Mañana, mañana, when will mañana come...Quote:
Originally Posted by bklyntrayc
Strong to very strong beer. A rarity in South America. Try the bok if you can find it. The food and wine only get better/cheaper as you cross into Argentina!Quote:
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Mañana, mañana, when will mañana come...Quote:
Originally Posted by bklyntrayc
Strong to very strong beer. A rarity in South America. Try the bok if you can find it. The food and wine only get better/cheaper as you cross into Argentina!Quote:
Days 11 & 12
This morena is still a novelty here. People stop, wait and stare as I ski by. I get a million questions on the lift. Do you speak English? What do you do for a living? Where are you from? Where do you ski in the states? Most of the guests are Americans. It seems many live within 50 miles of my house. Some of them show some ugly American habits. You'd think, if a person wants skim milk with their cereal every am, that they'd learn to say it in Spanish by the 4th morning. How about learning to just say leche?
One day of sunshine blurs into another, as I learn to time the corn cycle here. Warm afternoons and cold nights.
4 meals a day = Portillo Pot Belly. They have fruit sorbet for deserts, which are much more refreshing than muy rico Tres Leches. The tightly scheduled dining arrangements lull you into a routine. Te, huevos y queso por breakfast. Your mind wanders to find any distraction. You note that there are a disproportionate amount of red headed people here in Portillo. It's a ginger kid convention this week. You find an infinite number of differences in the snow from one aspect to another. You find that you always have an involuntary little cough on those morning chairlift rides over the road, must be the exhaust from all the trucks. Ride the crazy 5 person poma up, look for those last patches of pow on the way down. Pavlovian response kicks in, you are already conditioned and it is lunchtime. Appetizer, entree, desert. Flashback to Grey Rocks, deja vu. Ski a few more hours, come back in for tea time. Chill out, then it's the bar and dinner.
Clouds have begun to form on the horizon. I hope it means fresh snow soon.
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k1...7/sa067388.jpg
Giant steps are what you take, Walking on the moon
I hope my legs don't break, Walking on the moon
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k1...7/sa067382.jpg
Feet they hardly touch the ground, Walking on the moon
My feet don't hardly make no sound, Walking on, walking on the moon
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k1...7/sa067384.jpg
Some may say, I'm wishing my days away
No way, And if it's the price I pay
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k1...7/sa067387.jpg
Some say, Tomorrow's another day
You stay, I may as well play
What a life...
Very nice.
Great TR Trayc! Wonderful.
Keep the pictures, words, and lyrics coming.
Great stuff Trayc.
Portillo - swarms of red coated waiters and herds of camo clad soldiers. Seen any Vie-a-vent carnage yet? Don't forget to hit the Postada across the other side of the street from the hotel for great steak and eggs dinner. The show put on by the little guy handing out towels by the hotel hot tub is fun but I wouldn't want to be his dermatologist. I have dress shoes less leathery than his face. St Bernards chasing kids on the bunny hill are often another amusing distraction.
I'm flying to BA in the morning and hope to be able to post a little summer stoke for everyone next week from Bariloche.
FKNA! Git on wit' yo bad self!
:yourock:
Maybe some day when I finally make it up from the little leagues, I can join you guys on these rad adventures into the wild blue yonder. :wink: Keep it coming, and thanks for the awesome stoke!
Me siento como si estoy con tigo, disfrutando este viaje!
Coño, la proxima vez...me meto en tu maleta si es necessario!
:D
Sprite
i think sprite wants to get in the suitcase??
Something like that!
;)
Sprite
Does this girl git 'er done - or what???
Schhhhwaaaaank!
Huevon!!!
No es "Poma"
Es una "va et viente"
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k1...7/sa067371.jpg
Did you ride it? Its quite a ride.
A pulley system is anchored in the cliffs and there are two seats of 4 or 5 and one is coming up with passengers while the other goes down. It then stops at the top with the passengers facing uphill to then dismount in synchronized fashion.
I ahve been tuning into this TR for the last week and there is no sign of the Stoke slowing down. Awesome writing T.
I can't wait to go skiing.
Days 13-16
Birds flying high you know how I feel
Sun in the sky you know how I feel
Reeds drifting on by you know how I feel
Its a new dawn
Its a new day
Its a new life
For me
And I'm feeling good
Suddenly I'm feeling really good.
