Ah pardon the absence of stories! Angie and I have been nonstop everyday, not to mention the lack of access to a computer for the past week or so..
Where to begin? After our river experience, we kept it relatively low key. Hanging out in the city, visiting Palermo which is a very nice area with cobble stone roads, designer boutiques, and the heart of the night life in Buenos Aires. Florencia, Angie and I went to eat at some really cool Italian resturaunt there in Palermo one night, which was very fun. People dont go out to eat until 10-11pm, at the earliest! A band was playing music on a small balcony on the inside of the resturaunt, above all the people. Angie and I walked to the Rose Gardens which is about 2 miles from where we reside at Florencia's. The Rose Gardens were amazing! So beautiful. I frequently think of my family, but at this part of the journey, the roses made me think of my mother and Mimi in particular, they would have loved it there. We walked over the Greek bridge and walked around the block. The roads around this particular park were closed to cars, so people were running and roller blading and dogs were everywhere, having the time of their lives. Angie and I stopped to eat choripan from a small vendor on the side of the street and ate it in front of the river that ran around the Rose Gardens. Let me tell you, it was all so great. We bought a bouquet of jasmine on the way back, so that the apartment would have the smell. OH and it is the best smell ever!!! Flo was very happy, its her favorite smell.
Angie and I also experienced a bit of night life here, which Buenos Aires is notorious for. We went to Palermo one night to be picked up by about 4 or 5 Argentine guys. Nice guys, but one was a total sleeze bag, picking up any girl he possibly could... it's a pretty typical behavior here. We stayed out that night till about 4am. The next night we went to Florencia's friend's place in Palermo for a BBQ on her balcony (very very very very cool) then on to a birthday party at the race tracks, where again we stayed out till 4 am. Needless to say, we are dead.
Mama's birthday was November 14, and I got to call her! It was so nice hearing her voice. The day in Argentina was great too. Flo, Alejandro (a friend of Florencia), Angie and I went to San Telmo which is an older part of the city. It was crowded with people walking down the alleys, vendors sitting on the sidewalks trying to sell people their jewlery. It was the place to be, some man was putting on a puppet show, another was dancing to music from the 1940s. We made it to the end of the street where there was a whole area of vendors. Selling antiques and trinkets and dressing up as characters like witches and trees so that people would take pictures with them! Quite a show.. After this, the four of us drive to La Boca, another old part of Buenos Aires, and perhaps my favorite. La Boca is where many immigrants first arrived, it's right next to a river. All the buildings in this town are painted with such bight, fun colors! Everything was so lively and happy, silly statues of people were here there and everywhere, most on balconies. In front of every resturaunt were tango dancers and musicians. I loved everything about La Boca.
That night, Angie and I took a 2 story bus to Necochea, where her 98 year old grandmother lives. The bus ride was 6 hours long, but far more comfortable and enjoyable than any other form of transportation, in my opinion. The seats reclined so much, and they were so big... and we got fed too! I slept like a baby. We arrived the next morning at 6am and sought after the house. Eh we maybe got a bit lost at 6am, but who cares, we made it! Her grandmother was the sweetest old woman ever. Spoke not a word of English, but treated me as if I were her own granddaughter. She loves Angie so much, it was really sweet to see. I can't believe how great she is doing for 98! She looks amazing, and has a great memory and can get around pretty darn well too. We rested a ton in Necochea, mostly ate and read and drew and wrote letters and slept. It was a welcomed change. Angie befriended the neighbors cats (naturally) and even got them to sleep with her! We took the bus last Wednesday to the beach, my first experience with the Atlantic! How exciting! It was great too... Beautiful day but a bit windy. We met a dog friend too.... let me just say, the dogs here are just like the men. They come bounding into your arms with a big smile, as if you are all that matters. They flirt with you and play with you and they are so charming. So we pet the dog and gave him some belly scratches and layed with him, loved him up. And as we got up to leave, we assumed the dog would follow us, we walked away, turned back to see what the dog was doing.. he was scratching himself, saw us leave, and headed in the other direction. On to the next one!! Just like the men! On to the next one, every time, easy as that! Quite a funny analogy at the time.. After our dog encounter, Ang and I grabbed some ice cream from a local shop, sat in the COOLEST wicker chairs which I plan on making one day, then headed back to grandmas house. Her grandmother would fall asleep every night to the TV, one night when Angie and I were playing cards, we heard some screaming heavy music playing in the other room. We of course assumed that Grandma was asleep, so Angie goes in to turn off the TV. Turns out Angies grandmother was watching and enjoying and thoroughly interested in the show! HA! too funny!!

Back from Necochea, one night in our Buenos Aires home, the next morning off to Punte del Este! The flight was first class, had to have been, it was "only the finest" we were with the richest people ever, and they served us a meal on a 45 minute flight! Really?! It was pretty cool though, I must admit. We got into our hostel and met our roommates, one of which became our 4th member. We ate dinner with everyone at the hostel and met people from all over the world, all with their own experiences and stories to share, I loved it! Then the 4 of us; Angie, Flo, Lumi and I went out to Moby Dick, the only place open this time of year. And by 3 am (the time we left) it was completely packed! Saturday the 4 of us took the bus to Jose Ignacio, a rich little town in Uruguay and slept on the beach all day. The bus ride was amazing, the houses were unreal, the landscape was incredible, all beyond words, I am definately going back there. On the way back we ate burgers at the Rex then hitch hicked in an old mercedes, which was Angies favorite part. We got showered and headed for Moby Dick again. On the way to the bar we were abruptly stopped by 2 boys who wanted to hang out for the night. We went to their apartment, where a big group of them were all hanging out on the top floor with a pool on the balcony overlooking the harbor on the most beautiful night. Played some games, laughed a ton, and met some new friends. Woke up bright and early this morning and spent all day at the beach again! Tons of tiny jelly fish in the water too. It was such a beautiful day, and a really great weekend. We almost missed our bus, but luckily got back in time. Took the bus for 4 hours, then got on a ship for 1 hour and made it back to Buenos Aires. Amazing time. We are completely exhausted. A taxi is coming to pick us up in one hour which will be 3am, we have a flight to Peru at 6 am this morning, then a flight tomorrow morning from Lima to Cusco where we will begin our adventure in Machu Picchu!! Looking forward to Peru, it should be very different from our adventures here.

I apologize for the lack of fluidity and creativity and brevity of this blog. I am exhausted and I'm having a hard time remembering all the details!!
Although I will say, throughout this entire journey I can feel myself growing and changing as a person, with the thoughts in my head to the way I handle new situations. It's very interesting, and I thank my parents and other loved ones for being such great influences on me. Your words of wisdom stay with me where ever I go, I keep them in my pocket.
I am loving every minute of this journey for multiple reasons, and I am so thankful for this opportunity to travel. I strongly urge everyone to travel for an extended length of time..
I have the world to say, but not enough words or thoughts to convey them.
I feel very aware.

I love you all, and we will be writing in this blog as soon as we are done with our up coming adventure.
I miss you family!!

Love,
Emily