tagged 
Buenos Aires, Craigslist, Friends, Hostel Giramondo, Steak in Entertainment, Food, People
Buenos Aires, Craigslist, Friends, Hostel Giramondo, Steak in Entertainment, Food, People Ma, I made new friends!
Tuesday, October 6, 2009 at 12:01AM 
After a few days of feeling pretty alone, the weekend brought new life to my social comma. On Saturday I was invited by Carolina y Mariana (who work at the hostel) to go out to dinner with some friends of theirs. I'm not sure if they saw me walking around talking to myself and felt bad, but, regardless I didn't hesitate to accept the invitation.
At dinner they helped me through the menu, while laughing at my expense along the way. The language barrier was a small price to pay for an amazing meal of red wine (vino tinto), rib-eye steak (ojo de bife) and chorizo (um... chorizo). After they carried me out of the restaurant, we went to a movie. The movie was El Secreto de Sus Ojos and it was entirely in spanish (no subtitles). I didn't understand a word of it, but it felt intense and the actors seemed passionate about whatever they were saying. None the less, it was a great first night out on the town. My plan is to go back and watch the movie next August and see if I can understand it.
On Sunday evening I was invited to a pizza party at someone's house I met on craigslist. It's not what you think. While apartment hunting, I actually started an email dialog with a wonderful women named Eliana. She rents out her pad to foreigners new to Argentina. Turns out the apartment search process is a great way to meet really cool people via craigslist (shout out to my home girls in the 858, Charlotte & Ashaley).
Anyway, Long story short, she ended up renting the apartment to Anna (below) but still invited me over for Sunday dinner with the roommates. How sweet is that? It was an incredible night. We got drunk on red wine and Quilmes, ate entirely to much home-made pizza and had some great laughs. They all spoke very good spanish and english, which was inspiring and overwhelming. We ended up sitting on the patio watching an awesome thunderstorm until we ran out of booze. They will be great friends to have in Argentina.
[PICTURE]
TOP (Left to Right): Nathan from Chicago, Eddy & Willy from Columbia
BOTTOM: Anna from Switzerland, me, Eliana from Argentina
Gracias Carolina y Eliana mucho para hacer de éste el mejor comienzo posible para mi viaje.
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Reader Comments (7)
Glad to see you made some friends.
So glad you made some friends and you are not eating dinner all alone anymore. They look like very nice people, tell them I said thank you (gracias) for being your friend !
Mom
It was very nice to meet you Gareth and I'm (we're) absolutely sure your stay here we'll be a total success!!!!
Can't wait for the next meeting :)
.. but, please.... I didn't drink alcohol at all!!!! :)))) Diet Coke and such a nice group of people was enough to have a great evenning :))
Thanks Mom (and Slaughter House). Perdon Eliana, you're right, maybe next time we can get you to drink some vino.
Hello Gareth, It looks like your adventure is coming along nicely.
I like your editorials.
Your in my thoughts and prayers.
Gareth,
Looking Good. Glad everything is off to a great start. I would just caution you to attend pizza parties you find on Craig's List. Last month I went to a "pot luck dinner" I found on Craig's list. Long story short my wallet, car, and dignity were all stolen within a matter of minutes. I now only use Craig's list to find laminated pictures of Betty White or Famous Atlanta Braves Third Basemen Terry Pendelton.
Anyway couple of questions.
Is the Earth really flat?
Will it end in 2012?
Do you still have my Black Northface gloves?
Signing off watching carefully.
DJW
awwww they look like such nice people! try not to corrupt them would ya! lol just kiddin' G! happy to see you're already making new friends! :)