| Apr 21, 2006 - Rosario, Argentina
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 | Flaco, Carmin, Ellen, and Pia in Flaco's apartment
| | Ellen & Pia
| | Colo's roof: Ellen, Pia, Carmin, Colo, and Flaco
| | Still on Colo's roof, Bruno and Nico now arrived
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 | I'm in this one, Carmin was apparently unhappy
| | The barbeque
| | Another look at the barbeque, uncooked
| | Almost done!
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 | Pia and Rudolpho, and Flaco picking fresh Rosemary for the meat
| | Hanging out, waiting for the feast
| | Flaco, hard at work
| | Let the eating begin
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 | Chow time
| | Pia and Carmin
| | Post-meal relaxation
| | Pia and Carmin, again
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 | Close up of Ellen
| | And then the jam session begins
| | Rudolpho and Juan Pablo, getting down
| | Flaco on the drums
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 | I liked this technique
| | The following day, we go to the beach
| | The large Rio Parana
| | Flaco, Carmin, Pia, and Ellen on the beach
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 | Windsurfer and a bridge
| | Pia and Carmin getting some sun
| | The fish barbeque
| | Nico, Chacho, Carmin, and Ellen
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 | Pia and Colo
| | Chacho, Pia, and Colo
| | The group shot
| | Flaco and Pia
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 | Carmin, paying homage to the dreads
| | Colo
| | Colo, Nico, and Ellen
| | Ellen, Flaco, and Carmin the model
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 | Carolina and Chacho
| | Carolina, Bruno, and Chacho
| | Colo again
| | The Rosario boys: Nico, Chacho, Fermin, & Colo
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 | Ellen and I
| | Flaco providing some refreshments
| | Carmin and Pia, a beautiful duet
| | Flaco and Ellen, something was funny
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 | | | Carmin and Pia once more
| | Pia with Carmin the model again
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| | Carmin and I left Buenos Aires Friday evening and got into Rosario around midnight. We went straight to Flaco's apartment, who is one of the Argentine guys we met while camping in El Bolson way back in January. Remember that story? Well this whole visit to Rosario in general was a way to visit with this awesome crew of friends again and see a more personal side of things down here after a very long stretch of the backpacker lifestyle. Carmin and I had gotten back in touch with these guys, and since we were so close to Rosario and heading north anyway, we had to stop by. Rosario is Argentina's 3rd largest city, a major University town with a big music and art scene, and is also the birthplace of Che Guevara.
We ended up spending a bit more time there than expected, which is nothing new anymore, and had a great weekend just hanging out and seeeing what people our age did to pass the time in Rosario. Pia and Ellen, our Norwegian friends, also came into town Saturday morning so they spent the weekend with us there as well. We were exhausted after arriving late Friday night, but the boys would not let us just take it easy (most people don't go out until mindnight anyway), so we got a sample of some of the nightime activity that first night. The next day was a whole bunch of sleeping and chilling, and the guys that made an amazing and succulant barbeque feast while camping in El Bolson conjured up a way to outdo themselves once they actually had a house and outdoor grill at their services. The event took place at Colo's house, and I cannot underestimate the deliciousness of this meal. Argentine's take their "asado" very seriously, and it shows in the product. We gorged ourselves on some fine meats and wines for a long time, and then the musical side of this multi-talented gang came out with with some impromptu jam sessions and a few performances of their own songs. It was a real fun time, and we got to see all the people we had met back in El Bolson, in addition to a lot of new friends.
Daytime Sunday was another lazy relaxaing day chatting away and getting to know a bit more of this beautiful town. As in most places of the world, not much goes on on Sundays, so we had a quiet pizza dinner at Colo's again, and then the four gringos went out to the movies (Scary Movie 4) while the local boys rested up for work.
So then on Monday we were actually ble to get up before noon for the first time since we got there. Pia, Ellen, Carmin, Flaco, and I went to one of the riverside beaches in town and passed the afternoon sitting in the sun. Then it was back to Colo's house at night for yet another feast. Though this time it was a fish asado, and still as delicious as ever. Most of the crew was in attendance once again and it was a nice sendoff on our last night in town.
Tuesday morning the 25th we said our goodbyes, the final one after two months to Ellen and Pia who were returning to Buenos Aires. After putting it off long enough, it was finally time to start the massive journey back north. Carmin and I left together, with tentative plans to split at the Bolivian border yet reunite by the weekend in La Paz, hopefully with Dan and Brian once again. We had some major miles and hours to log, as Carmin had his flight to catch on the other side of the continent in less than a week, and I still had some activities on the checklist that needed doing.
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The cast of Characters from the weekend:
Original boys from El Bolson: Flaco, Colo, Chacho
Their friends: Nico, Fermin, Carlie, Juan Pablo, Rudolpho, Bruno, Carolina
The gringos: Pia, Ellen, Adam, Carmin |
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