The city (with the people) that never sleeps

It’s been a little more than a month since I arrived in South America. Less traveling and fewer super exotic impressions have led to a more relaxed need for blogging. Having not pushed out my thoughts and images so regularly as in India – I guess you are all thinking that I’ve been simply tanning, beef-ing, running, relaxing and sleeping? Almost – because there hasn’t been much time or chance for sleeping. I’ll get back to that!

"Woman making love to a snake". Buenos Aires has an amazing street art scene

Catfight anyone?

There are a couple of things that I would like to ask the porteños (the people of Buenos Aires) – When do you sleep and how do you stay slim?  I know latin culture is very different from my own nordic background. I know the Greeks (who in these days should not sleep or take too much siestas!), Italians, Spaniards and the French – in general most of the culture surrounding the Mediterranean sea, lead a life that is much more nocturnal than that of ours. The day starts later, work lasts longer into the evening, lunch is later and longer and dinner and partying starts anywhere between 8 pm and midnight. But they all have nothing on the Argentinians! Life here is way more nocturnal. I enjoy that a lot – it is convenient with the heat but it takes a while to adjust. Enforcing my own sleep pattern is simply useless, it’ll basically makes me entirely sleepless and soaking of sweat as the sun rises and the temperature hits 30-35 degrees already 8-9 in the morning.

As for eating – the porteños surely enjoy their sweet stuff. It’s all about sweets and steak. At all times of the day – breakfast, lunch and the nightly dinner! It is then surprising that you hardly see any overweight people in the city. I have heard that what keeps them slim is all the maté they chug down throughout the day – simply suppressing hunger.

Carmen and neighbour girls having a laugh over a poodle in the pool (Paula, Melissa and Carmen)

Went to a tango course one night - fun and challenging!

Feliz navidad!
Staying with Carmen I was lucky to get invited to celebrate x-mas with her family. The Argentininan way of celebrating x-mas is a bit like we celebrate new years in Norway. Family (and friends) gather 8-10pm for dinner and drinks, at midnight there is a speech – then fireworks begin and after that people party madly into the wee hours of the 25th of December. Thanks to the Raies family I had an amazing time, I felt really welcomed and as I told all the guests during my speech, “I’m not so much into x-mas – but now I really miss my family. I am really enjoying this evening and your company – today you are my family!”.

Food, food food - Good food!

The dinner and drinks were held outdoors in the garden of Carmen's sister

Posing for x-mas: Me, Carmen, Victoria and Ramiro

And the combined speech-dancing-laughing-cheering session has begun! (Victor, Ramiro, Natalia)

Hello 2012!
To celebrate the “arrival” of a new year I went to visit a friend, Gigi,  in Santiago de Chile. I have been to Santiago before – but in 2007 I only spent some two days there and did not do much exploration of the different parts, the nightlife or its major sights. This time I stayed for a longer time and had plenty of time to check out parks (I went running 4 times), museums and the most interesting part of the city. Santiago is a big – but clean and modern city. Chile in general is very different from Argentina and most of South America. This is mostly due to their economy being much more developed and stable than the economices of its neighbors. Chileans know this and you can easily feel a different ambience than in Argentina. What is unique about Chile is that wherever you are in the country – you are never more than 1,5 hrs from the beach or the mountains. Santiago itself is about 1,5 hours from the beach – located between mountains near the foot of the Andes. The mountains circle the city and this has led to a huge problem with the traffic pollution. The smog of Santiago is not only visible from a far and as dust particles outdoor – but it is also itchy to the eye when you first arrive.

For new year’s eve I went to a Brazilian party hosted by some friends of Gigi. Along came some of Gigi’s friends and we had an amazing dinner followed by a very cool clubbing event in downtown Santiago. The following day we were invited to the coast – to stay in Juan’s, a friend of Gigi, place in Viña del mar. Last time I went to Santiago – me and Tommy opted out of Viña and instead visited the more boheme and artsy Valparaiso. Having now seen both I definitely prefer the more dodgy, artsy and historian feel of Valparaiso.

Chile is GREAT for olives

The Brazilian new year's buffet

Snapshot of the magic moment when we all embraced 2012 (Francisca,Lora?, me, Maca, Gigi and Thais)

Viña del Mar - view from Juan's place.

Me posing in Viña

Sunset in Viña - across the bay is Valparaiso (a city I prefer over Viña)

The parilla (grill) at a rooftop asado (bbq-party)

Me and the Andes

At Plaza Las Armas in Santiago

Hope you all have a great weekend – I promise to return quite soon. I’ll then tell you about my favorite bustrip and how I spend my days in Buenos Aires.

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