Geez, ten minutes to get to the point I can write that I´ve arrived in Buenos Aires. This has already been some journey. On the 20th BA managed to become Broken Airplane and Bad Attitude leaving me to travel on the 21st. I was very lucky with my travel agent and the extra cost hasn´t broken the bank- I expected to have to buy a full new ticket at last minute costs.... Then on the 21st I got to the airport, saw my dad off and was told I didn´t have a visa for the USA so they wouldn´t take me on the plane. I was told I didn´t need one This brought huge emotion: fear I wouldn´t get to go (2nd day this was happening) and a huge pain feeling as if someone or something was stopping me. However I am proud to say I turned this to resolve to go on to get here and do what I need to do for myself, and here I am.

I´ve been here now 2 days. Yesterday was a bit like orientation and feeling Bue, although I also managed to see a lot of the main sites. For such a huge place (is it 17 million people?) all the traveller has to see is quite central. Could be a long fortnight in my off time!! First impressions- a busy place (try to imagine roads in the cntre that are 10 lanes wide both sides), unkempt, mostly ugly concrete flats with some impressive older colonial style buildings but even these aren´t in good condition and many have barriers so you can´t get to them. There are new quay side developments with major western names on top- glass and steel monoliths to capitalism I guess. And a beautiful new foot bridge that seems to be for show as it´s not actually anywhere useful. However, the people seem friendly, there´s a very relaxed feel to the place, the women are beautful and manage to have a feminity and grace rarely seen in the UK, while the men don´t abviously give off the macho attitude I maybe disredited them with in advance. Apolopies for that. Yesterday saw a monumental thunder storm going from dry road to flooded over pavement 20cm deep in 10 minutes. Fantastic, if not what I expected or really wanted!! At least once gone it only drizzled thereafter. Today is what I hoped for- sun, sun and more sun. Possibly 35 degrees and bright. Yum. A bit humid though so don´t stand too close...

I´m proud to say I´ve not shied away from trying to talk, I seem to be able to ask for things but don´t understand replies. No surprise there. And I´ve eaten in cafes/ restaurants rather than run to supermarkets where it´s easier to do your own thing. I won´t try to upload photo´s as there´s no special ones yet and this link seems fragile. There are beggars but not in huge numbers and not aggressive. There seem to be wild dogs tamed by the sun so they loll about doing nothing. There are beautiful trees and flowers but many tired in the sun. There are parks full of loving couples (Paris isn´t the only romantic city) The taxis here are the kerb crawlers as they drive slowly along in huge queues (black and yellow like bumble bees) looking for trade Meanwhile I must look like a tourist (doh, no surprise there) as I´ve twice been approached by prostitutes. In fact, I look at myself and don´t look at all part of the culture. They don´t wear beards and it´s a beautiful race of people- oddly no or very little asian/ black/ indian people but a very cosmopolitan group with all hair colours and skin tones. Yes there´s a south anerican Indian look but not as much as I expected. Sadly these tend to be the main group begging and using children to aid their causes.

I´ve had a few heavy, tearful moments as I remember I am here only because Pauline isn´t. I guess you don´t really know what the value of something is until it´s gone. This gives me hope that I´ll be able to better work this issue through, and I can aim to get the same again, or maybe even better in the future.

Tomorrow I go to my host family (well a 62 year old estate agent) and start school Monday to learn some more Spanish for 2 weeks. After the Uguazu Falls, 60 quid return and 3 days travel in total. I plan (yes I may be mad) to go straight to El Calafete once back in Bue (no day to rest) and this is a 36 hour journey : ) Loopy probably sounds good just now. At school I´ll have free internet access so will update as I go along/ can. I guess the few days initial travel will see me without that option.

So, until I next sit and type, I am here, safe and well, enjoying so far and looking forward to what will be.