Punta del Este, Uruguay: I love this place! If I had to describe it, I would say, crowds like Pacific Beach on the fourth of July, vibe like Miami´s South Beach, and lots of Brazilians! If I didnt know any better, I would think I was in Brazil. I was fortunate enough to room with four Brazilians, so I was in the loop. In total they were a group of 8.

We were at a concert the other night and the singer was yelling out countries. Well, really just three. You know, the whole, ¨is Argentina in the house?¨ And parts of the crowd erupts, and is Uruguay in the house (and we´re in Uruguay), and another small part of the crowd erupts, then she gets to Brazil, and what seemed like over 70 percent of the crowd starts cheering. Its like that in the hostel as well.

The guys I am rooming with also have a car, or a mini pick up truck, so they allow me and my friend to go with them everywhere. And a car is essential out here, because there seem to be no taxi´s. The beaches are amazing, the whole atmosphere is fun, you can definitely tell New Years is approaching.

A little catch up on my whereabouts. I arrived in Uruguay on the 26th of December, a day after Christmas. I spent Christmas in Buenos Aires. Its like the 4th of July out there. At midnight, fireworks go off for about an hour. Its fun. Its a huge city and lots of people got to BA for Christmas, so there was plenty open on Christmas day, and plenty to do.

I took a boat from Buenos Aires to Montevideo, Uruguay. It was nice. Like the Love Boat on TV. I guess like a mini cruise ship, but i´ve never been on a cruise, so I can´t say for sure. From Montevideo, we headed straight for Punta del Este. And here we are. This place is great, definitely a great place to end the year. Very ritzy, with yachts, and expensive cars crusing the beaches, but still affordable for folks like me if you stay at a hostel. Although I am paying 50 bucks a night for the 30th and 31st. Thats more than double my daily budget for countries like Bolivia, and Nicaragua. A lot more expensive here, but its to be expected.

The Brazilian guys I met sometimes cook, and always invite me to join them, so I save some money there. I´m actually pretty lucky to have met them; sometimes we go to beaches that are about half an hour away from our hostel, and there is no way my friend and I could have gotten there without a ride.

I feel like the backpacking portion of my trip is over. From here it is all much more expensive. Iguazu falls, and Brazil after the New Years, then my South American part of the trip is over. The trip has been fantastic. I guess at the end of the year its time to reflect, and when I stop to think about how great this year has been, I wish it wouldnt end. But I guess ill just carry it over to next year.

Its also the end of a decade. And a great decade for me. Graduated college, law school, passed the bar, started work. All sorts of great things. Of course, not without adversity, but with Gods help always overcame it. I´m really looking forward to this next year, and the next ten years! Life is good. Really good. God is good. And I am so grateful for all I have. I think in the next blog i´ll reflect on the last ten years. The thing about traveling, it allows you the time to do that sort of the thing. lol.

Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas, and hope everyone has a Happy New Year. Out here there is a tradition where people throw trash out their window, well really white paper, so the streets are littered with white. Its supposed to represent getting rid of the old, and in with the new. So I hope if anyone had a crummy year, you let it all go and start fresh. You got to love new beginings. And if things are going well, let´s continue to build on them. I have a few prayers and goals for the next year, maybe ill share in the next blog. I think its always good to set goals.

Hope all is well at home. Love you mom, love you family and friends.

Michael

Buenos Aires, Argentina: Wow! I guess I have to start there. I don´t know if it has to do with the time of year, but the people here are incredibly nice. Very hospitable, going out of their way to make sure you have a good time here. People who minutes before were complete strangers, invite me to Christmas dinner. This has happened multiple times. I haven´t spent a dime on accomodations for the last four nights. They insist I stay with them. So i must say, the people in Buenos Aires have been the kindest of all the people i´ve met. Not sure if its was just luck running into the right people, or everyone being in the Christmas spirit, but its going to be tough to leave this place.

Although i did manage to escape once for three days and head to Mar del Plata. Its their coastal getaway town. Very nice beaches, reminded me of Miami. As I always say, check out the pics. Except you may have to wait, because although this is one of the coolest cities i´ve been to, the internet service is horrible! At least thats been my experience. Well, at least uploading photos is difficult.

I think its three days until Christmas, but it really does not feel like it. I can´t say i´m looking forward to some time off, because ive been off for about 6 months! And i cant say im looking forward to being with the family, because I wont be with the family. But there is a sense of Christmas out here, at least in the commercial sense. Lots of folks out and about doing what i think we do best: shop. Lots of Christmas shopping going on. And being the scrooge that I am, ive never been fond of that part of Christmas. But i´ll find something productive to do on that day.

Can´t say enough about this city, but wait on the photos to see what its like. Ive not blogged in so long that i dont know where to begin.

Arrived in Buenos Aires right after Roasario, which I believe was the 10th or 11th? Not sure anymore. I took an overnight bus and found some girls I had met in Santiago, Chile at the bus terminal and they asked if I wanted to share a cab with them to Milhouse hostel. I said sure, and so I was on my way to Milhouse, intending to stay only three nights because I wanted to head to Mar del Plata. Three days turned in to seven, and that´s just how it is out here. There is always an invitation somewhere. The food is amazing, great steaks at great prices. Just last night I was invited to an asada, it was on someones rooftop, of their apartment building. Great views, reminded me of New York. The steak was incredible, probably the best ive ever tasted in my life!

