This week marks the end of my first year in Argentina and it went by SO fast! It's been a lot of hard work (physically and in making adjustments to the language/culture/food), and I would not have survived without a lot of help from great folks here.

So to commemorate my anniversary, last week I took a trip to Buenos Aires (BsAs) and Colonia, Uruguay (photos coming soon!). My friends & fam know I generally despise big cities, and in particular Buenos Aires, but this time around I came back with a broader perspective of each having had different experiences then previous trips. This time in BsAs I stayed in the Palermo and Recoleta areas of Capital Federal with all their towering trees, expansive parks, upscale shops, ritzy apts. & and increased police presence- as opposed to previous stays in the more dingy and dangerous suburbs of Allevaneda.

Some impressions I was left with from CapFed/Recoleta/Palermo:

1) The rich still got it & getting more of it all the time. Though the US dollar is in the tank this country is on an upswing and more people (in the cities) have access to jobs and credit now.

2) Spring- WAY BETTER than summer here! Don't come here ever in the summer, if you can help it.

3) CapFed can actually be fun, for brief periods of time- like less than a week. Tons of huge parks, lots of free museums and great shopping, and the river is OK, too.
I missed the Zoo and Japanese Tea Garden this trip.

4) While Portenos often appear snobby or distrustful, they can actually be quite friendly and helpful when they want to be.

5) Never go to BsAs without a good street map and bus guide!

6) Buses are cars are newer here and so cleaner than in other parts of BsAs where you can choke on your own breath.

7) The White Acacia trees on the streets here actually RAIN on you, and the are from the US!

8) Girls, girls, girls (&women)- It appears all the most beautiful and classy females from the whole country eventually find their way here sooner or later. If not then they can be found in Cordoba Capital or Rosario.
It's true that many have striking European features, but I appreciate my more indigenous-looking ladies all the same.

9) Note- For my peeps in the US who don't know what a "Country" here is, think gated-community or country-club like "Blackhawk". Though some here are more like self - contained cities, complete with banks and shopping so the rich never have to deal with the poor (who are not their servants) on the streets or face thieves.

"Country" living here in the suburbs may be more cushy, but as long as there are slums/hovels/shacks/mud huts directly across the street/freeway/railroad tracks- or even RIGHT NEXT DOOR- they will NEVER be safe havens. There is NO security for the few well-off when the masses are barely surviving- there can be no peace without justice

As proof, almost every week we hear of some Country being robbed despite its walls, fences and security details.
Off the soap box now...

Having said that, I really love it here, and hope to stay a few more years and keeping traveling elsewhere all the while. I am not looking back and have no desire to return to the States. How does it get any better than that/this? (HDIGABTT?)

Time to transplant my tomatoes now!