How I came to end up in Rosario
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Those of you who know me and have known me for some time are thinking that I am going to start this blog writing about one of those trips you call exotic. Many of you are used to my exotic or not-so-ordinary destinations. However, I have made up my mind to begin writing about my latest trip. That is, I am gonna write about my trip to the city of Rosario in the province of Santa Fè in Argentina.
I am what I would call an I-never-unpack kind of traveller since I am used to spending no more than two or three days in each place I visit. I remain in a place enough time to see the most interesting sights and then, I just travel on, therefore, my suitcase is always ready to move on. However, this year I needed to be near Buenos Aires so that I could travel back home quickly if it had been necessary. That was why I decided to spend 10 days in one and the same place.
The second point to consider was the accomodation. Once more I was travelling alone, this is to say that all the expenses were on me, no sharing of hotel bills or anything, on the one hand. And on the other, hotel rooms can turn out to be a bit boring when you are on your own. This is why I went for the Hostelling International Webpage and checked where in Argentina there are hostels. And this is how I found that in Rosario, a city I had never visited before, there was an inexpensive well-organised place where to stay.
I contacted the people at La Casona de Don Jaime and made a booking via mail. From the very moment I received their mails with one or two lines, I got the impression they were friendly people. Yet, when I was welcomed at the hostel I did confirm my first impression. The staff is really friendly and cooperative. What is more, they help create a wonderful atmosphere which spreads among the guests.
First impressions
Just as my first impression of the hostel was a good one, my other first impressions were also good. For instance, my bus journeys to and from Rosario were really comfortable and what is more amazing, the buses arrived exactly as scheduled.
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Details at the Monument
As a first city tour I was recommended to walk for two blocks and then turn right into Cordoba Avenue, the pedestrian street in the commercial centre of the city, and there I had to walk straight on till I found the National Monument to our Flag. Here I must digress a bit and tell you that in Buenos Aires I happen to live two blocks from Florida street, one of the pedestrian streets in our commercial centre. Therefore, you can imagine my surprise when I happened to find not only some shops, but the practically the same shops I do find near my place, but in Rosario. I felt as if I were at home. At first I was delighted, but then, I started wondering what was the point of travelling 300 kilometres to feel I was at home! But anyway, I just fell in love with the city. And more so when I saw the imposing monument! I took 16 pictures of it!
Sightseeing around Rosario
Thursday, 15 February 2007
ROSARIO 2007
Even though I must confess I am not a water-fan, going to La Florida beach or to La Isla is a must for a tourist. What the locals call La Isla is, in fact, a number of islands which are located on the other side of the river and belong to the province of Entre Rìos. For me, a city girl, the experience was more than interesting: I mean, crossing the river by boat and walking along an almost barren white beach was quite something. And to add to the adventure, when crossing back to the city, a storm alert came up and I spent something like three hours to come back, and that without mentioning the movement of the boat, Oh my!
La Florida beach is different. On the one hand, it is on this side of the river. It is also smaller, and therefore, more crowded, specially because I went there on a Sunday. Unluckily I missed the sand sculptures which had been done the day before. The event of the day was a Bikini Open, though, of course, I was not interested in the least.
In later years the city has done a more than interesting job on the recycling of old buildings, and so it is that you find the old train station transformed into a municipal building and a museum for children, for example. But a building which is worth visiting is the Macro Museum. It used to be a silo, therefore, when you are inside you feel as if you were a cereal seed.
My friends in Rosario
The question I was asked all the time was whether I was visiting friends in Rosario. Unluckily up to then, my answer was negative. However, this visit left many travelling friends in my agenda. Some of them will remain as a nice memory, with some others, we keep in touch via mail or chat, and there are some whom I see from time to time. And this is the reason why there are more visits to the city of Rosario.
