UPDATE!

Sunday - Loved Sunday! Went horse ridings in the nearby Andes...Yay! The mountains are amazing ... and huge, they tower over the city and can be seen from most places within, and are only a short drive. So I was picked up from a youth hostel* and went into the Andes. In true Argentine style, they were late. This seems to be Argentine culture, eg if they say I´ll pick u up at 11am, it´ll be more 11.30-11.45...it even says this in the Lonley Planet guide to the Argie! So anyway, driven in this van with my fellow horsriders...three other English people! The first time I´ve spoken any proper English since being here! They were a lot older, but still was nice to here a familiar accent, and they gave me tips on travelling (from a distinctly British point of view)...nothing bad, but the Argentine and British are quite the opposite (we´re very reserved, they´re very not!). And three girls, two german, one french (yeh girls ;) ! ) who were studying in Valparaiso, a beautiful beach town in nearby Chile, and they´d come to renew their visas in Argentina. And, we spoke, and agreed to meet in Valparaiso at some point! We spoke mutually in Spanish...they´re English wasn´t great, and my French is rusty, and my german non-existent! So, we turned up to this properly rustic, country gaucho style ranch in the Andes...it was desert, baking hot, and...well you get the idea...it was good! They were all there waiting for us, and I was pretty nervous! Hate horseriding, but it turned out ok in the end...it was pretty slow and we all went in one line, so I didn´t have much to do in regards to control this big scary animal I was sat on. The ride was about 2 hours, and again, I will never tire of the AMAZING views of the Andes...wait for the pictures! I can´t begin to descrive it. My horse was pretty lazy, I was behind most of the time, whereas another Brit, who also didnt like horseriding, got the frisky uncontrolable horse. When we got back, we had a traditional Argentine meal waiting for us, Asados. These are amazing, it´s basically BBQ steak, nothing out of the ordinary, it´s just the fact it´s Argentine meat (the best in the world), and it cooked to perfection and it was served up in a stable, off a grill...fresh. Washed town with some locally produced wine...I loved it, this was a proper Gaucho place... Gauchos are Argentine cowboys, basically... very hard, tough people, go out riding horses, hunting wild horses from the hills (some were brought back whilst we were eating), very quiet and misterious people...stuff of legend really... And they were all drinking Maté, which I´ve grown to like...it´s the traditional Argentine drink, pictures to come...

Will update on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesdays antics when I have more time! Don´t miss it! It´ll include tails of making creme brule at 1am, being left with a class of 30 11 year olds, and a night out! :) AND I promise pictures to come soon.

*Amazing chain of youth hostels, called hostelling international. Shared rooms, theres a common room and you choose the music (off of Itunes on a computer on the desk), when I went in they were playing Jack Johnson. It was very chilled and laid back, it had a bar, a garden, a common room, games and free internet as well as lockers etc... All that included in the price, plus breakfast and dinner, showers and the group organises daily excursions (pay a bit extra)...all that for a maximum of 8pound50p a night! Obviously I´m not staying in one now, I have my house, but when I go travelling thats a yes. All the hostels are like that, and are mainly full of foreigners (Americans, Europeans etc...) so will also be a great chance to meet people.