Buenos Aires

No more lying around!

After one month of cumbia, it was high time to pack the stuff and see something else. Ever since the first weekend, I've been craving to go back. My friend Theresa also wanted to go so we decided to go together. Also, while living in the hostel (by the way we found a flat, I tell you later more!) I got to know many people of capital. Hopefully I could also see them.

I was supposed to surf a bit in the morning, so I set the alarm at 6:30. I woke up and look outside, it's pouring and freezing anyway. Noup, not today. Some hours later we were already in the bus heading to the Buenos Aires. It takes only 5 hours to get there and a one way ticket cost around 20€ (AR$89 - AR$120). You can choose ejecutivo, semicama or cama. Just pick the cheapest one, they’re comfy anyway. Really, 5 hours is a short trip with these busses.

The bus

Finally we get there and find the flat. At first we were supposed to sleep in a dorm, but a friend of mine invite us to stay in her flat. (You have to see the Argentines, I think they're one friendliest you'll find anywhere!) After a small chat, we return to the Centrum. A demonstration is about to begin and we're going to join. This one is about free media. To sum up, the government controls all forms of media. Google if you are curious. For that matter there's something going on almost every day. However, some of the demonstrations can be bit hazardous for tourists Beware.

On Friday we're just wandering around the Centrum. I'm not so into the sights. However, when visiting in the capital, of course you have to see the Obelisco, Plaza de Mayo and Puerto Madeiro. Hehe notice my outfit, at least I took all of it.:) In the Microcentro it's quite hard to imagine being in South America.

And then the parties.. There's a lot!:) They say there's always a splendid party for you, regardless of your genre, all year around. Knowing the one-third-size Berlin, I have no doubt. Maybe in December I can say something comprehensive, thought here's the experience of the nights.

Already the first night out was a quite cultural shock. The friend of our host was DJing in a club in Palermo and we decided to check it out. The place was called Niceto and the Thursday nights were supposed to be something special. And it sure did.. We were received by and half naked Chaplin, playing a mime with bright silver boxers. Later on they brought some samba girls, fat drags and break dancers! I didn't know what to think but the people seemed to consider it funny. And the Djs were really good so what a heck, why not. :D

Niceto

Niceto (BsAs) 15.4.2010 from Anssi Nurmi on Vimeo.

On Friday there was a nice local gig. The band was called Michael Mike. I didn't know anything about the band before but the locals thought it's quite famous. They play electronic music with quite interesting setup: a DJ/VJ, 2 keyboardists, 2 drummers and a vocalist/ guitarist. The set was everything between rock, rap and and dupstep. Also bit hard to explane but check it out!

The last evening we spent in san telmo with the old friends from the Mar del Plata. The rock nacional (Argentinean rock) is really not my thing but the evening was great, thanks if you reading this! :)

Buenos Aires has also the flip side. It's a huge metropolitan and, like said before, Argentina went trough a deep economic crisis in 2002. Even thought they invest a lot of money to the capital, you don't have to go far away from the Centrum to see the poverty and the pollution. However, it's amazing city with a zillions of things to do and to see.

On Saturday we hanged out in Recoleta with my Columbian friends and on Sunday wandered around La Boca and San Telmo. They were all really nice, but to be honest, you would nee a lot more time. I defenitly will come back!:) Here are some fotos of the rest of the weekend:

The delicious bus meal..

Chau
Anssi

Surfing & Chilling

Hi mates!

The last weeks have been rather chilly here in Mar del Plata. The following pictures sum it up quite nice: the dorm, mate and surf. Yea, I didn't get the flat yet and I'm still living the hostel. I don't mind thought, it's nice and close to the playa grande. Surfing all day long and meanwhile drinking some mate.:) The lectures are also getting better day-by-day, but I'm not about to write about the studies.

Welcome to my crib!

Today I was about to get up early to catch some morning waves. But after the weekend, it didn't really work out... I woke up on my phone half an hour ago. (Damn you snooze!) But after writing this, I still have some 3 hours to surf before the classes!

concentrated..

Last weekend Mar del Plata celebrated the end of the season by semana santa (Easter). As I said before, Mar del Plata is the number one beach resort in Argentina. The city itself, with the suburbs, has some one million inhabitants. In the summer, there are nearly as many tourists around. (Quite a wicked wonderland for the thieves..) Anyway, the semana santa is always the last big thing.

According to the local newspaper, almost 200.000 porteños came to enjoy the extended weekend. And, the more people the better parties! At least so I heard. On Thursday I caught some stomach disease and went out only on Saturday. Shit happens.. Literally. But, the Saturday was fun thought. :)

Semana santa

And as for surfing.. Step by step! (or wipeout by wipeout) First of all, I didn't think it's that rough! If you are planning to surf in the near future, I truly recommend some fitness. Swim a lot and practice bit push-ups (for ex). At least, that's what I'm about to do! And secondly, it's dynamic and thus damn difficult! After skateboarding and snowboarding, standing up is not that difficult but that's about it..

If everything works out, I am in the right place at the right time, I can maybe manage to drop in and cruise a bit. BUT usually not, either I'm paddling like crazy for nothing, or drop in too late and get a nice wipeout (read: every time). However, it's really rewarding. What a amazing feeling when you actually get the wave!:) Stoked.

In addition, there's quite big difference between frontside and backsiede, the latter is even trickier. On Tuesday afternoon, I was already quite tired and there were only right-handers (I'm goofy). So I eded up taking some photos:

Mati Romano with shorty and a local longboard hero

On Wednesday, there wasn't hardly any swell here and we decided to grab the limo. After the playa grande, the best waves are in the south. Some fifteen-twenty minutes away from Alem, there is a beautiful coastline and numerous beaches. It's amazing. With right wind, you can find pretty nice waves. This time we weren't so lucky with the swell but it was a nice trip. :)

A minivan Ford Ka..

The coastline in the south

Otherwise it has been quite chilly here like I said. Besides surfing and once in a while skateboarding, I've been busy with Lightroom (as you can notice by the watermarks) and with the flats. The hostel is getting sometimes bit on my nerves but it's close to the beach and I don't want to take some crappy apartment. Thus I prefer to stay bit longer here and find a nice one..

Oh yes, then I found really nice surf docs, the endless summer trilogy! Yea, I know they are old but new for me.:) The best way to wait for the swell, warmly recommended!

More Surfing >>

The endless summer

Life in Mar del Plata

The beginning of the week is going to be pretty same. Thought tomorrow in the morning, I hopefully get out there. At the weekend I probably leave the beaches and head out to Buenos Aires, gotta get some nice parties too.:)

Chau

Anssi