Week 3: the final day in Estoril

Dear Friends,

after accepting the fact that I had to spend one more week in Bs As for the bike pc, I thrown my self in to full relaxation at Hostel Estoril, tested the bike fully loaded, seen the Casa Rosada (walked where Eva Peron walked), seen the "Bomba del Tiempo" drum show, few good nights with hostal friends and continued to supersize my belly with junk food (is not the wine).

- Hostel Estoril:"...probably the best hostel in the world.", my best friend Miriam wants to create a facebook group for the hostel with this slogan. It's true, more and more people have stopped at the hostel and postponed their departure to enjoy such environment. Sunbathing on the terrace has finally rewarded me with a decent suntan. 6, the number of asados consumed at the hostel which means that I ate 10 chorizos, 10 pieces of chicken, endless pieces of greasy beef, a bowl of potatos & egg salad, 1/2 tomato and a few leafs of lettuce. Definitly a low protein diet! It has been a hot week with 35c with high humidity during the day, 30c during the night still humid till 2am. Thanks to the heat I switched from chilled white wine to the delicious and refreshing local beer "Quilmes", 10 pesos (2.2 euros) for 1L bottle at the terrace bar.

- The Bike: Well, I cycled a few more times in heavy traffic and didn´t enjoy it at all. The number of buses are unreal, they occupy the whole slow lane and the air is unbreathable. So I waited for the weekend to test the bike. On Saturday it was really hot and humid. I waited till 6pm before riding, I was soaked in sweat by only loading up the bike. I went around the block between Avenida de Mayo and the Obelisco. On the straight all fine,the bike is heavy but you can pedal ok (till the road is flat), turning is a complete differnt story. On my first 90 degree turn, right in front the Obelisco, I leaned on the side to turn, as you usually do with a bike, and loss grip on the front wheel . Nearly fell on the road, I managed to put down my foot in time and hold the bike.Turning with a fully loaded bike is like turning with a tractor.

- Junk Food: Been in Bs As for 3 weeks and got f****** empanadas coming out of my ears, chorizos out of my arse, pizza slices out of my nose, steak I can't eat any more and I was nearly sick on a Burger King triple Whopper, which weighs 600g, washed down with fries and 1/2 Litre of Pepsi has a calory intake of around 1600 cal. It takes 3 hours of cycling (50 Km) to burn all that energy, or it turns into fat. After eating such a beast, you feel it clogs up your arteries, breathing becomes difficult and you start having cold sweat on your front head. Never again!!! Has anyone seen "Supersize Me"??? I fell like the dude after 3 weeks of McDonalds. However, I did managed to have a decent meal with Miriam & friends. Miriam knows this italian restaurant called "Broccolino", which serves one of the best fillet steaks in the city. A 800g monster of the size of an arm with mushroom & leek sauce, medium rare is to die for!!! Thanks Miriam, that was a treat.

- Nights Out: Excellent night out to see the "Bomba del Tiempo", live drum show where you drink beer by a 1L plastic cup. 1/2 the hostel was there and we all swallowed plenty of beer, while the rest of the crowd were smoking away. It smelled like a whole bush of marijuana was on fire! Lots and lots of photos, a group picture every 2 minutes. The last night out was after "Broccolino". Me, Miriam, Kathy and Mark were supposed to go salsa dancing, but the club was closed, so we ended in a near by bar drinking Vodka & Speed (local Red Bull). After the magic drink we were ready for clubbing in "Kika", dancing hip hop for a while, but at 2am a door to anotherdancing floor opened, where electronic music satisfied our dancing needs, with a dj that looked 15, skinny to the bone due to cocaine consumption. At 4am we were eating fries at our local, laughing to the old joke (with new developments) of sheep & gorges. Ahahahah,so f****** funny at 4am!!!

Wednesday 1st of April was my last day at Hostel Estoril. A quiet day, last asado and feeling sad for leaving the place. It was especially sad to say good bye to my best friend Miriam, rarely you click in such a way with a person. We had fun and laughed till crying. She has also been so sweet to give me a lucky charm, a 500 italian lira carved coin. I love it and I was so touched by the gesture. Miriam you're the best, I miss you so much!!! Especially waking you up by jumping of the bunk bed.

My acknowledgements and thanks go to the following special people: Kathy "lovely ladie from the US", Leslie "Crazy American Runner", Chayenne "US students in Bs As", Fiona "Kiwi student in Bs As", Anthony "The geezer that speaks like Austin Power", Luise "red wine UK lady", Ruth "whitw wine UK lady", Luisa "UK, hope your finger is ok", Lukas "Swiss/Italian", Rachel "brazilian with a british accent".

A special thanks go tothe Hostel staff: Roy "el jefe de Avda de Mayo" take care of my trolley, Nacho "el hombre de la noche", Esteban "Loco por Radio Head", Wendy "gracias por darme el nombre LOCURA" e Demien "el toca chitara".

Jimbo has left Argentina for Uruguay.

I think that is enought for this week.


Geezers lemon squeezers take it easyyyyyyyyyy!!!


jimbo