Am by the seaside this week, in the town of
Villa Gesell on the Atlantic coast, about 600km south of Buenos Aires. It´s not much like I expected from my guide book´s short description of a town that was founded in the 1940s as an ecological project, and is neither quiet nor picturesque. In fact, it´s a bustling little place with a garish mainstreet full of shops, bars and arcades and a busy beach that backs onto sand dunes. That said, I´m starting to rather like it.
There is such a relaxed attitute here and the people are friendly without being too forward, or as friendly as they can be when I speak so little Spanish! I would place a bet that I´m the only English person in town this week and possibly even the only native English speaker, as I think Villa Gesell is the sort of place that Argentines go on their holidays but rarely gets overseas visitors. In fact, most people I have met seem to think I am German, an appearance I owe, of course, to my grandmother.
Marianna, the owner of my hotel is very friendly, speaks wonderful English and has been translating things for me and giving me Spanish grammar lessons. It´s still coming along slowly, unfortunately, although I think by the end of this trip I will be expert at ordering drinks and buying bus tickets.
Tomorrow I am catching the last bus of the season to Mendoza for the start of their wine festival. Now that´s what I call a holiday!
1 comentario:
I never realised there was actually a place called Mendoza! When I was much younger, there was a spoof Antiques Quiz show, when the object to be identified was described to the TV audience in a hushed voice so that the panelists couldn't hear. The voice always said (in the spoof show)"and the next object is........a twisted mendoza". It didn't matter whether it was a spoon or a book or a chandelier, it was always a twisted mendoza. So I hope your Mendoza is not twisted and you have a ball at the beer fest. Auntrice
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