Last week as I prepared to leave Tucuman, Argentina for Salta (en route to Chile), I thought I'd grab some bananas and yogurt for the journey! It looked like a buy 2 get 50% off. I thought I scored a deal. Alas, I somehow misinterpreted the Spanish, even though I'd asked a local if what I read was correct. I ended up paying full price, with 2 - 1kg bags of yogurt! The lineup was huge - so when the young guy at the cash till looked at me, then looked at my bananas, and said 'no' in an I know better than you manner and shoved them under his counter, I was a bit distraught. I insisted on getting my bananas as the people behind me frowned and laughed. He eventually showed me a bar code, so I realized he wasnt just going to refer to a binder (as our grocers would to obtain the barcode). I accepted my fate, knowing I would now travel without bananas. I went to what appeared to be a money counting stall before exiting the store, treating it like it were customer service. I showed the lady my bags of yogurt and gestured for a straw. She politely said it wasnt possible, but then she reached down and grabbed a plastic cup, which I gratefully accepted! Seing how helpful she was, I mimicked my banana dilemma. She had a quick word with the cashier (hopefully I didn't get him in trouble; they were quite busy after all!) And then disappeared, reappearing shortly after with a produce bag around them and a barcode! She gave them to the cashier and then I was on my way!
Thursday, March 20, 2014
Thursday, March 13, 2014
Sunday March 9th - en route to Ampimpa
A tough ride as expected. A steady climb out of the valley, reaching high temp of at least 36, folllowed by switchback thru the mtn pass with incredible headwinds that could carry me over the cliff! I was on empty; a tamale after my carb/protein drink just wasnt enough to push me through. When I finally reached Observatrio, we discoveredour trout farm destination was a couple miles in, via a steep rocky road. Pretty much everyone walked their bikes up, while i used the very last of my reserves to bike up 30% of it.
The fresh trout and empanada dinner with our host Horhay made it worthwhile, but moreso the beautiful vistas and the fact that we were somewhere no tourist would go or gain access to.
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
Day 1 complete! Salta to Coronel Moldes. The start of our Route 68 journey.
Subject: Day 1 complete! Salta to Coronel Moldes. The start of our Route 68 journey
Today was our first day riding. It was a pretty tiring 67km especially in the afternoon when the Sun was really strong - it hit 33 degrees. A few in the group headed on an "extra" ride to bike the hills around Cabra Corral and the reservoir. I was grabbing a shower to cool down, and get all that sunblock off, and so I missed them. I decided to be brave and go out on my own - I went probably 10 kilometers through some incredible roads and saw some amazing country residences, but never found them. I turned back early to beat the 8pm sunset and avoid riding in the dark. It was awful - I got chased by numerous dogs while riding it was really scary and made me glad I had my rabies shot! But nonetheless it wasn't the smartest idea to ride alone because I didn't know exactly where I was headed, I didn't have a phone, a map, money, or a watch, lights or any medicine. Oh well, next time Ill carry emergency rocks.
We ride again for the next two days and then we get a rest day!
This may have some relevant pics from my lake ride...
Saturday, March 8, 2014
Attack of the llamas! Windstorm, indigineous infighting, and our 1st day back on our bikes after our well deserved rest day...
Ride 4 complete! 55km with beautiful scenery leaving Cafayete. Entered Tucuman province.
We departed at 1030 since it was thought to be an easy 55km, but we didnt end up getting to our destination until after 4pm, mostly due to flat tires galore caused by cactus needles. We now have to watch where we pull over in the shade, else regularly have to pull them out. We saw a llama en route and it sniffed all of us, but took a particular liking to Kyle, the tallest guy in the group.(see fb pics!) Tried to do an extra ride to the ruins of quilmes with half he group but it was closed due to political tensions with indigenous ppl. Bad windstorm on the way back but it was only 3km so we survived. Will be having llama empanadas tonight and some humitas too.
The next two days will be tough. Hoping to finally get some sleep tonight.
Attack of the llamas! Windstorm, indigineous infighting, and our 1st day back on our bikes after our well deserved rest day...
Ride 4 complete! 55km with beautiful scenery leaving Cafayete. Entered Tucuman province.
We departed at 1030 since it was thought to be an easy 55km, but we didnt end up getting to our destination until after 4pm, mostly due to flat tires galore caused by cactus needles. We now have to watch where we pull over in the shade, else regularly have to pull them out. We saw a llama en route and it sniffed all of us, but took a particular liking to Kyle, the tallest guy in the group.(see fb pics!) Tried to do an extra ride to the ruins of quilmes with half he group but it was closed due to political tensions with indigenous ppl. Bad windstorm on the way back but it was only 3km so we survived. Will be having llama empanadas tonight and some humitas too.
