.
It's 3:30 in the morning but my body is still on Utah time. We're going to make ourselves get up early tomorrow- we are going to figure out the bus system and do some shopping.
