Countdown as the weeks trickle into days...

My new favorite place in the city, Plaza San Martn
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Classes ended on Thursday for us.  I finished my exams on Wednesday and was met with the very mixed emotions of excitement at being done with school and sadness with knowing that my time here in Buenos Aires is almost up.  Since then I've been trying to do something new every day.  So far, so good.

Thursday I spent the day walking around the city.  In doing this I stumbled upon what is my favorite place in the city so far.  It's just a plaza, nothing more.  But something about it was charming and I really loved it.  Plaza San Martín is big and open with a park behind it.  It was such a beautiful day and it seemed like every one who had some extra time took a minute to go there and just stop running around and get away for a minute.

A hippo underwater at Temaikn
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Friday I went to Temaikén with some friends of mine.  It's a huge zoo in the city of Escobar, about 45 minutes north of the city.  It was the nicest zoo I have ever been too.  More like the wildlife safari in Disneyworld than a zoo.  Everything looked brand new.  I've been told that there's another section of the zoo where you don't walk but ride in Jeeps while the animals run loose.  Kind of like in Disneyworld...  It was another beautiful da, just perfect to be there.

Flamingos at Temaikn
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Saturday was a kind of random day here in the city.  We ended up at the Hípodromo (race track) and watched a few horse races.  It's such a beautiful building and it's huge, it takes up almost ten city blocks.  Better yet, women enter free which was a big perk for us!

Today we went to new ferias.  Nothig too exciting.  The rest of the day will be spent relaxing and planning things out for my last two weeks here.

In light of my nearing departure, I've been thinking a lot about what I will miss and what I am looking forward to back at home.  So, here's my top five (or so) of each.  Enjoy!

Things I Will Miss About Buenos Aires:

1) The traffic lights.  They turn yellow before AND AFTER the red light so you when when it's going to change red and green.  One of the best ideas ever!

2) Alfajores.  Two cookies or pieces or piece of cake brought together by mousse or dulce de leche.  Need I say more?

3) Dulce de Leche.  Argentina's only dessert flavor. It's all dulce all the time and it's wonderful.

4) Helado.  The ice cream here is just better.  And you get two flavors every time.  And they don't scoop it, they use spatulas to whip it into little mountains. Sorry but the old scoop just cannot compare.

5) Public Transportation.  Yes it's loud, stinky, crowded, etc.  But, it's cheap and convenient and it's so nice not to have to worry about gas prices.  Also, there are a ton of options, bus, subte, train...something for everyone!

6) Flower Stands.  There is one on almost every street corner and it just brightens up the whole city.  Plus the prices are so good that there is no excuse not to have fresh flowers in your house at any given moment.

7) The Kiss.  I love kissing everyone's cheek when I walk in a room.  Even though I don't do it every time, all the Argentine's do.  And it's just such a nice gesture so much warmer than a single "Hello" for a whole room full of people.

Things I Am Looking Forward to at Home:

1) Spicy Food.  I never thought I liked my food that hot but, ketchup is the spiciest condiment available here and Mexican food (and everything else) comes with a side of mayo instead of salsa.  I can't wait to kick it up a notch!

2) Clean Sidewalks.  This country is full of dog lovers, they walk their dogs on the streets, they don't clean up after them.  You do the math.

3) Driving.  I meant what I said about public transportation but man it's going to be nice not to have to wait for a bus or train or the subte and just go whenever I want to.

4) Clothes that Fit.  Living in a country where all the women are pint-sized and a large is equivalent to a size 2 at home gets old after awhile.

5) Pizza.  The pizza here is good but, it's just not quite greasy enough for me.  And I'd just kill for a Jack's frozen pizza right now, or for some Vitale's...