It was Monday morning when I met Mary, a communicative Argentinian girl who does not speak English at all, and Agnes, a Dutch girl who speaks fluent English and very little Spanish. They had tried to communicate through gestures and the little Spanish they could share, but it had proved difficult. Yet, we shared something strong, the three of us were travelling on our own, and so, I spontaneously became the bridge of communication between them and we became a nice and funny trio for a couple of days. We would go practically everywhere together, with me speaking a little in Spanish and a little in English. It was quite an experience.
Through Mary, I met Pablo, who deserves a chapter of his own. But, as I know he is too humble to accept such a thing, I will devote just a few lines to him. He is a wonderful person who is always ready to lend you a hand or an ear or whatever you need, he is a really sympathetic person. I am sure he will be a great doctor in the near future.
Then I met Malena and Margarita. Malena is an active five-year-old girl from Buenos Aires who came to the hostel with Margarita, her grandmother. Or was it the other way around? When I saw Malena go into our room I thought to myself that she would want to talk, but the rest of the guests at the moment spoke only English; and that was why I struck up a conversation with her. I did not want her to feel lonely among so many grown-ups. And through her I met Margarita, who is not only a wonderful grandmother, but also a wonderful person. Imagine: taking your granddaughter to a hostel! Wow! It is cool!
Later I met Gloria, a rural teacher from Santa Fè, who was travelling with her son. Two teachers together, Gloria and me, imagine what we could talk about! And then, Catalina, who made me try mate tererè for the first time in my life! And many other people of whom I do not remember names now, but they surely made my stay a huge success! Thanks to them all. These lines are my humble present to you, my travelling friends!
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10 comments:
Super start, Pat! I meant to ask you why you kept travelling back to Rosario next time we met... now I don't need to!
I've already subscribed so that I can keep travelling "through" you... I0m a home rooted person, you know!
If you can ever afford to turn those photos of the Flag monument into a Bubbleshare album, it'll be great to see them embedded here too! Can 16 photos of a monument not look all the same? ;-)
LOL,
Gladys
Dear Gladys,
Thank you for your great help! This project wouldn't have been possible without yours and the group's help.
I promise I'll learn how to make a bubbleshare album so that you enjoy the monument in 16 photos!
Thanks again!
Pat
Bravo,
I too have just started my blogger blog too (I had tried Edublogs, but as a beginner I thought I was better going mainstream!) and I chose the same template as you.
I agree, Gladys, Carla Claudia and everyone are doing a fantastic job.
Bonne continuation
ElizabethA (fellow B4B)
Hi Pat, nice travelling through your experiences. Great theme to start a personal blog and even greater if you included your most favorite pictures here and there, even a Flickr widget later on with photos you have taken.
Best wishes, Berta from Venezuela
Dear Pat,
Just loved to embark on your trip! Do you know that some members of this group live in Rosario? Guess who?
I'd love to see your travel photos!
You had a great start. Just keep going.
Beijos,
Carla
hello Pat,Im florencia, your student the Liceo britanico. I like reading your trip and experience. I hope to read other trip!
I see you in the class
bye bye
Dear Pat,
Greetings from Rosario! I was delighted to read about your adventures here. I fact, I'm a bit ashamed I still haven't visited the Macro Museum (and I love museums!). It's interesting to see the city form an outsider's point of view. I guess people kept asking you if you had friends here, just because we are not used to the idea of Rosario being a tourist attraction.
As regards the Flag Memorial, I understand why you took so may photos since it is so huge and has an amazing view!
I look forward to seeing your photos and knowing more about your trips on this blog.
Best regards,
Carla Raguseo
PS. Your blog title reminded me of the poem "The Lake Isle of Innisfree" by Yeats
Hi Pat! Excellent idea of creating a blog about your trips!
It´s a good way of expressing your experiences of an activity that you really like.
I´m waiting for new posts about other trips!
See you!
Ramiro (CAE student)
Thank you all for your comments. I do promise some photos soon, and your words have given me the strength to go on posting. So, something else coming soon.
Pat
jai patsy, guardenful yiu blog!!! solo me lost algunas cositas que no capisco. Pero quedate tranquila que me enseñaste good inglish, el animal am i. Un big beso.
JAVIER
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