Critical mass, ass, smoking and transvestites

Dear, many, many fans/readers and concerned people, and oh' yes the government intelligence agencies.

I have had many new adventures and a few humorous experiences I'd like to try getting out.We certainly had some good times in Uruguay and Punta del Diablo.

The Tobacco companies are regulated like in Canada and use these anti smoking adverts where they sell tobacco. But, really I hadnt seen any like these in Uruguay...

The little beach stores, are haphazardly constructed from old sheds or beach huts or what-have-you.

So, where we bought our bubbly water (after our long hike) has these 2 counters facing each other, rather close, and with a low roof/ceiling, and with me being a little taller; well the inverted, lit up adds, facing each other , formed this kind of red lit tunnel- the tunnel of shame, I call it!

Since no where else would such poor advertising ( I had to duck them, to see and to pay the cashier) and poor placement, and such an anti sales kind of signage, be used. It struck me as so funny, this contradiction, on one hand wanting to sell cigarettes and the other, to use the regulated signs, and then, not having the head clearance to see anything else.

Ahhhh, the horror of smoking! Nooooo, make it stop!

I laughed and laughed.

Speaking of laughing...

We rented local city bikes for Buenos Aires critical mass, orange bikes that hurt our asses.

We rode and rode around the city, a party on wheels. All good fun.

We rode with a family on our way back through the beautiful night parks of Palermo. 2 young teens and their mother. Thought it nice to have some company on the ride home. But wow, were we surprised. We rode through Buenos Aires transvestite red-light strip, with maybe 40 prostitutes each with their own street light to stand under. I didnt notice so many cars perusing their wares yet. But cycling past, one sees this silhouette, but often an unearthly large one, of a scantily clad, provocatively dressed woman... and then, the light- Blam! Monster-tranny-creature-of-the-night! with their breast out and sometimes their penis hanging out. Well I guess its a slow night, those high heels are hurting and might as well show the product, right? Anyways, it was such a funny, funhouse surprise, and with the 2 young teen brother and sister riding bikes, I laughed and laughed; how could Eddie Murphy be so wrong!

So, yes, I am still here, going to contact Dance Jams every night if I can. My skills are getting better, people even come to me to dance, (rather than me chasing them down). I am wearing out my toes and have to tape them. I have my own little room, actually large room with bathroom in an old colonial building. My ceiling must be 16-18 feet tall, and with a weird loft that I must climb to get to (they took out the stairs due to regulations).

L

Brazilian power brokers

Hello folks

Its been a good month or so here in South America.

We flew into Buenos Aires, after all the clean up/set up that needed to take place before leaving Seattle. Arrived at our couch surfing host in the old town of San telco. What great people and place to acclimatize for the first few days in Argentina. The large colonial apartment has a grand balcony over the numerous bars and restaurants.

Yet within a few days, we took off for the southern extremes of the pampas and winelands. We had signed up for 4 days in a rural house called Casa Magica with los kukis. We had arrived in the middle of a contact improv dance 'retreat'. (Our main reason for coming to South America and Argentina, in particular).

The people there were so friendly and helpful, Lisa had wondered if it might actually end up as the best part of the trip.

We carried further on to Bariloche in the mountains bordering Chile. Strange to be back in the cool wet weather so familiar to the Northwest. We ran into our dance friends in that extra touristy town. But were back in Buenos Aires for our contact improv dance teacher conference before too long.

The first couple of nights were gruelling and exhilarating; feeling a little out of shape but meeting such great dancers from the area. We sweated through the 5 days in this beautiful colonial building. Lunches were provided.We had some cultural misunderstandings, and my Spanish isn't strong enough for fluent, fast group dialogue. Nonetheless we really enjoyed the jams.

After some wayward dawdling after the conference and some great jams, one in the park, and another at an ariel studio, we moved on to Uruguay. One of the few countries these days without the punitive 'reciprocity' laws. So yes, if you havnt heard, a number of countries have decided to strike back at the north Americas, racists immigration rules, and rightly so, since the discrimination has been going on for so long. So, to explain quickly, whatever our countries have a prerequisites for these ones, they ask for in return. and I tell you, its extreme! Really negating visas doesn't compromise the already extensive power that immigration officials already have.

An American friend of our couchsurf hosts dropped in from a local tech conference, offering their lovely beach house here in Punta Del Diablo Uruguay. Apparently voted the top 10 places to visit by Lonely Planet. We agree, its great!

Today we went to Brazil, 3 times. Its easy in the border town of Chuy, one simply crosses the main street to the other side. All too many expensive 'duty free' shops in the town. And really the Brazilian economy is on fire, its true. We mistakenly bought a small bottle of contact lens solution for 34 dollars $U.S. Maybe we can take it back tomorrow. You see we need to return, since non of the bank machines were functioning (and this is before the massive ominous storm cloud appeared in the horizon and swallowed the town). Perhaps we should go to another country since the machines weren't any use to us on the Uruguayan side of the street. We tried a couple of the bank machines in the Brazilian banks, but no luck. The power had gone off but the machines were still on. So we tried again, with one of the tellers from inside the darkened bank. Again and again, at last with the proper series of swipes and Portuguese selection the money was clicking along and ready to pop out… and then lightening struck and the power went black! So maybe someone out there gets to have that money, and likely it can be recovered, but we still have to go back, since we didn't get any...

congratulations on making it to the other side...

Much time has passed since my last report/blog- testimony of infamy. Best to act on the unresolved issues and write the blog...

My recent travel plans have included the possibility of an international rainbow gathering in Brazil. But with the extreme amount of requirements (which are a tit- for-tat bureaucratic revenge for the poor and humiliating treatment by Canadian officials of Brazilians). The requirements are numerous- take a look http://www.consbrastoronto.org/visa_tourist.php

Once again, I dont feel my unorthodox life makes standard things... well, standard.

This would be my first taste as a so called privileged Canadian, having the tables turned; and I sympathize with all travelers being churned through the meat grinder of international travel. With some countries like Burma, not even issuing passports to their countrymen, and even after dodging the corruption and Kafka'esque hassel, the bloody document isnt worth anything at other countries borders... do not pass go, and do not collect 200$.

But on the lighter side, I shaved my head. Wow! so great to free of that hair! Something I had thought of but hadnt done for being a fashion slave. Somehow the idea that I didnt have an attractive head, is gone.

While visiting my family in Ontario, after an uncles birthday party, I thought to catch the train home with my folding bike. I had seen some recent advertisement mentioning how "bike friendly" VIA was, I hadnt really thought about it otherwise, never having brought my bike onto VIA, only AMTRAK. AMTRAK is friendly and easy, and you can bring your bike on the train for 5$, but that not being a factor since I fold mine and pack it away.

But after buying my ticket and heading down to the platform gate, they wouldnt let me on, 'the rules' they said. No bikes allowed on the platform. So after a number of calls to supervisors and managers, they couldnt find a way to get my bike on the train. (there was no 'baggage car'). I told them, "its o.k. my bike folds up". They refused again. I asked them what about all this bike friendly advertisement. Of course the manager didnt know anything about it. So IRONICALLY and amazingly there was a poster promotion photo add right there! He was so surprised and apologetic he took a picture with his camera phone! They refunded my money, apologized, since it seems the bureaucracy, hadnt got the memo that they were blasting out to the public. I ended up taking the local GO commuter, cheaper service that brought me closer to home- 3 blocks away!

http://www.biketrain.ca/watch-the-bike-train-video