And so it begins...

Well, it's finally here. As I write my inaugural blog post I'm sitting in the lounge of the Garden House Hostel in San Telmo, a neighborhood of Buenos Aires, but let me back up.
What began as an idea a year ago, was formulated into a plan nine months ago, put into motion six months ago, and painstakingly executed the last three months has finally transformed into a reality. However, this reality was not achieved without its hiccups. With a December 29th departure date a massive snowstorm hit the northeastern United States on the 26th/27th of December, derailing all my preparation plans until the 28th, which I won't go into the details of but they went less than smoothly. Then came calling the United Airlines help line for flight info only to hear my connecting flight to Washington DC was canceled. Then calling a helpline and being told it was still going forward and on time. Then calling someone else to double-check and being told it was, in fact, canceled. Then being transferred to get a refund to someone who tells me flight WAS on. What a mess.
So I make my flight on time (with a one hour layover in DC) but my flight is delayed ten minutes due to a late plane. Then another ten minutes for who knows what. and then another twenty minutes for plane preparations I imagine. Anyways, This involves me arriving in DC, grabbing my carry-ons, and literally sprinting from one side of the airport to the other. Of course, by sprinting i mean power walk 30-40 yards with a very full backpack and carry-on in tow, walk 20 yards and breathe heavily, and repeat. I just make the flight but with little hope for my bags. A ten hour flight later and I'm ecstatic to see one of my checked bags come on the conveyor belt. Unfortunately, as my many runs in with Murphy's Law over the last few days might predict, one of my bags decided to stay in DC for the night. How one bag from my flight made it and the other didn't is beyond me, but at least they're going to send it to the hostel.
Anyways we finally arrive to the hostel, went and got some lunch, and are now just relaxing and recouping.
It's 85 and sunny, new years eve is tomorrow night, and we're in a new and foreign land. Things are looking pretty sweet.



the super non-descript hostel entrance. at least its got a sign!


view from the terrace


the terrace. and dan.


a little kitchen/mural action


the lounge. not a bad place by any means


quite the impressive spanish translated american VHS collection. This gem is "la planeta de los simios"


just a dude taking a nice stroll down the street with an animal carcass in tow. you know, no big deal.