Moved

Hola!

School is over (very difficult for this language challenged guy-my head is still spinning) and I have moved from the apartment to the www.americahostel.com.ar in San Telmo. A class mate was staying here and suggested I come. The hostel was opened three weeks ago and is modern, very clean, sunny and has a great staff to help and tell you how to get around. And they have air-conditioning!! They have an Argentinian BBQ that is suppose to be out of this world. I will try it before leaving.

The Spanish classes will help me be courteous and do very basic communication, but I can not do a free flowing conversation with out clarification and a bit of time. Everyone speaks very fast here. And Argentinian Spanish is not the same as any other Spanish.

The bike is scheduled to land on Tuesday at 4:45 pm and I am set up with the broker to clear customs on Wednesday morning......sometime...this is Argentina after all. Then it is on the road and a little wind on the face. Well,there is the crate to get the top and back off of, tie-downs to remove, the battery to connect, the mirrors and wind shied to install, some fuel to dump in and then pack and go. Looking forward to getting on the road and out of this huge cidadal.

I have met people from all over the world at America de Sur. There are many stories and great suggestions of where to go and what to see along the way. All ages are staying here though not any children.

Adventure Rider and the HUBB motorcycle web sites have listings for various ´biker approved´ hostels along the way. That means there is secure parking on site, or nearby. America del Sur has several guarded garages for bike storage nearby. Cost of $36, p per 24 hour time period. That would be about $10 us...as much as the hostel!!

I get up early (that is 7am by BsAs standards) and hit the streets to take in a new neighbor hood before returning to the hostel during the worst heat of the day...and you will literally break a sweat thinking. I spend time doing a ´ruta log book´that lists my route town by town with miles between. This will be used to gauge a time table and plan fuel stops. Ruta 3 south has plenty of fuel but as I turn north onto Ruta 40 gas supply can be an issue. I will carry two gallons (100 miles) of extra but intend on fueling EVERY time I see gas for sale.

Still unable to get a computer to accept files from my camera!! Sorry....Frustrating as I would like to share the visual images with you.

Hope everyone is staying warm in this strangely cold northern winter.

Paul