Argentina: Mar del Plata

The weekend of 16 May

Right, off for another break outside Buenos Aires — destination: Mar del Plata, a nice little town on the coast.

I improvised this trip a bit. Well, I'd been thinking about it for a while, but I really did set off in a slapdash way... I bought my bus ticket the same day, along with the address of a hotel, without any real confirmation from them that there'd be a bed for me.... I can picture my father's face reading these lines... Dad, it's a joke, don't worry, everything is under control :-D . Joking aside, at this time of year (it's autumn here) I knew I wouldn't struggle to find a room, but you wouldn't want to take that kind of risk in January (peak summer, in other words).

I had a wonderful time in this town, literally and figuratively (yes, I'm going to talk about food again). The legend that Argentines take meat very seriously is fairly well founded, in my experience. I started with an evening at some tango friends' place and thoroughly stuffed myself — it was so good. What I also appreciated was the welcome. I didn't know many people to begin with, just one acquaintance, and I was put at ease very quickly... You know how it is: depending on where you land, when you don't know many people, if you're very shy like me, time can drag. It was nothing like that — nearly all the guests took an interest in me and took the time to talk to me at some point in the evening.... so much so that I genuinely felt at ease. We ate, drank and danced salsa, tango and the chacarera! Good vibes :).

The place I stayed is called "Hostel del Mar". As the name suggests, it's a hostel, with shared rooms... well, not only, but since yours truly hadn't booked, he had no choice :). So I was in for my first dorm experience of the trip... It was great, everyone I came across was very friendly, and I'd warmly recommend this hostel.

You just have to forget about lie-ins in a dorm... but I already knew that. At breakfast I ran into one of the hostel's managers on her way to give a surf lesson,

so I decided to tag along, just to watch, and two hours later I found myself on a surfboard for a beginner's session.. I'd never have thought it... well, I had a great time, but it's far harder than I'd have imagined. I now understand better why Keanu Reeves' character nearly kills himself at the start of the film... yes, that's the first thing that comes to mind — the moment I think surf, I think "Point Break" :-b .. and indirectly "Brice de Nice", though that last reference would have been hard to share here (mmm... I could probably have refrained from mentioning Point Break to my surf teacher too :-D ).

In the evening at the hostel, as every Saturday, they do parrillas!! Basically a big barbecue, and we stuffed ourselves (again)... Then off to tango and salsa (hard, hard life). The next day I took another surf lesson — I think I could get a taste for it; it's still very hard, but it's fun. Then, after one last tango night, I headed off to catch the bus back to Buenos Aires.

¡Gracias Mar del Plata :)!