I feel a bit sick.... My throat hurts and my body is weak. I cant wait for Derya to come... which is in only 3days!

~~~~~~~~~

deyaaa is heeereee =)

The Rain

The rain started falling softly, early morning. I heard it in between my turn from left to right, from one dream to another.  Its intensity increased as the ground got used to its tender  pats. Soon, it was pouring vastly all over the city: over all people, over all things. All-people,places,cats and dogs,trees-all.. had a thin coat of clouds on them: a cool shield; something to hide beneath. The gray air made it ok for everyone to feel... to feel in love, in anger, in agony, and in confusion.  so i do. for this temporary moment where everything hides under the tender coat of clouds, i unhide myself. 

Trying to Focus

December 18 - Buenos Aires 5:58pm

It is time to focus on some new projects and continue the existing ones...

As I mentioned before, I am trying to create a photo-portfolio for future potential work. I had my first photo-shoot with a girl from States: Lisa. It was a lot of fun.  (You can view pictures: 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mavimtrakphotography/sets/72157611338709060/   )

I might be sending some photos and a short poem to a magazine for January. Will update you all. 

I danced with some pretty "famous" tangueros last night without my knowledge. I was a bit silly. It was like asking Brad Pitt what his name was. Oh well... =)

I am also going to start focusing on my writing... I am taking it step by step, trying to summarize my ideas and story to not get tangled up in details... Like the old saying: "I am writing you a long letter because I didn't have time to write you a short one"

Post-Vacation

Reporting from Bs As AT 12:09PM

After the wonderful vacation and the work night right afterwards (on Thursday) I had a nice sleep on Friday and did some at-home time. My boss, Bastian from Urbanicos (Photography gig) called me for a job on Friday. Soon after I told him I could do it,  realized that I left my external flash at the hostel's safe in Uruguay! It was a "argghhhshshhs I hate myself" moment.  I called the hostel and they have it. They said they will try to send it to me... we will see... However, without it, my job would be sloppy and amateur. So I called Bastian back to see what he wants me to do. After searching for an other photographer, he gave me the go-ahead still. In the evening, i went to Casa Bar for someone's birthday and hung out with friends. Afterwards, I visited two clubs for the photography job. It didnt go as bad as I thought. The first club was a Brazilian samba club. I think I am in love with Samba, I want to learn!!! After that, I went to the other side of the town for an other club... I came home around 6am and spent 3 hours uploading the fricking pictures! I slept around 9:30 and woke up at 11:30 to tidy the apartment and get ready for my guests: Michelle and her friend Maria.

They arrived around 1:30 from Chicago, with their winter clothes =) 

(to be continued)

Here is the continuation: Michelle and Maria were amazing company. We had a full weekend... Ate lots of steak, drank wine, sipped Mate at the park, visited San Telmo, Recoleta cemetary and Palermo...I took them to their first Milonga and they seemed to enjoy it. We had an amazing fun cab ride to Recoleta with all the hit songs playing loud and dancing in the back seat! We ate alfajores, medialunas and anything else we found in frequent intervals =)... They came and watched me work while sipping their caipirinhas after a tango show. Overall, it was a very nice time for me. 

Vacation within vacation-PART2

Part2 - Punta del Diablo (Reporting from BA on December 12, at 2:44pm)

After Lucia and I parted away, we had a 3-4hour bus trip to Punta Del Diablo... Ipod, nice conversation, snacks and we were left in the middle of the road, 6km away from the entrance to the small beach town. Since there were no cabs,busses, cars or people around; we chilled for couple of minutes considering our options to reach town. Finally we decided to do a partial-hitchhike (meaning paying someone a bit to take us to town)

After our nice ride, we reached the "town" and i fell in love with it immediately. The "main" sand road, adorned with half build wood houses on the left and an immense blue on the right side took us to our hostel. The one and only hostel: El Tranquilo Diablo.. Que linda lugar!

The hostel and the bar/restaurant down the street are both owned by an American, Brian and his girlfriend.This is not just a hostel but a beautiful house that brings the world together. It was like the United Colors of Benetton commercial. People from everywhere... We instantly made friends and had conversations about our travels,lives, perspectives. very fulfilling. We spent the night at the bar and went to bed around 3am. Next morning, we were up for breakfast and chat before hitting the beach. There are 3 beaches in Punta Del Diablo... We initially visited Plaja Grande. Immense beach with no one! Lucia and I were the only ones for couple hours. Beautiful and peaceful.  Afterwards, we had lunch at the bar (where else?) and hung out, spoke some spanish...=) Next day was similar. I would get up, go sit outside in a hammack and talk with different people at different points of the day. again, very emotionally satisfying. I became quite tight with the people who worked at the hostel and the bar. They even offered me a job as a bartender. It required a 3months commitment though which I wasnt ready for. If they change their mind to one month only, I might consider. Free accomodation, food and surf lessons... What more would one want?

