First of all, sorry to disappoint but this is not The Traveling Gnome, it's an imposter...actually it's just me Matt. Ryan is dead to the world sleeping so couldn't add me as an author...Dan obliged with his account.

After drowning my electronics theft with lots of chorizo and carne last night at a parrilla I solved my camera charger situation...today we tracked down a Nikon store (actually found several since the first one didn't have my charger; who knew whole Nikon stores actually existed) and shelled out US$60 for a new charger. I am happy.

I've also started an online photo gallery of our trip which I hopefully will be able to update each evening. You can visit it at http://gallery.me.com/mattpan. And regardless of what Dan says this is not an attempt to undermine his blog but rather I think of it as a complement...what Dan (or others) can say in words I hope to capture with photos for your viewing pleasure.

Today's adventures included a visit to La Recoleta Cemetary in the Recoleta neighborhood of BA. With it's ornate (understatement) graves it definitely was an amazing sight. Full of various architectural styles spanning Argentine history, the necropolis is called by my guide book a "city within a city." We visited the family moseleum of Eva Perón (Evita...of "don't cry for me Argentina" fame), but there were hundreds if not thousands of much more ornate tombs. We even encountered an actual funeral taking place...quite reminescent of all the demonstrative Portuguese funerals I've had to pleasure to attend with my wife.





Our lunch was also a highlight. Liters of beers, wine, jamón, squash and corn stew, wood oven pizzas, the omnipresent (but especially delicious) empenadas, and an helpfull waitress made for a great time.



Rested, we are now planning to go explore the Palermo neighborhood, eat some more, and watch some tango. Until later...

I woke up at 7 this morning; no one else was up so I went to the highest roof patio where there is a hammock. I laid there with my headphones on, staring at the early birds and blue sky while "Strawberry Swing" drowned out the morning traffic. And as Chris Martin sang

it's such / it's such a perfect day. . . / i wouldn't want to change a thing

i almost agreed. The only thing I would change? That you were all here.

I love you, mom and dad.

Heres a somewhat quick post: We went to Bethel today and met up with Mike!

We got a tour from Ken and Wendy Olsen who used to go to the Columbia hall about 15 years ago. We ate lunch there and had a simple meal of meetballs, rice, bread, carrot salad, and WINE! Hey, we had to stick with the local customs. A few times Chris got away from the group but we found him putting on some props...

That took most of the morning and afternoon until we came back and met up with Matt and Vicki at The Cocker. They were glad to be here and all in one piece but it seems someone broke into their luggage and stole the charger for both their cameras and Matts electric shaver. Matts cameras are ok but he has no way of charging them when they go dead. We'll see if we can find a solution... Not yet though... Bummer...

Heres a picture of the top patio at The Cocker... Right next to Matt and Vickis room...

Ryan Out...

After our long flight, we got to our little hotel: the Cocker. (http://www.thecocker.com) My room was open, but the others' were still being cleaned, so we freshened up using my wetroom. It's a small tiled room with a toilet, a shower head and a drain. I've learned to remove the toilet paper before showering.

Our day's plan was to head to the big Omnibus station to buy our tickets to Mendoza for this weekend. On the way, we explored our barrio (neighborhood): San Telmo. Lots of cobblestones and antiques and. . .Witnesses! They apparently are doing an obra mundial (worldwide work). Lots of hugs and kisses. And one older sister, perhaps confused, placed two brochures, a magazine and a tract with us. In Spanish.

So then we stopped at the Casa Rosada, which is the White House of Argentina. It's where Evita sang her songs to the crowds before her husband had half of them shot. It had a construction area in front of it, which lessened its effect. We also walked down Ave. Florida, which is a pedestrian shopping street like any other in any other city. We were most impressed by Parque San Martin, a long park leading to the station. Pretty trees and lawns. And a dog park. The dogs had a rumble!

After buying our tickets, we had a picnic in the park with some fine juice boxes of wine.

Now we are back at the hotel, napping and getting ready to change for dinner. They eat late here--we're aiming for 10 00 pm.

Talk to you all tomorrow when we scoop up the others. We going to the Branch to pick up Mike, and then Matt and Vicki should be waiting for us at the Cocker.

Here's some video clips:

We just got to Atlanta and have about a 2 hour layover. So we are in Chili's eating some food right now'. Yum. Also on a side note... Seems I made the first mistake today remembering that I forgot my passport on the way to the airport. But the first words out of my mouth were: "Do we need a passport?" (Duh..) Anyways, Autumns mom brought me back to my apartment and picked it up. I mad e it back with about a half hour to spare. I almost pulled a Jon and James move when they went to Europe. Thats about it. The first leg of the flight was smooth and we are in good spirits...

Here's our first goofy picture... Chris is eating off his shirt...

It's almost time to leave.  Right now I'm updating my playlists and synching my iPod so that my vacation has a soundtrack.  I still haven't packed my clothes.  I know, that's not like me, but I've been busy fitting a month of service into one week.  It has been rewarding, though--so much so that I almost don't want to leave.  Almost.  I'm definitely going.

Anyway, we want to say thank you to everyone who has been on this blog already.  Over 800 hits and we haven't left yet!  That's the kind of sad, pathetic behavior we're counting on to make this blog a success.  

We look forward to hearing from everyone while away, even the fake people--although it would be nice to know who they are.  (I'm a little unnerved.)

What else?

Special shout out to Alissa who bought me hamburger!

and Craig and Lenore who bought me beer!

and Imy who made the most delicious feast I've had in a while!

See you all in three weeks!

PS I don't think we have a ride home from the airport yet.  Any volunteers?

If you:

• are shy
  


• are lazy
  


• suffer from low self esteem and feel like you have nothing worthwhile to say
  


• think we are kidding when we ask you to post comments
  


• are furtively looking at this blog while at work and are afraid of being tracked by snoopy IT guys
  


• are embarrassed because you have very poor typing skills
  


• for any other reason are reading this blog but not posting
  

. . .there is something very minimal you can do to show your support.

You may have noticed at the bottom of the page the heading "Followers". This is for people who just like to watch. Right now, the only listed followers are Ryan and I. Of course we're following; it's our job! But if you add yourself, we'll know that you are with us in silent spirit.

Just click on "Follow this blog" and follow the prompts.

I hope to hear from you. Or at least see you peeking through the digital blinds.

These are web pics of places we might go.

The top two are Buenos Aires:  the jacaranda trees in springtime bloom, and two street tango performers.

The mountain view over the  field is a farm?  vineyard? outside of Mendoza.  The nighttime cityscape is one of the tree-lined avenues in Mendoza.

And the last pic is of a sleepy pueblo in the Quebrada de Humahuaca.

So this is Argentina. Unlike our last international extravaganza, our itinerary is a bit open.

This we know:

Ryan, Chris, Autumn and I are flying into Buenos Aires, arriving on October 29.

Mike will be arriving the same day from Ecuador.

Matt and Vicki are getting in the next day.

The seven of us are taking an overnight bus (see my little bus picture?) to Mendoza--on November 1.

Chris and Autumn are flying back to Buenos Aires, and then home at the end of the week. Matt and Vicki are heading over the Andes to Santiago, Chile. And the three of us are going north. We have reservations at a hotel in Salta; what we do there depends on our whims.

Anyway, the map shows everywhere pertinent, including places we (probably) won't get to. It's a big country.

Fantasy pics coming soon. . .