The next two days will be tough. Hoping to finally get some sleep tonight.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
SF in 60 hours
1st night. Decided to take the local bus to get downtown. Was a long
ride. Interestingly enough, driver wasn't accepting bus fare from
anyone that day! Stopped for some snaps of city hall on route to
accomodation, which was as ghetto as it gets, on the corner of Larkin
and Ellis in Saigon town. After settling in, decided to walk down
larkin and grabbed some tamarind fish, burmese style rice, and a thai
beer @ burmese kitchen, after buying a homeless dude a cheese danish.
Then headed towards an event called sanfranola (mardi gras in SF) at
Public Works in the Mission area. Wandered all the way to the famous
Alamo square late that night for some wonderful views of SF. We'll see
what adventures I have tomorrow...
Day 2...Took the BART to Embarcadero. Amazed how many people were
lined up for $10 Porchetta sandwiches, and other street fare. Jumped
on the F streetcar; headed to the Alcatraz ferry. Spent an hour on
this little island originally used to protect the bay during civil war
era, should enemies break through the barriers / defenses at the
Golden Gate. Upon heading back to shore, decided to climb the coit
tower where I met a chap (named Joe Canada, interestingly enough). The
climb to the base of the tower was exhausting, so we went up, even
though we knew visibility would be limited with the cloudiness. Made
the trek home by foot after checking out crooked street. Took a quick
breather than headed to Nitelife, at the California Academy of
Sciences. After, walked a mile or two, grabbed the Munibus, and
stopped by the Castro district to take in the night scene, after
having wonderful pizza @ Nizario's. Then headed to Dolores/Mission
park for another stunning skyline view, before heading home.
Day 3...Joe stopped by with his bike so we could do the bike ride
across the Golden Gate, into Saucalito. Within 10 minutes, his locked
up bike was gone! Within 30 minutes, we hustled another bike for him
from some homeless guys. What an interesting morning. The ride to
Saucalito (a beautiful quaint touristy town, much like when leaving
the ferry terminals in Vancouver / Vcr Island) took about 1.5hrs, and
was 13miles. After some ice cream we took the ferry back. Biked to
Chinatown, Yerba Buena Gdns, and to Union Square. Headed to the
King/4st Caltrain terminal and caught the train to Mountainview. Biked
4miles on the Stevens Valley Trail; checking out the last bit of
nature surrounding the bay, with thousands of ducks in the marshes
protecting by the Federal government. Reached Google by 5:30, got a
quick walk through and grabbed some eats from the unlimited
cafeteria's. Left the sprawling google campus and grabbed some thai
food with some Goog techies, then grabbed the last Caltrain @ 10:49
alone, and headed for SF, reaching by 12:01am. Being a Saturday nite,
the streets were packed with partiers.
Day 4...awoke at 6am to pack, and get on the 7:15 airport BART for my
9:15am flight to LA. Bummed around for 2 hours, caught the noon
connection to Calgary, getting in @ 5:15pm. What a long day.
pics to follow!
DIDN'T do:
cable car (overrated?)
eat in chinatown
have tea at Samovar, or coffee at blue bottle
visit SF Moma
De Young museum or its tower
twin peaks
redwoods - eureka
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
The end of America...
Washington and New York were hectic...in the former, hotel availability was impossible due to the start of spring, and graduations. TIme was tight and distances were long as we ended up staying one night in Alexandria, and on in Springfield (both in Virigina). Checked out the Whitehouse, passed by the Pentagon and Arlington Memorial, and saw the Lincoln Memorial and WWII Memorials. In New York we lucked out and stayed at a friend of a friends Brownstone in Brooklyn. We checked out a few clubs (White Rabbit and Sapphire), ate Philly Cheesesteaks, lotsa streetmeat (gyros), and shopped. Hung out with Farouk and went for Korean fried chicken at a cool place just off Wall Street. Checked out the Met museum and the Alexander MacQueen collection. Checked out Times Square and Central Park.
In Boston, ate lotsa Chowda, crabcakes, lobster burger, and other local treats. Checked out Boston Common, the Statehouse, visited the MIT museum, and did the Harvard Tour. My trip lasted from May 23, 2011 - June 2, 2011.
NG