How time flies. Life is such a crazy whirlwind of events. Traveling is like being a teenager...I´m constantly going through highs and lows and trying to figure out my purpose, I´m confused all the time and finding a magical place or seeing something truely beautiful is like falling in love over and over. It´s brutal, it´s painful and it´s absolutely amazing.
Bariloche is kind of like a little Austrian ski resort town in the Alps...transported into the Argentinian Andes, with a few additions. It´s flashy and touristy, decorated with santas and consumed by chocolate shops on every corner. There is a definite German influence, the streets have German names, the beers are delicious (supposedly...I actually didn´t try anything fancy here), and everything looks like a cozy wooden mountain lodge. It´s cute, but I have to admit I miss the calm vibes of El Bolson. There is good hiking here (and skiing in the winter) and it´s safe to walk around, but to me it´s lacking in authenticity. That being said, I did find a cheap place to eat that I went back to almost everyday for the huge sandwhiches filled with endless veggies. And lots of gelato. I find the beauty everywhere...the beauty in food.
So I leave today for Mendoza, a vineyard area 18 hours north of here. I will experience my first night bus. And then I will find the beauty in wine. It is surreal to think that I will be spending my first Christmas away from home and away from my family, friends and furballs who I love so much. I hadn´t thought much of it until I got here, where everywhere you look you see Christmas decorations, just like home. Maybe Mendoza won´t be as "in your face", or maybe the wine will distract me. Hopefully something good is around the next bend, but whatever it is, good or bad, I´m ready for the next challenge. If I open my heart and walk into every new place with love, perhaps the love will be reciprocated, and perhaps that will make it seem less like a challenge and more like a miracle. Every experience is shaped by your state of mind when you experience it. If I stay positive, anything seems possible. It´s all about the love.