The city never sleeps. One of my first nights here i was invited to a concert that did not end until 3am, followed by a dj playing until who knows when. I thought we were waiting for another band to come on, but at 5, I told my friends i was going to bed. I walked back and the sun came up by the time my head hit my pillow. Its like that most nights. And dinner doesn´t usually start until 11am, ending at about 1am. If you show up to a restaurant at about 9pm, youll be alone.

Which also means breakfast consists of only toast and juice or coffee. Your so full from last nights dinner, that you´re not hungry for breakfast. And its not just the youth that carry this schedule, youll see grandmas and grandpas out at all hours of the night. Walking the streets, having a coffee, or whatever else.

Ill post pics as soon as possible. Ill be here for Christmas, but then am heading to Punta del Este, Uruguay. Its said to be the St. Tropez of the south. Something like Miami, but even more exotic. The kind of place where the rich and famous go to ring in the New Year. Im not rich, nor famous, but ill be there. Ill take lots of pics.

Merry Christmas, and Happy New!

Love you guys!

Rosario, Argentina: Its already December, and as they say, time flies! I can remember getting in the plane with my grandma, to Mexico City, wondering where i´ll be for Christmas. It think its clear now i´ll be in Buenos Aires, Argentina. 15 days til Christmas, if you´re keeping track at home! Still the most wonderful time of the year, in my opinion.



But its a bit different out here. For one, its summer time, and that means heat! Think about how weird it would be if December averaged 90 degrees! We´d freak out! But that´s how it is out here. It´s one of the reasons I had to leave Santiago, Chile a little early.



I left off (the blog, that is) in Viña del Mar, a beautiful coastal town in Chile. From there I headed back to the capital, Santiago, with plans to stay a week. Turns out I lasted two days. The primary reason was the heat. I couldnt take it! About 90 degrees during the day, and the sun does not set until about 9pm. Its hot until about then. Unbearable, at least it was for me. So I took the next bus to Mendoza, Argentina. But, Santiago was nice, very nice. I loved it, and as always, you can see pictures on Facebook. So far, maybe the nicest capital city. A little bit of NYC, a little bit of L.A., and even some SF. Really nice city. And the people, great!



But just couldnt take the heat, so off to Argentina I went.

I spent 5 days in Mendoza, and I loved every minute of it. I was not as excited as some travelers to visit Argentina. I had heard too much hype. A lot like Europe, the Argentinians consider themselves more European than Latin, and on and on. But I found none of it to be true. At least not in Mendoza. Not that there is anything wrong with Europe, but if you´re in Latin America, you should consider yourself Latin American. And they do! And they have great steaks, and great wine, and yes, the women here are absolutely gorgeous. Just had to throw that out there. Of course, they dont compare to California girls, but thats neither here nor there.

My first night in Mendoza I was sick. A horrible sore throat; I sounded like Froggy from the little Rascals. It was a friday night. So I slept all day hoping I would get better. And I did, eventually. Well enough to go rafting, horseback riding, and on a really cool wine tour in the next few days. Not to mention the zoo, which was fascinating and scary at the same time. I swear the animals could have escaped at any time. And im talking about bears, and tigers, and lions. But we were able to get so close, it was cool. And I was well enough to enjoy the food in Mendoza. The meat is amazing. I attended a few BBQ´s or Asada´s. All you can eat; I was in heaven!

The town was great, but I had to move on, so I headed to Rosario. Its a town near the river, and about 4 hours north of Buenos Aires. Also the birthplace of Che, and also home to most of the models in Argentina. At least that´s what some old man in Mendoza told me. But that´s not why im here. At least not the only reason...lol.

So far the town is ok. You need to take a bus from the city center to get to the river, which they call a beach. And, yes, it appears that most of the models in Argentina are from here.

Im currently at a hostel, and though ive mentioned that i dont prefer hostels, I think its hostels from here on out. In other countries I had the choice to get my own room at a hotel. In Chile and Argentina, prices wont allow me to do so. But so far ive enyoyed the experience. Yes, there are lots of foreigners, but you also meet lots of locals, because Chileans, and Argentineans travel more often, then say Peruvians, or Bolivians. So, for instance, there were lots of Chilean girls at my hostel in Mendoza because they had a four day weekend. So, even though I was at a hostel, I was able to hang out with ¨locals¨. Though I also met other folk who i really enjoyed spending time with.

But one Chilean girl made it clear that I had a long way to go with my spanish. She kept making fun of my pronunciation, and I kept reminding her that even if I was fluent in spanish I wouldnt speak like her because im not Chilean or Argentinean. In L.A. we speak Mexican spanish! She still continued to mock me! But i´m working on my spanish, and I think its getting pretty good. I´ll let you be the judge when I get back.

Times are good. Im deep into a book about Sudan. What is the What? is the name of it. By Dave Eggers. I recommend it to anyone interested in a good historical autobiography. The situation in Sudan is still on going, by the way. Also currently getting through Corinthians. Just finished the first part, will start the second after I log off.

I hope everyone is having a great December. If you have not yet gone out and bought a tree, do so! The longer you have it up, the better!

Love you mom, great chatting with you today!

Love you family,

Love you friends.

Michael.