Archive for January 2009
McClures Beach from Robert Burns on Vimeo.
Point Reyes National Seashore
“Had a fantastic time.”
Jan. 7
Phew! I made it!
Way too many hours in an airplane. It’s always harder on the return flights. Time goes so slow. I think it will take at least a day for my legs to feel normal again. My excellent vacation is officially over. Anyway, I am back, safe, and my batteries are fully re-charged.
Jan. 4-6
I spent most of Sunday walking around the city taking in some of the sites, street fairs, and many, many shops.
Plaza Fuerza Aerea Argentina, originally uploaded by dollop.
Plaza Libertador General San Martin, originally uploaded by dollop.
La Recoleta Cemetery, originally uploaded by dollop.
I have found one souvenir to bring home, a leather jacket. I found a leather jacket factory that custom tailors and so upon my visit I tried on many styles and took what I liked from about three different jackets and have provided instructions for my jacket design, in addition to choosing the type of leather. Hopefully it will be a good fit and look. I pick it up on my way to the airport tomorrow morning.
This has been a great trip. I was fortunate enough to see a lot of the country. I’m amazed how much I was able to see. It has also been a very relaxing trip. Each place I visited I averaged four nights so I never felt like I was in a rush.
I depart for San Francisco tomorrow afternoon and expect to arrive early Wednesday evening. Back in the office Thursday morning, bright eyed and bushy tailed.
Chau Argentina!
Jan 1-3
The New Year’s celebration in Mendoza was the most sedate I have ever experienced. It was not a bad thing at all. After a full day of wine tasting I was truly satisfied. I walked around the plaza outside my hotel 30 minutes prior to midnight and the streets were absent of any traffic. I was able to walk in the middle of the street without any problem. The Hyatt Hotel was located next door to where I was staying and they had a very swanky party happening that I invited myself to. I walked around the Hyatt hotel a bit and just before midnight walked outside and stood in the center of the Plaza Independencia. The last thing I did in 2008 and the first thing I did in 2009 was smoke a Montecristo Cigar. At midnight fireworks were launched just a few feet away from the roof of the Hyatt Hotel and a few people did a New Year dance with sparklers in the plaza. The sounds of random fireworks could be heard for several more hours. It was a very good welcoming into the New Year.
The entire city of Mendoza was shutdown on New Year’s Day. I walked around the city some more and it was surreal how the city was absent of any activity. I spent most of the day reading at my hotel. Around 6pm the city started to come alive again. A few sidewalk cafe´s opened but it was not until the following day that things returned to normal. Friday morning I was picked up from my hotel for a water rafting trip at the Mendoza River in Potrerillos. The rapids were a tame class III-IV. The water was extremely cold. Wet suits were provided and much appreciated. I certainly got wet and the hardest part was maintaining a grip on the paddle since my hands were numb from the cold. The rafting trip lasted several hours and I returned to my hotel in the early evening and had a siesta. After my short nap I headed out to the Vines of Mendoza for a final night of wine and cheese.