Back to life. Back to reality.
It's been 4 months-if you can believe it-since returning from my travels. One could say I've lived a strange existence since coming back. I've been stuck in some kind of vortex. Like Narnia, depending on which side of the wardrobe I've been on.
Since coming home, I've haven't been able to procure a steady,regular run of the mill life that I thought was mine to take up again. Jobs seem to be thin on the ground and I think up until now I've been living in some kind of denial. I'm barely keeping my nose above water and I'm getting rather exhausted from treading in the deep of the proverbial sea.
After being in somewhat of a deep,black funk for the better part of this month, I woke up this morning feeling strangely optimistic. I realise now that I've been doing this wrong both job-wise and personally.
So, it's time to pick a side of the wardrobe. Time to leave Narnia for good. It's in the past and I can't be there for the moment. Time to wake up and say the words out aloud; "My trip overseas is over. I am here now. You are the most important person in your present. Stop living in the past and live NOW."
Phew... there. I've said it. Breathe in. Breathe out. Contemplate your navel. No fluff-you're doing okay.
It's time. It's time to move forward. I have an armful of beautiful memories that aren't going anywhere. I'm allowed to keep them. They're mine and no-one can take them away. A piece of my heart might still be in San Francisco but that's okay. I have a big heart and I can spare that piece. There's a lot to share around. I know he'll take care of that piece and I hope he is comforted by it despite life's little annoyances that occur. Dear holder of that piece of my heart in SF, you are loved and I'll always be thinking of you.
So it's time. Time to re-think,re-group and rearrange. Time for innovation,hard work, networking and moving forward. I don't have time for the black dog. That old mutt nipping at my heels is holding me back with five ton thoughts and a churning stomach. With crushing anxiety and exhaustion. I can't do this anymore.
I need to write and I need to create. I don't know what this blog is going to be. I do know that it just needs to be.
So be here with me. I'm on a new journey . It may not be the milongas of Buenos Aires or the ancient ruins of Peru and Mexico, but I'm sure we can find some excitement with just the human spirit.
I'll give it a try and see where it leads me. I think I might be a little excited.
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Monday, January 28, 2013
South America; Buenos Aires
I arrived in Buenos Aires on September 15 which was a Saturday. It was a breezy arrival and with confidence walked to the front of the airport and booked a remis to my hostel. "San Telmo en la esquina Peru y Chile, por favor." The airport is a fair way out from where I stayed and when we reached San Telmo, it immediately was familiar. I stayed in the same place as it was 'my corner' and I needed to be there again. They advised me that check in wasn't until midday. No bother, they happily looked after my suitcase and I went around the corner to La Poesia for my standard tres media lunas and a cafe con leche. After breakfast, I walked around to check out the neighbourhood and then headed back to the hostel. This time,my experience wasn't the same. They placed me in a crappy room with a single bed so small I'm sure a five year old would have problems sleeping in it. Poutily, I changed my clothes and headed into Retiro to get supplies. It was if time had stood still. Same guys on Florida saying 'Cambio' as you walked by, same market of jewellery and crafts, same people begging for money with their children.
I arrived back at around 5 and took a siesta. I knew exactly where I was going for dinner and I was so excited to be going there,hoping that the same staff would be there and that they would remember me.
I dressed up and went downstairs at around 9.30 and the first person I saw was Marianos. He remembered me and gave me a big hug, They were all still there except for Luciano who left to start his own parrilla with his father. Lots of hugs and fussing-it was like a homecoming. The restaurant was packed inside so I took a table outside as it was a nice night. My first sip of malbec and the first bite of my bife de chorizo and I was in heaven. After the meal, an American guy who was sitting a couple of tables away from me came over and asked for a cigarette. I said "of course and please join me." His name was Carlos and we got on like a house on fire. We ended up getting a bottle of wine then going out to a bad club for a couple of beers. Thankfully, he spoke flawless Spanish which made it easier to get around. At the end of the night, he announced that he was tired and wanted to go so I was saying good bye and he said 'no, I want you to come and stay at my hotel." So I thought, why the hell not? Beats my crappy room and my spaghetti-thin bed. He was staying in an amazing hotel with 2 huge beds. I took one and he the other. Carlos is gay so there was no hanky panky gonna go on there! The universe came through with the solution for the crappy room!
The next day, waking up with hangovers, we walked to a nearby restaurant and had a lovely Sunday brunch and Carlos insisted on paying. After that, he needed to go as he was flying out of BA that day and needed to sort out things out. We said goodbye and gave each other big hugs. I am definitely going to catch up with him when I go to San Francisco again! So lovely and so much fun!
That day when I got back to the hostel, I jumped onto the Airbnb site and found an apartment just down the road for $50 a night. I gave the hostel the news that I was leaving as I just couldn't sleep on that bed and they had no other rooms for me. To illustrate the point, later that day after a siesta, I rolled over to check the time on my phone and fell out of bed!
The new apartment was amazing I stayed there for the rest of my time in BA. I also discovered a great place for coffee at the San Telmo market and befriended the staff there. I adore that city. It's a place I feel totally at home at-despite my lack of Spanish. A place where I can just be.
I arrived back at around 5 and took a siesta. I knew exactly where I was going for dinner and I was so excited to be going there,hoping that the same staff would be there and that they would remember me.
I dressed up and went downstairs at around 9.30 and the first person I saw was Marianos. He remembered me and gave me a big hug, They were all still there except for Luciano who left to start his own parrilla with his father. Lots of hugs and fussing-it was like a homecoming. The restaurant was packed inside so I took a table outside as it was a nice night. My first sip of malbec and the first bite of my bife de chorizo and I was in heaven. After the meal, an American guy who was sitting a couple of tables away from me came over and asked for a cigarette. I said "of course and please join me." His name was Carlos and we got on like a house on fire. We ended up getting a bottle of wine then going out to a bad club for a couple of beers. Thankfully, he spoke flawless Spanish which made it easier to get around. At the end of the night, he announced that he was tired and wanted to go so I was saying good bye and he said 'no, I want you to come and stay at my hotel." So I thought, why the hell not? Beats my crappy room and my spaghetti-thin bed. He was staying in an amazing hotel with 2 huge beds. I took one and he the other. Carlos is gay so there was no hanky panky gonna go on there! The universe came through with the solution for the crappy room!
The next day, waking up with hangovers, we walked to a nearby restaurant and had a lovely Sunday brunch and Carlos insisted on paying. After that, he needed to go as he was flying out of BA that day and needed to sort out things out. We said goodbye and gave each other big hugs. I am definitely going to catch up with him when I go to San Francisco again! So lovely and so much fun!
That day when I got back to the hostel, I jumped onto the Airbnb site and found an apartment just down the road for $50 a night. I gave the hostel the news that I was leaving as I just couldn't sleep on that bed and they had no other rooms for me. To illustrate the point, later that day after a siesta, I rolled over to check the time on my phone and fell out of bed!
The new apartment was amazing I stayed there for the rest of my time in BA. I also discovered a great place for coffee at the San Telmo market and befriended the staff there. I adore that city. It's a place I feel totally at home at-despite my lack of Spanish. A place where I can just be.
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