The trip was organised by the school and was a trip designed to help those of us on the trip with our learning of spanish. Of coarse we did more than just lessons. infact we did so much that I will have to show only a few pictures of the trip so here they come...
Dut first my middle name is james and because that is what my friends call me I got the name santi on the trip santi being short for santiago which is james in spanish.
So the group became known as santi y chicas james and girls because I was the only boy apart from my father who acted as the male teacher on the trip. He is a teacher and came mainly because of his experiance he notably co-lead the first european school trip to south korea.... Sorry onto the pics!
Auckland international airport waiting to depart |
flying over south america |
welcome to argentina |
the wheels on the bus... |
the art factory hostel a haven for the artistical traveler |
like the person or people who did this |
the streets of Buenas Aires at night |
my first meal in Argentina |
one of the walls in my room at the hostle |
Some other students relaxing at the art factory |
breakfast. The closest people are on the left my German spanish teacher and on the right my father |
more students relaxing in the hamachs. When will I get a turn? |
BA's Big monument |
UP! I liked that movie |
the theater |
now we come to the rich's haunting ground literaly |
Look at all those mausoliams |
BA's cathedral |
BA's old town-city hall |
the pink house |
the cathedral from the outside |
the pampas |
welcome to San Antonio de Areco. Where we met our host families for a week and our argentine spanish teacher |
O dear they found a pool |
there are so many stray dogs. However they are so well behaved |
at work during the siesta |
my host families pool |
the BBQ. this thing is an assado grill it makes the beast steak in the world |
the house I stayed in |
pretty house, no? |
The towns church |
on the left "Pato my argentine shanish teacher and on the right my German, New Zealand , spanish teacher. |
Ok Look at this I wanted to buy this suit of Armour. I did not have enough money though. Could you imagine the look on immigrations face if you walked through the metal detector wearing that :-P |
inside the shop |
All shuch interesting weapons |
ooh shiney |
plaza principal. Main square |
the church again |
one of my more artistic photos |
this is mate (Not the girl, rather what she is drinking) it is the most doggdey looking of all drinks in the world. Some would also say most revolting I love it but I know it is an aquired taste |
purple grass? |
more pretty houses |
yours truley. enjoying the shade during a break between lessons. |
and when siesta came the girls came to my place to enjoy the pool |
we did special things each day for one day we did horse ridding |
they got excited |
I wasn't at the front all the time just alot of it as this photo shows |
I'm in the lead |
now I'm not |
my horse and I |
Ok here come some sunset shots |
another |
and another |
and another |
simon Pato's cat |
oh dear. |
yes simon we saw you |
more of what we did between lessons |
my host family. They were really kind and took great care of me |
Oh no I have to think |
just another fancy photo. Tacken from within pato's house |
on our third to last day in san antonio. we were shown the sights |
the museum. San antonio de areaco is the setting for the book Don Segundo Sombra which is about the Gaucho |
here is a gaucho |
here is a german gaucho |
funny comment- one of the girls said "why can't I have Easter eggs like that for christmas?" :-P |
more of the chicas |
Chookee Pato's dog |
here is more but the 2 here we see a student with her host mum. |
second to last day at the estancia ombu. A ombu is a very large type of shrub native to the pampas |
more horse ridding this time on a Gaucho saddle which is more similar to a armchair than a saddle |
Oscar the Gaucho. He may be old but as you will see he can still ride |
the bond between man and horse is great |
and later more ridding |
oscar on horse back |
the other horse I road that day |
then came the emotional monet where our week in san antonio came to an end |
back in BA about to fly out to iguasu |
bye bye BA |
the rio de la plata is the widest river in the world. Wider than the english channel |
welcome to tropical iguasu which is actualy south of the tropics but still tropical |
another hostel |
This T-shirt may be about new zealand but you can't get it in NZ. |
tres fronteras. Foreground-this side of the river argentina. right Brazil left paraguay |
sunset |
day one of our trip to the iguasu falls |
this thing is to help monkies cross the road |
more falls |
and some bigger ones |
and more |
and more |
and don't look down |
our group in the tropical heat and humudity |
I went ahead and was followed by the girls |
and more waterfalls |
same one differest angle |
more waterfalls |
and back to town for dinner |
day 2 of our trip to the falls |
a tookan in the wild an awsome experiance :-D |
la garganta del diablo. the devils throught the most famous falls in iguasu |
and there was a thunder storm just to add to the amount of water in the air |
ok don't look down or jump |
out wet and winded group |
not my hat |
later we went to an animal rehab centre. here is some capuchine monkeys. |
and a caman |
all too soon we had to leave iguasu. Here is a monument to... |
la guera de las malvinas or the falklands war. My home country certainly seemed like a evil nation after I went and saw Argentina |
back in BA in the art hostel. My new room |
more art work |
we went to the grand theater |
another flashy photo |
which suited this flashy building |
wow |
wow |
wow |
wow |
wow. hang on what? |
I still won't get a chance to go in the hamache |
now that looks cool |
I don't get this sign? |
these 2 look not so tough as funny |
all to soon we were packing up to return home |
but first we went ot BA's oldest cafe |
but the plane was waiting |
so we boarded |
and before you knew it helo NZ |
:-D I have jet lagg :-D why am I putting in happy faces?