This time it's really happening. I'm going to Argentina. Finally. I've been trying to get this trip planned for so long and have had so many set backs.
Initially I was supposed to go in March for St Patrick's Day. I work for a very small business and my co-worker, who has more seniority wanted that same week for vacation. So.... there was no way that I could take that week off.
Then in February he got fired. Obviously that would be good news since that would open up the week for me. Not really. Buying plane tickets that late is way too expensive, so I started to think when the next best time might be.
In April two more of my co-workers left. One got canned and the other quit. We spent the entire summer so understaffed that I was literally working 60 hours a week for nearly 8 weeks straight. Plus, I have an hour commute to and from work. So you're talking 80 hours of my week used up just for work.
Finally, we hired some new employees, but they had to get up to speed and before I knew it it was almost Halloween. And none of my other co-workers, who also have seniority over me had taken their vacations either. Since we all have to use them or lose them I had no choice but to wait until they scheduled theirs first.
I ended up with an interesting slot. Christmas week. This actually functions well for me though. As some of you may know or have read in past journals I don't have the strongest ties to my immediate family. Being able to say, "I'm not going to be home for the holidays." is the perfect way to avoid having to deal with them.
Now I know that Buenos Aires is a far away and that I most likely won't get there all that often, so I decided to make the most of this trip. I wanted to have as many weekends there as I could squeeze out of my allowed two weeks vacation. Plus I know that airfare is cheaper if you fly on non peak days. So I decided to leave on a Wednesday and return on a Wednesday. But then I realized that if I came back the Wednesday before the 25th of December I'd be arriving back in time to do one days work and then have the next day off for the holiday. Kinda made more sense just to stay longer if possible. So even though I'm only allowed 10 actual days off from work I found a way to stay in Bs. As. from December 9 all the way through the 26th. 18 days total with three weekends!!! And while the flight to get there is quite expensive, staying there is very cheap. I've found furnished one bedroom apartments for as little as $100 for a week. In NYC you can't get two hot dogs for that much.
Part of the time I will be staying in something basic and simple, but part of the time I found what very well may be one of the most amazing hotels I have ever seen. Palermo Hollywood Lofts. It's not cheap to stay here, but fuck it. Just look at this and tell me you wouldn't splurge.
I feel very lucky too that I already have quite a few friends down there. Some I've made through music, the type of techno I make is very popular there. And friends I've made through this site. Finally I'll get to meet them all. Liu, Prussia and my long time friend Kya, who has my heart completely. She is such a doll. They have promised me a big party when I get there and I cannot wait to hang out with them. The party will look something like this.
I have a friend going with me. He's far more fluent in Spanish than I am and he's also been to Buenos Aires twice before. His first time was for two months. So, I have a pretty good feeling things like getting around, finding places to eat, and the like should be fine. I have spent countless hours looking at Google maps of the city. I like looking at maps in general and tend to do this a lot before traveling anywhere I'm not familiar with, but I've paid extra attention this time, since if I were to get lost I don't really speak the language.
I'm hoping to DJ while I'm there. A few years back I was contacted by a guy I didn't know at all from there who was visiting NYC. He asked if I could help him get a gig while he was visiting. I helped him out and in return he said that if I ever made it to Bs As he would get me a gig. We have since become friends and I'm going to hold him to his word for sure. It would be so much fun to be able to play in another country. I even have a song I've written called Bs As. and I would love to have the chance to play it out there.
All of the footage in that video was shot in Bs As. I didn't shoot it, I stole it off of youtube and made a video for my song of the kind of crazy night I hope to have while I'm there. Going out bouncing from club to club. Partying all the way into the next afternoon. That's what a vacation should be. Especially since it was so difficult to get this one together.
If I survive my trip I will be surprised. If I decide to stay there forever I won't be. I have already fallen in love with the city, it's beautiful women, the culture, the music, the food, the night life.
They don't call it the Paris of South America for nothing.
I'll do my best to make it.
Take care!