<div>hola chicos y chicas, Well, the adventure continues....Now that I have been here 5 weeks I can see the value time spent in a place...my spanish skills are beginning to show some improvement. I am reading a Gabriel Garcia Marquez novel on my own, but my classes are only for talking and listening. I now have 2 private tutors, each twice per week for 3 hours per day. It is just the jargon they use and in table conversations at rapid speed I am really lost. Also, when there is a lot of noise in the background.</div> <div>Last weekend, my amiga and I went North in the mountains above Tucuman where her family lives. Part of the house is 200 years old with the center being the patio and the other parts surrounding it. Her mom is 81 years old and 3 of her brothers were there. Saturday there was a big fiesta and asado because one of her brothers had just won representative to the government for this area. There was of course,
tons of meat, wine, and then lots of Folklorico singing with guitar. The people in the north are quite friendly and since not many gringas go about this way, everyone thought I was German. We went to the Ruinas de Quilemes. which is like a minuature of Machu Pichu and right off the road. The north is famous for its crafts and I bought a beatiful shawl for 36 pesos ($12. USD) We took the bus (micro) overnight for 12 hours with the seats that fold into a bed to get to Tucuman from Mendoza. Then we had a 3 hour drive in the mountains to arrive in the village. It is a desert up there, a lot like the California deserts (Anza Borrego) The days were warm and got warmer, and the nights were cold! My room was without much sunlight so I froze my bazuies off at night. I am thinking of going back with Delia for her mothers bithday next month, but since I have made a few amigos, I am going to ask if one of them will accompany me
to see Salta and Jui Juy and just join the family for some of the events. </div> <div>It has warmed up in Mendoza, with some very nice spring days. This weekend is supposed to be hot, and then....NO! another cold front for a couple of days with temperatures dropping 20 degrees! But at least I have the equipment now!</div> <div>I discovered a very good ice cream place yesterday. The more famous one seems to have had a drop in quality and someone advised me to try this one. And they were correct. YUM!</div> <div>I have been improving in my dancing. With lessons and classes, I am beginning to retain what is usually lost due to lack of practiceback in the US. Last night I went to a class near my apartment and the fellow Lucas told me he had some friends in the states.....Romina and Marcello! What a small world. And they would be great guest teachers in SLO as well.</div> <div>I try to walk every day I live about 12
blocks from el centro and if the weather is good, I walk to and from, and around the centro. So, eating tiramisu and ice cream, and pasta, and drinking wine hasnt turned me into a blimp! At least not yet!</div> <div>I have met quite a few folks and they all want to have cafe. I have a pretty busy calendar. In fact, there are a few things I cant fit in because of scheduling conflicts, so who has time to work! There seem to be a few very handsome men interested in me. It is way fun to have people want to know you. I have suffered from a lack of attention in the states. </div> <div>I seem to fit in here and in the north as well...there is a rhythm that was very easy for me to adjust to. I am learning to drink Mate. I bought a cup and metal straw and some herb with orange peels. I like it without so much sugar though. It is good for digestion and is fun to share with your friends. Argentinians
carry and drink their mate for breaks other than in the cafe where you do not find it. I also tried some cocoa leaves. You take a few and put them in your mouth and suck on them kind of like tobacco. Supposed to be very good for your health and digestion. Nope, it is not a narcotic in the leaf form.</div> <div>Traffic is getting worse here in Mendoza. Everyone in the world wants a car. They need to have electric buses like they have an electirc trolley. Since they have just started to have unleaded gas here, the air is not too clean. but relatively speaking with the breeze the overall air is not terrible. The bad thing is they dont have enough stop lights, and between the jaywalking people and the cars who dont stop for pedestrians, it is a little like roulette. No one seems to get hurt, but you have got to pay attention when you cross the streets.</div> <div>Most of the bakery goods are filled with Dulce de Leche, which is
like butterscotch. People here are crazy for it. And it can be very tasty. I have certainly had my share of it!</div> <div>Sunday, Delia and I may go up to the mountains and then partake in the usual Sunday eating affair of asado at a restaurant. I am going to take here out this week because she has been such a sweet friend. Of course it will be a bottle of wine, some meat and veggies. I am still pretty far behind on my consumption of wine especially in the midday. Oh well, something to work toward!</div> <div>It has been fun to receive replies from some of you. When I return we can have a slide show of photos and for any of you serious wine drinkers....or there is mate to try! </div> <div>I am off to a peluqueria to make an appointment for a hair trim. Tonight I have been invited to meet with a group of people who practice English and Spanish depending on which is your second language.</div> <div> </div> <div>Hope all is well
with everyone of you and hope that you are enjoying each and every day.</div> <div> </div> <div>Besos,</div> <div>Beth</div> <div> </div><p> 
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