overall a 5star vacation! The way back was a bit longer than expected with the delay of the ship and the protesting of Argentineans (such fanatic souls!) I made it home on Thursday morning around 11. Took a brief nap and ran some errands before I went to work at 8pm. 

Vacation within vacation-PART1

PART 1-Punto del Este (reporting on Dec 11 at 6:10pm from BA)

Where do I start... 5days in Uruguay were amazing... Agustin, the argentinean guy who had a place in Punto del Este, Johnny whom I met at the bar, his sister and Lucia, the English girl I met at spanish class took the ship from Buenos Aires to Montevideo on Friday night... Bringing lots of booze and positive energy with us, we reached Montevideo 3.5hours later, drunk and ready for fun. Then we took a bus to Punto del Este... The ride was as I remember around 3hours... but who knows. 

Punto del Este is a rather touristy part of Uruguay. It reminded me alot of Meditereanne... A main road along the coast filled with restaurants and bars, a young crowd taking naps at the beach  during the day and partying all night... Food is also amazing... chivitos are the Uruguayan main dish. It has everything... literally.  Churrasco beef, bacon, eggs, mayonnaise, olives, mozzarella and tomatos, served in a bun with side of fries. Yumm!! We rested at the beach as soon as we arrived Saturday morning, ate some chivitos and then did the coast walk taking pictures... We chilled at a side bar called Soho (of course!) and had the Uruguayan beer: Patricia, Zillertal y Pilsen.. My favorite is Zillertal I think... After our long walk and explorations, we stopped at a Disco (main grocery store) and bought food to cook at night. Or mostly, Lucia cooked and we helped her by drinking wine and watching her cook =)...

After an amazing and fairly cheap home cooked meal, two bottles of wine and some shots of tequila, we left the house to hit the "happening places" of Punto del Este... I had a question in my mind at this point: When did being 20years old become cool and so widely popular? I thought whatever age I am would always be cool! Well, needless to say, lots of young adrenaline surrounded us at the barteques (I cant call them bars or discoteques.. it is something in between) 

After a late night, we slept in till about 1pm...We decided to take a side trip to an other town called La Barra. It is only 20min away by car and around an hour away by bike... So as soon as everyone was talking about riding a bike from one town to an other, I had goose bumps. I came out of my closet and told them they I learned how to ride a bike only a year ago and maybe had done it for 5times in my entire life. They had high hopes for me. So, I sucked it up and said ok. In the end, I was the only one who didnt have a problem with the bikes. Two of the bikes broke down, Sarah hitchhiked half way there but we had looots of fun. I am proud of myself! Thanks to my teacher, derya!

La Barra was a small nice town... We had couple hours at the beach, drank Mate (I am soo argentinean!)) and walked around... Had more chivitos before we returned to Punto del Este. This time, we rode along the beach, by the highway. I am a bike expert by now! =) We went home and cooked more. We had pasta with wine, moved on to the amazing greyfruit vodkas that Sarah prepared for us... After showers, getting ready and chilling at the house, we left for an other night out.  We met some crazy Uruguayans, danced, drank, had fun... Monday was also a late morning... 

We returned the bikes and went to the bus stop to find out that Lucia and I only had 2.5 hours left for the bus that was leaving for Punto del Diablo... Everyone else had to go back to BA for work that same evening... So we spent our last hours doing my favorite thing: eating!! we packed and said Hasta Luego to Johnny,Sarah and Agustin.

Beginning of December

Couple days ago, I had a dream... I was in Turkey suddenly and couldnt understand how I got there... I was panicking in frustration... I was screaming.."But I should be in Buenos Aires... I wasnt done yet!" and woke up to peace... Hence... I am happy here and not ready to leave it yet.

"The question" that people do not hesitate to ask here: "Cuantos anos tienes?"   o "Cual edad tienes?" -That is how old are you? I might have heard it more than "Como estas" How are you.  !!! 

I have been dancing and partying a little bit.. Hence, sorry for not writing... I know that there are at least two people following my blog... =)..

Couple days ago, I met some very cool dancers from Montreal and New York... Here are some photos with them from a very nice get-together at a gorgeous apartment... We ended up turning the "get-together" into a mini-milonga! This is what dancers do.. It is somewhat annoying to those who dont dance I assume.

What else is happening these days... Well, have I mentioned that I did my first photography gig with Urbanicos... I probably have huh.. It went pretty well and they called me again for an other. But i was busy with tango.. Also, I decided to create my own photography portfolio if for noting, for fun... So I put up an ad for models on craigslist and received 3 responses so far... I will keep you all posted about how they went.

