M's Day 1-4 Cruise Stats

Number of days in port: 3 (Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Puerto Madryn)
Max. number of meals in one day: 5
Max. number of courses in one supposed 3-course sit-down meal: 6
Number of beers consumed: 2
Bottles of wine ordered: 1
Number of gym visits lasting more than 30 minutes: 1
Number of spa visits: 1
Number of animal towels: 3
Deviation from Day 4's body weight in lbs: 0

Day 80: A rat in Uraguay

Port of Call: Montevideo, Uraguay
Excursions: J and J's parents went on a city bus tour. I decided to opt out of the bus tour and walk around town on my own.
Brief Thoughts: I much prefer Montevideo to Buenos Aires. The city seems more friendly, cleaner, smaller and safer. This is a city I'd be very interested in returning to in the future.

1. Once I got off the boat, I saw a big bulletin board advertising the route of the offical city walking tour. This route is patrolled by the "tourist police" on virtually every other block.
2. The flea market at Plaza Matriz
3. A tree-lined walkway in Plaza Matriz
4. Sarandi - a pedestrian street
5. 19 de Julio - a huge avenue that cuts through the middle of Montevideo
6. A random apartment building
7. A statue of Jose Gervasio Artigas in Plaza de la Independencia.
8. A man fishing along the waterfront in Montevideo
9. Locals relaxing near the water
10. Our ship - RCCL Radiance of the Sea
11. A view of the city from the Radiance
12. Montevideo as we're sailing away
13. Our towel animal for today - I think it's a rat.

Current Location: 35D46.58'S and 055D31.12W' ("D" stands for the degree symbol)

Day 79: Good-bye, Buenos Aires!

J and I are headed to our cruise ship now for a 2-week trip around the southern tip of South America. Blog posts will be scarce, if any, during this time since we can't get internet in our cabin. But, I'll do my best to keep you updated!

Garry - we need a post by text messages from a foreign mobile number feature! =)

See you in two weeks from Chile!

Current Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina

A piece of reality in Buenos Aires

Some of you have picked up on the negative tone of my blog posts regarding Buenos Aires. I have always pride myself in "telling as it is." No embellishments. No exaggerations. I'm comfortable reporting facts with very conservative interpretations.

Look at the pictures below and tell me how you feel. Now, imagine seeing similar (though on a lesser scale) things all over the city.

1. A comparison of The Thinker between the one in Paris (left) and the one in Buenos Aires (right).
2. Front-side of the Thinker in Buenos Aires
3. The face of The Thinker in Buenos Aires
4. The feet of The Thinker in Buenos Aires
5. The backside of The Thinker in Buenos Aires

More sights around Buenos Aires

I am heeding requests to post more pictures. I'm happy to hear that people are enjoying them! =)

1. Florida St - the busy pedistrian street that runs from Plaza San Martin in Retiro to San Telmo
2. Apparently, some people were trying to film a commercial on Florida St. Unfortunately, we couldn't tell what they were trying to advertise.
3. The restored English-style warehouses in Puerto Madero - the old port of Buenos Aires
4. Parilla-on-wheels along the boardwalk just outside the Ecological Preserve.
5. Playground graffiti in La Boca
6. Interesting graffiti art in El Caminito
7. "Stop! Smoke one!"
8. I wanted a beer, or so J claims.
9. J really enjoying his frapuccino at Havanna
10. The biggest smile I've seen on J since starting the trip. I think he was extremely happy to see vegetables served with his steak.

Day 78: Homesickness kicks into full gear

J and I have been on the road for more than 2.5 months now! As much as I am enjoying this experience, I've been feeling homesick ever since leaving Boston.

Two nights ago I was in bed with my eyes shut waiting to fall asleep when all of the sudden an image of my stuffed animal giraffe appeared (see Comforts of Home, picture 3 of 8). His name is Affy or, sometimes affectionately referred to as Long Neck by J. Before his image faded into blackness, I told J that I see Affy and the idiot says in a cutsy, sad and high-pitched voice, "I miss you, Mommy!" OMG, I lost it and started to bawl.

I often re-visit my Comforts of Home blog entry and wonder why I didn't post more pictures. However, I do realize that I'm really lucky to always have with me the most important comfort of home - J.

J's parents are arriving in a couple of days and then we're off on our 2 week cruise around South America. I think I'll be less nostalgic from here on out because this is the last stop where it will be just the two of us. My dad's brother (though distant but is still family) lives in Sydney. J's grandmothers and extended family live in Taiwan. I have a few family members as well as some good friends who live in Beijing. Finally, many of you (you know who you are) have mentioned the likelihood of joining us in Rome and I'm holding you to that!

I am homesick, but life is still awesome and I'm enjoying every single minute of it.

Current Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina