I'M IN BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA!

I know! Can you believe it?! I certainly can't. Already Part 3 of my travels has begun. But before I started with the new chapter, a quick flashback to a week ago, when I was still living the aussie dream...

ASHES HISTORY...

On a complete and utter whim, me and the girls decided it was time to stop watching so much damn TV and actually go watch some LIVE cricket. Within two hours we had hunted down tickets on Gumtree and I was meeting our friendly ticket seller on Bondi beach. Surreal, exciting, and completely legal of course. This was News Years Day. I spent a lovely afternoon with Maiju soaking up the sun and taking in the Bondi atmosphere. We had italian. mmm. The first day of the final test arrived and I was a complete and utter, irrepressable, pain-in-the-arse with excitement. Seriously, like a kid at xmas. We caught the bus, painted our faces up with England flags outside the historic SCG and snuck beer in plastic bottles into the ground. It was an amazing atmosphere inside, I literallly could not contain myself. Itś big, yet I didnt expect to be so close to the game. FInally I could see my boys in the flesh! We were sitting really near the pitch, but behind a MASSIVE group of aussies called the 'fanatics'. If you watched on TV looked for the big block of yellow, we were right behind them. Needless to say 5 girls rocking up with a big banner says "The only ashes the aussies will see this year are whats left of the fireworks" on one side, and "Dear Santa, our favourite xmas present this year..." we got a fair bit of banterous attention. Actually made good friends with some lovely lads in front of us. Then we half watched some fairly average cricket, got rained on, met Trott (yeahhh!) shouted until I lost my voice, and generally had a fantastic day. I only wish I could have gone to the whole test, as we whipped them well and truely. So, so proud! haha!

My last day in Aus, Liam came to visit, we drank in lots of lovely pubs in The Rocks, the olde worlde area in Syd and took a boat ride to Watsons Bay. It all just felt really surreal that I would be leaving the next day, and to be honest I didn't really want my time down under to end. I had become far to settled in my little life there. But end it did, and I got on that long, long flight. Reckon Australia hasn't seen the last of me...

BACK TO THE FUTURE

Through the international date line. That's a real head-trip you know. I'm only three hours behind Blighty now, but 14 hours behind my sydney-set body-clock. Jetlag anyone? The flight was actually okay, despite being on one of the oldest aircraft still in the sky, I had two seats to myself, so mananged abit of a kip. Touched down in BA and spent an age getting through immigration, but they let me in. Thanks Argentina. And then it hit me. Everything's in Spanish. Yes I do speak un poco, no I do not understand a word you are saying. Confusion central, but I blagged my way onto a bus to the city, and even found my hostel without much ado. I forget that I've been doing this for nearly 6 months now, and I'm getting pretty good at it. Not to blow my own trumpet or anything. Having no clue what time it was or was supposed to be, I tried to sleep, but was rudely awoken by singing Swissmen. The hostel was nice, a bit rough round the edges, but I think I have been spoilt. It has a really cool communal area and awesome olf colonial architecture. Noticed the difference immediately at how laid back everything is, no keys or deposits, no super-strict rules, no worries!

So, Buenos Aires? No, it was not love at first sight. In fact, I think we actually quite disliked each other at first. Its big and noisy and dirty and busy. It feels like I'm in Spain, without the Paella, Gaudi and drunken Britons, which are my favourite bits about Espana. The Mircrocentro is a bustling mass of tourists and touts and macdonalds on every corner. Not really what I expected, and the heat and tiredness made me pretty grumpy with old BA. However, slowly but surely, I have been seduced. WIned, dined and taken out on wild nights, danced tango with in cobbled streets and sipped coffees together in the afternoon. Yes, I have fallen for it. And just as our love-affair begins I leave for the north! Always to hasty with your trip-booking El. Its a big country though, and I am glad to leave on a high. Better than to wait for us to fall out over some petty thing. I've even managed to negociate the cheapest and most confusing underground system I have even seen. Singaporeans would be horrified by the Subte (Soob-tay). I swear some of the trains are actually made of wood. But its 20p a ride, who could complain?! I've made some lovely friends here, naturally got adopted by a group of Brazilian lads who assured me a barcrawl til 7am would cure me of my jetlag. Erm... it didn't. But it was very fun! We met a big group of internationals in a park and drank out of plastic cups. Nostalgia anyone?! Then many places, for many drinks, until the day was young. Buenos Aires really comes alive at night. And so much more attractive too.

Today I've wandered down to San Telmo, the old town, with its cobbled streets and markets. A real charmer. Got to watch an incredible street tango display. Absolutely breathtaking. I never knew dancing could be so mesmerising. I'm not really an expert, but I was impressed. Very passionalte. With the taste and smell in the air of the juiciest oranges I've ever had, fresh street BBQs and spicey incence, it's such a sensual area. Now I am waiting in the hostel for my nightbus to Puerto Igazu, where some of the largest waterfalls in the world are kept. Excited to get back to nature after so much of my time spent in cities in the past month. Before I go I will go and eat the tastiest pizza in Buenos Aires at one of its famous pizza eatries, where yesterday I caused a massive stir by eating with my fingers. Oops. They use knives and forks to eat the pizza here you know, even if you do have to stand up to eat it.. For 60p a slice you can't go wrong.

Apologies for any messiness, odd keyboards and lack of sleep are somewhat hampering the blogging accuracy. Onwards amigos! Vamos!

Dora the Explorer