Home / Latin America / Argentina, Uruguay, and Chile 2025

De verdad, intenté disfrutar de Buenos Aires, pero…

I have really tried to make the most of my time in Buenos Aires, this so-called “Paris of South America.” If one likes a big city, I’m sure this would be more enjoyable. But I just don’t like big cities. And the heat and humidity are killing me.

Nonetheless, I have done several of the “musts” suggested for a visit to Buenos Aires: I have wandered the neighborhoods, especially Recoleta and Palermo; I have hung out in cafes and sampled alfajores; I have eaten empanadas and tasted Argentinian wines; I visited the Recoleta Cemetery and the tomb of Eva Perón; I went to MALBA, the Museo de Arte Latinoamericano de Buenos Aires, and saw the Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera paintings. But I have also sought the shelter and air conditioning of my little apartment.

And the last day in Uruguay was so draining that I spent a full day recuperating, here in my little 10th-floor place of refuge.

The interview

I don’t quite know how to describe this interview at the language school in Montevideo (purposefully omitting its name). The day was so hot and wet, with the rainstorm and lack of shelter. I waited until the last possible moment to check out of my hotel, and even then I lingered in the hotel lobby hoping the rain might let up. But it didn’t. I took a taxi to “Montevideo Shopping,” as mentioned, and then made my way on foot to the school, but Google Maps just does NOT provide good directions for traveling on foot. I navigated the wet sidewalks and splashing of passing cars to finally find the little door to the school. I arrived with soaking shoes and soaking umbrella, and there stood a group of people awaiting the arrival of this crazy woman who had traveled all the way from the U.S. for this interview! I’m sure I looked the part of crazy woman.

I met the director, who led me to a conference room. But I must describe it as akin to an interrogation room in a low-budget spy show. To be clear: I wasn’t interrogated. But the lone window was shuttered, the door closed, and the air conditioning turned off. There was one tiny fan on the table. The director offered me water and coffee, but at that moment I was well hydrated and caffeinated. But 2.5 hours later, I was less so!! I still have no idea how we managed to talk for 2.5 hours. I never even got a tour of the school! We just talked there in that dark, hot room. Even after I drained the water bottle I had in my backpack, he didn’t offer me more water.

I think he simply wasn’t aware of how ridiculous it all was. He was busy forming and reforming his opinions of me and didn’t notice my constant wiping of sweat from my face. To sum up: He told me I was overqualified, tried to talk me out of the whole idea of living and working abroad, then once convinced I am clear-eyed about what is involved said he wanted a one-year commitment, then though I did not promise one year offered me the job and wanted me to start training this week. I was able to get a few questions in of my own, but by then we had been there sooooo long. I would have asked for a tour of the school but I simply had to get out of there. It was after 3:30 and I hadn’t eaten. I was starving, drained, and completely wilted.

That’s the story. Honestly, some of it is a blur. I found a sort of “fast-food salad” place nearby, which was just what I needed. I wolfed down vegetables – glorious vegetables – drank water, got a taxi to the port, and after a long wait, boarded the 2.5-hour ferry ride “home” to Buenos Aires.

And now, photos (click to enlarge):

^{Recoleta Cemetery. It goes on for blocks like this, row after row. I tried to find the famous ones, but…}

^{…it was when I saw this line of tourists that I knew I had found the most famous resident.}

^{The “Buquebus” ferry between Uruguay and Argentina. It is huge. It can carry over 2,000 people, plus cars and trucks. This photo of the inside is only one of four seating areas this large.}

^{Beef. It’s what’s for dinner… in Uruguay and Argentina. I’m looking foward to seafood in Chile.}

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