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

Existing vs. Living

Ahhh how nice it is to take hold of your own life. It's a feeling like no other, an encounter with the infinite, an awakening. I laugh when I think of this, when I realize how seriously people take their lives, it's supposed to be enjoyable! Make it what you want it to be, it's your life, take hold of it, no one controls it but you. Attitude truely is everything. My dads advice always rings true in my mind, "never make a decision based on fear" with that said, here I am in South America. My heart's always been pulled south, and traveling has always been a dream of mine, and here it is.. coming true. I'm in Argentina with my best friend, thoroughly enjoying "living" here. Thus far it's been so wonderful. Picking up from where Angrea left off...

Saturday evening we take the bus to Casa Rosada where her sister, Florencia, is filming a documentary on the legalization of gay marriage in Argentina, a new law that just passed! (Congratulations on that, we're still behind Argentina when it comes to this issue, Great Job USA!) At the square infront of Casa Rosada was a huge gay celebration. All shapes, sizes, colors, patterns, and textures of people, it was great, everyone was so happy and really able to celebrate their own liberation and their love. It was totally wild and flamboyant and fun! Great vibes all around. Florencia's documentary on a gay couple finally able to tie the knot, shot during the parade then a small group of us were able to actually shoot some more footage in Casa Rosada!! Inside was amazing. The building has history beyond anything I can imagine, it was such a great experience, I can't believe we were lucky enough to go inside it!!
Later on in the evening the three of us decide to finally go out for a night. Argentina is all about the night life, people are eating at restaurants at 1am, and not to mention its completely packed. So we go to some bar, and people watch. It's funny seeing the "mating call" of our species. The men dance like idiots to try to impress (?) the women, both of which are completely intoxicated I'm assuming. After several thousand cat-calls on the streets, all of which are incredibly creative one- liners, a bar, and another outdoor bar so crowded that it took about 20 minutes to walk 10 feet, we decided we had had enough! Exhaustion.
Yesterday was my favorite day. We got on the train and ended up at el Tigre, right along the river. Coolest little town. Oh, did I mention how insanely crowded the train was?! Angie was right, this is not the town for closterphobic people. Anyways, we get in our 3 man kayak and make our way down a cool little side river with old houses along the riverbed. SO COOL! I wanted to live in one of those houses, and maybe I will... Dogs would walk down to the river and swim across to the other side! We made it to a larger river that we were told to cross. Let's just say there was a little stress goin on at this point, boats that we had to dodge were haulin ass down the river. Flo was directing our kayak and totally stressin out, I on the other hand was having the time of my life haha! After crossing the river of doom, we made it to a little beach and rested for about an hour and a half. Ang and I waded in the river for as long as we could stand it.. The mud in rivers is not so pleasant to our feet, yuck. "Squishy and oozing through our toes when we walk" a quote directly from Angrea Jacuzzi. Finished up our journey and made it home, exhausted once again. I slept 12 hours last night.

Today it's raining. Complete opposite of yesterday. But it's nice to take it easy sometimes.

I miss everyone at home, but it's not the sad kinda missing. I love missing people, and knowing that I have something wonderful to go home to. But for now, I am here. And I'm loving and living my life.

Love you all!!
Hemil Petropolis

PICTURES: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2067190&id=1061040100

Buenos Aires, Good vibes

Hello everyone,

So today marks the end of the second day being here in Argentina. It's been super fun, to say the least..

So we arrived on the 4th (after 3 connections and a 7 hour layover in El Salvador) at 5 am... barely any sleep, and delirious. Slept for a few hours, then began our day at 4 pm! Went exploring through Recoleta (name of area in Buenos Aires) where we went inside a cathedral, walked through a park, and went exploring through the famous cemetary. Not your typical cemetary to say the least. Most of these "tombs" were built in the 1880's and up, and shows how ridiculously wealthy each family was. We met an older fellow who gave us history and practically showed us each one and the stories behind them. And every one of them he urged us to take a picture, so I won't be posting each one, haha. The cemetary then rang its church bells in order to tell the people it was time to leave, and we left our little amateur tour guide with a few pesos and headed home. 

Day two, busy day, and non-stop walking.We got lost in the city multiple times... although people love it when you ask for directions because it makes them feel important that they can tell you exactly where to go, so asking is not too big of a deal! Very detailed directions every time, yet we managed to get lost, or take the extremely long route. No better way to learn your way around a huge city... and I think we may have learned a few bus routes and what not so far. Responsibility is mine when it comes to translating and finding out where the heck we are, which is fun but the pressure is on for sure. Also, pedestrians here will NEVER have the right of way, if you're in the road, you're getting run over. People don't drive in lanes, including buses. I'm convinced the lines on the pavement are solely for decoration at this point, and people love to use their horns for any reason while driving. (So do I, I think I have inherited this trait). 

The men here get very creative with their pick up lines and will drop anythign and everything they may be doing at the moment just to get a glance and chance to say something at females walking by. Not one of them is shy and will say exactly what's on their mind... Entertainment as you walk down the street for sure! Emily, Flo, and I decided that we will begin to document the things these guys say and write a book someday.. WAY too funny!

The food here is to die for, seriously would move here just for the food.. I could go on and on and on.. but enough of that.... On to some PICTURES!

Most of them will be on facebook.. since it takes forever to load on here anyway. And most people who read this have facebook anyhow. So here we go,
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2067190&id=1061040100


Angrea Jacuzzi

Bidding us adieu.......

You may come across a story or two, perhaps a tall tale, a joke, or a ramble about a fascinating  cultural discovery here in these pages.

Emily Petros and Angie Chiuzzi depart in the early hours of November 3, 2010 for a 2 month long adventure to South America, to Argentina and Peru. Our return? Scheduled for December 27, 2010.... but whooooo knoooows... they say once you enter, you never want to leave.. or can't.. either way, we're stoked. Our sole purpose is to test this challenging statement. And eat lots of really, really great asado and pastas in Argentina. And surf extra salty perpetual Peruvian waves. Perhaps inspire a few. Or everyone.
This online journal will be a record of what we see and what we choose to share with others. (Everything, obviously)

Please keep us in your prayers and thoughts.
Much love to you all. Feel free to leave us a message, comment, sign a guest book, whatever it may be. It's nice to hear back from home from all of our loved ones.

Besitos,

Angrea Jacuzzi & Hemil Petropolis