I met for coffee with an other "Couch Surfer" on Tuesday. We had a good conversation about cultures, politics and societies... He was from Australia.

I am going to Uruguay tonight with John, Sarah, Agustin y Lucia! 5days of beach, drinking and fun! So if I dont write, don't blame me =) First Punte del este by boat+bus and then Punte del Diablo by bus... mm, i can smell sun lotion =)...

A new Month!

Time goes by so quickly and with each moment, I feel the sense of loss more... Losing time that is. Not utilizing it in the most productive and satisfying way... Hoping that it would stop to take a breath and give me a break. Hoping for magic has always been my forte. 

I need a balance in my passions... All seems to require effort and time. I am willing to give both to achieve "above average" results the least. I have my schedule set for tango classes this week. I have been going to many milongas last week. Hence I haven't been writing at all. I need a week of writing camp to get back into shape. Its absence is a heavy weight on my shoulder. 

Saturday night was a long night... I went to work at the bar at 9pm... I left early, around 3:30am... Apparently I missed the biggest fight of the year by doing so. It was between my boss, Patrick, whom I always suspected having a mood problem and a german client who refused to pay his month long tab. Client was drunk, boss was intolerant; resulting punches, blood, broken hands and black-eyes. Would be a great photography scene... 

After I left, I went to a club.. "Bahrein" for my other job... I took pictures for two hours, got back home to upload them-which took about 2 hours!!!- and went to bed around 8:30am. It was a good experience overall and my pictures were posted already by the time I woke up. 

(you can view them here: http://urbanicos.com/events/view/93) -under  fotos, Sab 29,11,2008)
 

Sunday started later... around 3:00pm... I had dinner with co-workers and listened to the details of the previous night's fight; celebrated one's birthday and then went to the milonga at La Viruta... Came back around 5am to my comfy pillow!...

And it is already December!

Noviembre 26-27

More sub bathing by the pool, zero time spend writing... Lots of dancing and work on Thursday night...(Extremely busy night!) Did I mention I bought a hookah? Melanie and an other friend came over to smoke hookah and drink wine on Wednesday night... We then went to the milonga at La Viruta... Great night for dancing... We closed the milonga(about 4am)... Thursday was more chill... I went to work around 8 and was there until 4:30am... I had no time to even say hi to my friends... A very cool band was playing... They "rocked!"...

Noviembre 23-24-25

I have not been able to write for couple of days... Not that I have not felt like it... I have simply been preoccupied or tired. But here I am, though tired, ready to write a brief summary of the past 3 days...

Sunday, November 23rd

After a late/early night out on Saturday, I was able to wake up (with an alarm and a phone call) around 2:00pm. I quickly got ready and sipped a coffee before leaving the house... Around 3:20 I was in the train to Tigre with John and his sister Sarah. (Sarah's second day in Buenos Aires) After an hour long train ride with nice conversation, we reached Tigre. Tigre is a small and very cute suburb of Buenos Aires. There is a street market where furniture and jewelry is sold for much cheaper than anything you can find in the city. Hence, we walked around, bought some stuff (a ring and a mate bag for me) ate and drank Quilmes, went to a coffeehouse where I have tasted a piece from heaven... The most perfect chocolate cake ever! (Below) 

Monday November 24th

After trying to run errands such as extending my lease to Feb 1st (as far out as I can extend since my place is already rented by someone else for the month of February), trying to go to the bank, pilates etc... I came home. There was a Turkish guy -a Couch Surfer( Couch Surfer is a website for travellers all over the world... It enables a traveller to meet, stay over, have coffee, get advice with/at/from at a local's house for the exchange of interesting stories and friendship) who contacted me over the weekend to see the availability of "my couch". So I told him that he could stay with me for two nights.  He came over at 6:30. Nebil is from Antakya and he is a very interesting, genuine guy. He is a biologist and a musician. He plays an instrument that I have never seen before. It has an extremely powerful, melancholic sound to it that creates nods in your throat when you listen to it. 

Nebil and his santur

After our 6hrs conversation with music, I left him at home and went to a milonga with Melanie and Lee(my friends from Chicago) and came back around 5am.

Tuesday November 25th

Woke up around 12 and got ready to go to Lee's pool. Nebil was already gone for the day. I met up with Melanie and we shared a cab over to Lee's house. After a chilled day at the pool, I came back and met up with Nebil. We went to  close-by Syrian store to buy me a Nargileh and tobacco. Since he spoke Arabic, we were able to get a nice discount and make more friends. We came home and smoked the nargileh and chatted about our days. Later, I left him again to go to a Practica/Milonga. Came back earlier, around 3am.