Wednesday, June 29, 2005

I Hate Dulce de Leche

Argentinian people love dulce de leche, I was told that the day of my arrival. Dulce de leche is what we called Caramel. It is in everything. I am surprised they dont dip the asados/ meat in dulce de leche -- or do they?

Well, I hate it because 1. it is really not that delicious for me 2. my whole bag was stolen because of a dulce de leche con.

I woke up early one sunday morning to take a tour by foot around the city. I went to Teatre Colon, one of the four most famous opera house in the world. I took some pictures with my new videocamera outside of the theatre, I think that is when I became the prey. While I was walking down one of the sidestreets of the theatre, some liquid fell on me. I thought it was coming from above because when I turned around, a middle age woman pointed upward towards to one of the windows. She helped me to clean up. Dulce de Leche was all over my bag and my coat. I took my bag down, but I kept an eye on it for the whole time, but as soon as a I turned around, it was gone. The lady´s partner had taken it. I chased after my bag, but I couldnt see it in the crowd, I didnt know what the guy looked like. When I looked back, the lady was gone too.

I knew then that it had been a trick. I ran to a policeman nearby, with my broken spanish, I told him where he was heading. But the policeman told me to go the police station instead. I sprinted there, and they told me the translator can come three hours later and told me to come back. I had no money on me, no contact information of my friends because they were in the wallet. I asked for either some money or ride to my friend´s place nearby, but they told me that I can walk there. I was hysterical, how could I possibly walk?

Anyway, I finally got some numbers from the hotel and called my friends to come rescue me and file a police report.

Everything is all right now, I just hope my insurance covers my videocamera.

Friday, June 17, 2005

First Day in Buenos Aires

The 10 hour flight was not bad at all. I had two seats so I slept for about 7 hours on the plane. Since there is only an hour difference in time zone, I didn't feel like I was in another country when I arrived. The custom official asked me to open two of my bags. Good thing he didnt ask to see my kite bag. I was already charged an extra 80 bucks for it when I checked it in. The person did not believe that it was golf equipment in my bag and he really sorted through and found my board at the very bottom. I wasn't happy about it. Anyhow, Hector's father came to pick me up. Now I know where Hector got his look from.

Hector's dad and I had quite an adventure. First, we communicated in the car in three different languages - English, Spanish, and Italian. Things are cruising until we reached the city because we could not find the apartment. I had the address written down as " defensa y indepencia 833 2 piso 19". There was no 833 on Indepencia avenue. So we checked Defensa 833. It was looking positive until we reached the door and found out that the last number was 2 piso 17, there was no such thing as 2 piso 19. We were confused. I didn't know how to make a international phone call and neither of us had a cell phone. So he took me Sheraton hotel and I used the business center there to call. It cost me $84 pesos (equivalent to US$28) for a 5 minute call to New York to Yukako, my friend who gave me the address. She then gave me the owner's home phone and cell phone number and the people at Sheraton helped me to contact her and to inform her that we were going to be at the apartment. So we had the right house, just the wrong number. It was 2 piso 9.

After I settled everything down, I went to the internet cafe to contact Hector because I was truly lost. But I managed to get some food in the afternoon in a pizzeria. I don't care how badly I spoke, they understood me. People here are generally nice if I show some good attitude and at least try to communicate in their language. In the evening, Fabian took me to his apartment and cooked for me. It's 12:44am now and I am waiting for him to wake up to go to the milonga. The weather is crappy (so cold and it's drizzling) but I am sure the milonga is gonna be great.

Anyway, I am going to get ready now, I will have more for you directly from Buenos Aires.

Sunday, June 05, 2005


Andy, Trish, and I at Real. Posted by Hello


Chris, one of my kiteboard instructors and a masseuse (*wink*).  Posted by Hello

Thursday, June 02, 2005


no, Hector, you are not supposed to do that Posted by Hello


pump it up, baby! Posted by Hello


my baby board Posted by Hello


coming back from my freak accident Posted by Hello


launching Posted by Hello


The hotdog lover (no innuendo intended) Posted by Hello


Aftershock Posted by Hello

Today I finally understood the meaning of life...

Hector, Sergio and I went to Sandy Hook today to check out the kiting condition of the bay. I brought my kites and board with me, hoping that the water on the bay side would not be so deep and that I could probably body drag a little.

When we got there, there was a kiter on the water already, Mike. He was attempting to ride with the light wind. But he stopped for a break because there was not enough wind and he was underpowered. So I decided to pump up my kite and just launch it to get use to my new kites. It was all good. It was clear that we had to wait a bit longer for the wind to pick up so Hector and Sergio just flew the trainer kite. They had a blast (especially Sergio).

When the wind finally picked up, mike went riding, and I could not wait to get into the water. Hector told me that we only have 20 minutes because he had to meet someone at 8pm. I thought to myself: I will bodydrag out and come right back in. Things did not go as planned, of course.

I was fine bodying dragging out, however, when I decided to come back and placed the kite at 12 o'clock, the wind stopped and the kite started to flop downwards. I tried everything I can to keep it up, like pulling the center lines. But it came down to the water. I tried to relaunch it three times and finally remembered that I have relaunch system on my diesel so I got it up. But I was unhooked, I could not hook it back in because of the freak'n "donkie dick" (I am not swearing, this is what kiters call it). and the kite came crashing down again. Then my worst nightmare began.

I heard a snap and looked down. The loop that is attached to the bar had broken off. I knew right then and there that it's time to go home, which means, it's time for me to self-rescue. I was in deep water, I could not feel the bottom at all. So I pulled the right back line to let the bar flow to the stopper ball and started swimming towards the kite. I got to the kite, held it down and started swimming.

When I was halfway to the shore, I realized something that freaked me out a bit. The worst thing had happened. The lines were wrapped around my ankle. They were wrapped tight so I could not get them off me. I stopped for a moment. I thought to myself: ok, calm down, you cannot do anything to the lines right now, just keep the kite in the water and get to the shore as quickily as possible. And I did. I swam with one leg and one arm.

I was so exhausted by the time I got to shore. Hector drove over and got to me soon after and told me that he lost his cell phone in the water on the way to his car. He also told me that Sergio was freaking out. In fact, Sergio was so nervous that he had to eat the last hot dog while I was struggling to survive. I can just picture that...Sergio munching on the hotdog, clenching his teeth, hoping that I will somehow survive.

so in conclusion, the meaning of life - is to not die.