This weekend, some Couchsurfing friends ( www.couchsurfing.org ) and I hauled it to Rosario, a four hour bus ride (AR$ 70 round trip) about 300km Northwest of Buenos Aires. It is the birthing place of Mr. Che Guevara, it lines in the Western portion of the Paraná River with purple flowering trees, and it is home to 1.3 million people.
What a trip. Incidentally, the location had little to do with it.
At some point over the weekend, most everyone in the group found a keen stranger to make out with. It could have had something to do with an afternoon of doling out free hugs (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UL6_PnMG_gU&NR=1 ) to passersby. From children to police officers, we sprinted upon most moving objects. Everyone seemed to appreciate it, outside of the man who thought I was pick-pocketing him. (Remind me to try Free Hugs in a country where the currency is stronger?) We also had the chance to partake in one of Rosario’s annual festivals, where the immigrant and second generation communities cook and perform for the public. Argentinized falafel doesn’t hold up to the Middle East, but it’s a nice change from various hackings of cow meat.
And since this excursion was orchestrated by my Couchsurfing friends, I naturally coincided with practice - that is, crashing in an apartment of a willing local. This would be my first official Couchsurfing experience. Wouldn’t you know, I was placed with a 38 year old woman whose couch was occupied, and therefore was forced to share her bed. (Does that technically even count as Couchsurfing? Well, it wasn’t really a one night stand.) After I accepted the awkwardness of it, I genuinely enjoyed the company of Anahí… Until I received notification that the little body I had slept next to the night before is riddled with infections, fleas and scabies. Como se dice unwelcome guest?
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