Monday, December 22, 2008

El Ultimo Dia

Loyal Readers,

Well, it's been a wild ride over the last 114 days, but this is the last one on this continent for a while. We're just doing some final chores here in lovely sunny Buenos Aires, and fly out late tonight. We've just narrowly averted disaster by actually trying to reconfirm our BA-AKL flight, only to find that it's been slightly rescheduled. After some confusion about whether it was made 2hrs late or 22hrs early, we're calm now in the knowledge that we haven't missed our flight home and will just be a little delayed. We will miss our previous domestic flights down from AKL, but after pounding the credit card (oooooo it gets spendy when you try to get seats on Xmas eve at the last minute!) we're only going to end up an hour later than previously thought. If anyone's organising a flyover, fireworks display or welcome concert for us then considered yourself warned.

We said goodbye to Rob and Carlos on the 20th with tears in our eyes. They were the most amazing hosts and barely let us lift a finger. I feel like I've seen a different side to the guy I sat opposite to at Collado Collins for the last two years. Stories were shared (some not fit for publication, some sufficient for half a dozen 23 minute sitcom episodes, INHO), much wine was drunk, we played Perudo, 3D Connect Four, and I had my ass comprehensively whipped by Carlos at chess. Seeing Rob stretched out in a hammock with nothing on his (usually very carefully prioritised) list made me very happy. Like so many farewells over the last 5 months we don't know when we'll see them again, but I have a comforting feeling that we definitely will.

By complete coincidence, we managed to bump into Fausto at the antiques market in San Telmo yesterday - remember him, our guide when we first arrived in Salvador, Brazil? He was just as surprised to see us as we were him, and we had the chance to thank him personally for giving us such a great introduction and glowing recommendation of Bahia.

There will be a greatest hits blog post (Ana has suggested 'best pets', 'best lookalike' and 'best photo' categories already), and news of life back in the homeland. But, expect some time offline over the holidays, when much ham will be carved and delicious Summer Ale supped. There are some dear folk to catch up with, and gifts to distribute. Tales will be told and tans maintained. It's the holidays.

Wherever you are scattered, I hope you have great Christmas and New Years' holiday time, with all your favourite people around (or at least contactable on Skype), and a little something for you under the tree.

Feliz Navidad,

A

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