Argentina August 2008

I started this blog to share my travel experiences with others. Naturally I should start at the beginning and talk about the trip that gave me the travel bug. In early 2008 a friend and co-worker, Brian, approached me with an opportunity to go on a snowboarding trip in South America. At this time in my life I was spending at least a few weekends a month on the various slopes of New Mexico and southern Colorado. I really liked the idea of traveling and participating in a sport I loved, so i jumped at the opportunity to spread my wings.

In 2008 I was working for a local furniture company and going to school full time. Needless to say i wasn't making a ton of money at this point in my life. In retrospect this was a trip I could not afford but I was young and stubborn and I jumped at this opportunity.  This opportunity came to us from an individual, Mark, who was a rep from a vendor that worked with my company. He was a skier and had found this tour company who led week long back country trips. It was great the tours were small, only 10 people plus guide, the payment covered everything except airfare, lunch, and booze. I didn't have much say in which tour to take as Mark was already going on a specific Argentina trip and suggested we all go together. I was cool with this recommendation as I would much rather experience this with a few friends than by myself.

It was August and I was ready to go on an awesome vacation and experience. I had some major travel issues on the trip upon arriving at the airport in Albuquerque i was notified my flights were changed as there were weather delays in Miami. I was put on a flight from Dallas to Buenos Aires directly. My flight to Dallas from Albuquerque was delayed to the point I missed the flight from Dallas to Buenos Aires. The best option the airline could come up with was to get me to Dallas and then on a flight to Santiago Chile, then on to Buenos Aires. This flight plan actually worked out and I even get a short leg in first class but it meant my original travel plans in Argentina needed to be changed. Originally I was to land then head to the domestic airport for a connecting flight from Buenos Aires to San Carlos de Bariloche. Obviously due to the flight delays this didn't happen, but the airlines did put me up for the night in Buenos Aires which ended up being a great experience.  This delay taught me a few travel lessons I have carried on for the rest of my world travels

1) Never book connecting flights on the same day if they are at different airports. There are too many variables to account for its best to plan to spend the night and give yourself a buffer.
2) Plan for the weather at your destination and have extra clothes in your carry on. My bags were lost! I left Albuquerque in August when it was 95 degrees out. Argentina is in the southern hemisphere, meaning its winter in August...like 40 degrees winter. I was wearing shorts a tee shirt and sandals. I was cold.
3) If you are planning on taking sporting equipment, or any equipment for that matter, that is critical for your trip...figure out a back up plan in the event your bags didn't show up.

Walking around in downtown Buenos Aires

So here I was in South America, no contact with anyone and in a city where I didn't speak the language. What did I do, I explored! After getting set up in the hotel and taking a shower I wondered around downtown Buenos Aires stumbling on some attractions and shopping districts. I grabbed some toiletries and picked up an Argentina futbol kit. It was Olympic time and Argentina looked strong and could win the tournament. The next day I made it to the domestic airport and got on my flight to Bariloche to join the rest of the tour. Upon landing they thought it was quite comical I was wearing shorts and sandals.

First day snowboarding in borrowed gear

As I said earlier this was a snowboarding trip, but here I was without gear. I was lucky enough to be on the tour with some great people and guides who all pitched in and gathered up enough clothes so I could join them on the slopes. I borrowed Brian's second snowboard and bindings so all I really had to find were snowboard boots. These were easily rented at the base of the slopes. Everything worked out.

Bariloche 

Outskirts of Esquel

In total I visited 4 cities in Argentina, Buenos Aires, Bariloche, Esquel, and El Bolson. Spending a few days in each spot gave me a large view of the country. Obviously as one of South Americas largest cities Buenos Aires was vibrant and bustling. The smaller towns of Bariloche, Esquel, and El Bolson were quiet,  Argentina was beautiful!!

Brewery in El Bolson

When I finally got my bags and Gear

We spend our mornings traveling to the slopes and would hit the back country all day.

Mark, Brian, and I at a steak house in Esquel

In the evening we would eat at some amazing restaurants. Argentina is a land of meat lovers, Steak, Steak, Steak I was in heaven.

This is me an Gonzalo, one of the tour guides. On this night
we were at a bar in Esquel watching Argentina win the 2008
Olympic Soccer Gold Medal

At night we would go out to the bars and clubs.

















I had a great time in Argentina! It didn't go perfect by any means but I grew and learned about myself. This trip set in motion a few traits that I still carry to this day. Explore your world, drink good beer, don't be afraid to try something local. Argentina is a place I will return to someday, once I have visited a few more countries and am ready for repeats of amazing trips.