This was written a few weeks ago. Im in the Amazon right now where there are no telelphones but a few computers. Needless to say, this is out of date but I will post some new and exciting news about jungle adventures, Brazils carnaval and the total locura of traveling with my parents....as soon as Im in London in a couple of weeks.

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Last new years, when Phil hit me in the face with a monster snowball,
leaving me with a mild concussion and a knot the size of a tennis ball on my
forehead, I thought to myself: this is going to be an interesting year! I
had no idea what I was in for....

Christmas was lovely with dancing and champagne and a lot of friends in good
spirits. Giselle (the girl I'm living with) and I made over 40 empenadas de
carne for the party and we had a countdown on the 24th like it was New
Years. We woke up late the 25th returning home from dancing after the sun
rose and spent the day at the beach...it is after all summer here.

And then my luck started to slide downhill.....

For the past 2 weeks, Ive been out of contact with most everyone having
spent New Years in Buenos Aires with the friends and family of the kids I'm
living with, then off to the campo to enjoy the Doma, an Argentine rodeo,
and the river to eat lots of fish. After a week meeting ALL of the family,
grandparents on both sides, tios, primos, y amigos we went far south into
Patagonia to enjoy the amazing Perito Moreno Glacier and trekking around
Fitz Roy.

Sounds pretty enchanting doesn't it? Lets just back up a few steps then and
lll tell you what Actually happened.

On the 30th, we caught a bus to BA to start the journey. The time had
changed an hour the day before. Being fully prepared, we set the clocks
forward and were ready and on time at the bus terminal. The bus left a half
hour early. When EVER do buses leave a half hour early? The correct answer,
when they contact all but three clients to let them know. So we climbed up
into another micro a few hours later to be the only 3 passengers. It was
quite luxurious actually but half way through the 20hr bus ride we had to
switch to a bus more occupied with travelers. No big deal except when we
switched buses, the driver was adamant about us climbing into the bus
quickly as to not delay the trip. Now normally, I would have waited to make
sure that my backpack was safely stowed under the bus but this time,
traveling with fellow Argentines and seeing that the chaufer was adding the
luggage while hurrying us into the bus, I climbed in. Hernan also tried to
persuade the driver to wait a minute til everything was loaded but climbed
in after the driver made a fuss. We´re pretty sure that it was the chaufer
that stole my backpack....

All was lost. I am a turtle without my shell. We arrived on New Years Eve
and all I had was the clothes on my back. Luckily I was carrying my
documents and camera with me but I had to borrow underwear from their mother
before I even met her!! Being over 42 degrees (around 100) and humid, I had
to set out to buy clothes for New Years Eve, a tooth brush, and a little
mascara because you have to look good in BA on NYs. The only time I cried
was when I was in the dressing room 3 days later. We were going to the beach
and I had to buy another swim suit but they only wear thongs here. When I
turned around in the mirror and saw what the rest of the people on the beach
would see, I burst into tears!! The bus company is going to reimburse me 600
pesos, about 200 u$s...about 1/2 the value of the empty backpack. At the
beginning of my trip, when a couple of sweaters and my jacket were stolen, I
was a wreck, considering coming home even. This puts it a little more into
perspective....Ill just have to cut my trip a few months short with the
money that Ill spend rebuilding my little home that was my backpack!!

After that fiasco, I really was able to celebrate New Years with the entire
freaking city lit up with illegal fireworks and mini glowing air balloons.
It was hands down the most magical sight Ive ever scene :)

The next night, in a bar, I slammed my finger in the bathroom door when
someone was about to walk in on me. I crushed the bone and bled on the only
skirt that I know own.

A few days later I was in Diamante, a rural town with plumerias and hibiscus
and gauchos and a river full of delicious, menacing fish. I could see myself
living there for sure, in a strange way it reminded me of Hawaii. With the
humidity, we swam it the tiny part of the river that was parted off with a
net to keep out the piranha like fish. Of course, my finger was raised above
my head for the entire time, not wanting any scary bacteria to enter the
wound. Instead, a scary fungus entered something else and now I have a
vaginal infection called Hongos, or mushrooms. Yes, I realize this is too
much information but its necessary for you to realize actually how destroyed
my body actually is!

In a rush, we then found ourselves in the far south of Patagonia to witness
stunning beauty and shocking wind. I think that the Glaciar Perito Moreno
might be the prettiest natural sight Ive ever scene. We went 2 days in a row
to watch blocks of ice 40 meters high (16 floors) crash into the water.
Check out the photos...

In El Chalten, we took advantage of the 2 days of sun and did an exorbitant
amount of trekking. We apparently had great luck (the first time this year)
when we were able to see the peak of Fitz Roy. Normally there is a permanent
cloud layer. We stayed in a hostel that had a reputation for bed bugs but
because my lovely silk sleep sack was stolen, I immediately fell into a deep
slumber without protection. Now because the rash that covers my entire body
arrived 2 days later, the doctor at the hospital yesterday told me that he
doesn't think it was in fact bugs. Maybe I was allergic to one bug, maybe
some plant in the forest or maybe it was the fresh mtn. water that I was
drinking from the stream. All I know was that I was living under the
illusion that I was not allergic to anything is this world and had a rude
awakening. Literally in the middle of the night.

So now I find myself back in lovely Bariloche, too swollen to try on the
clothes that I don't have, taking 5 pills per day and typing quite strangely
because I cant use my pointer finger!!

However, I don't think I could be in better spirits. With each lightening
bolt of bad luck, the situation just becomes more and more hilarious and
even if I have hit rock bottom, its not so bad because I have great friends
taking care of me!

Even though I will be leaving a big chunk of my heart here in Bariloche, I
am so excited that in a weeks time, I will find myself in the heart of the
Amazon with my parents....just in time to add more bug bites to the
collection!