I've been getting by with a little help from my friends, most of the time - Alleve, Advil, Tylenol, St Josephs, Glucosamine, Theraflu, Sudafed, Alavert, Vicks Vapor Rub... It's a pharmacy up in this piece. After two teeth chattering runs this morning my knee was giving up the ghost. They've been swollen since day 4 and clicking to beat the band. I couldn't press my right foot into the heel piece of my bindings without assistance. The last two days I've been skiing with some futuro supports, but around 11:15 am (day 13) I'm feeling good like Nina Simone. Really good, like something clicked into the right place and I've got a whole new leg. The final two days of skiing I hit all the lines I wanted to at Portillo, ones that I didn't feel well enough to tackle previously or beatered on. So I went for these two, but decided against the second due to some mandatory air on the exit. It's too early in this trip for an injury.
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k1...7/sa067395.jpg
Go. (va)
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k1...7/sa067396.jpg
and no - go like a chevy. (no va)
I brought the camera out to take some more top secret photos. Ever the covert agent I had to have a cover. But then someone bumped my arm at the crucial moment. Yes, that's his pair, yes those are markers, yes the pic is blurry.
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k1...7/sa067391.jpg
Meet you at la discoteque later, mi amigos.
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k1...7/sa067392.jpg
Evidence.
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k1...7/sa067399.jpg
More military precision.
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k1...7/sa067405.jpg
Some lake runs to cap the final days in Portillo.
"esquiar todo el dia, partido todo la noche"
Ski all day, Party all night sums up the remainder of my week in Portillo.
Bailar (dancing) en La Posada, with the locals until the wee hours Pisco y Sprite, Pisco y Coca Cola and 'dolor de cabeza' (hangover) in the morning. Great fun. Sergio, complemented me on my proficency in latin dancing por a Americano. Mucho salsa dancing with Claudio, and reggaton with Juan. Explaining to Juan (alternately San Juan o Don Juan) that he couldn't spend the last night en mi habitacion when we both speak very little of the other's language was hilarous.
Porque no beso? Porque?
Amigos solamente, mi amor.
Porque? Te amo!
No.
Adios, Jim y D. I had fun meeting and spending time with you.
Due to some unexpected problems with guests of south america ski almost expiring, I left Portillo with no idea where I would be staying in Las Lenas or Mendoza if necessary. I just knew I was on a bus to Mendoza. Valle Nevado -> Portillo -> Las Lenas, makes a nice neat loop on the map, but transportation is not simple without fluency in espanol.
Luckily I met two French Canadian brothers from Winnipeg, Daniel and Miguel on route to Mendoza. They've been traveling between Chile and Argentina for almost a month and these sweet guys hooked me up with a hostel in Mendoza, taxi rides, dinner, a movie and rich conversation. We had a comedic moment (2 hours, actually) at the customs point on the Chile/Argentina border crossing. Would they search our bags? Would we have to dump our... medications? Luckily, no.
When the younger brother wrote 1981 as his birth-year in the hostel I just cracked up inside. I'm glad I never had to mention how much closer I am in age to their parents. We ate at the recommended 'best' pizzeria in Mendoza, walked all around the city, watched V for Vendetta in the hostel's AV room and enjoyed our chance meeting. Note to self: trying to watch a dialogue heavy movie while a lively conversation is going on behind you in Spanish, is a lesson in futility. I was able to reciprocate by giving the guys a valuable bottle of body lotion I swiped from the fancy Sheraton. I tiptoed out with 4 hours sleep to the bus station in the hopes of catching the 6 am bus to Las Lenas, and slipped a note into their suitcase with my email. They're great people I hope to hear from again, I was impressed by how open they were to meeting new people. Is it youth or being Canadian? Have I met a Canadian I didn't like? No not yet.
Chaos at the bus station in Mendoza - 5:30 am. Luckily for me, these grifters have nothing on the salty dogs at Port Authority in NY. My man was about to drag my bags out of the taxi, but that NY "NO!" stopped him in his tracks. He skulked around a bit, but when he saw me drag off 150+ pounds of skis, boots, bags, clothing and camera equipment with energy to spare to kick ass if necessary, he went off in search of more vulnerable prey.
I was able to find the right bus and make the proper transfer at San Raphael with about 10 hours of sleep in the last 3 days. Arrived in Lenas today and scored a ridiculously cheap (and comfortable) accommodation for the first week. Settled in and had a Quilmes and sandwich at the Innsbruck and have found out that Aries hotel has free wireless for a two drink minimum. Otra copa, por favor!
After this post, it's on to the market and then a planned early night, for much needed rest before skiing Lenas.
Hasta Luego.
oh damn damn damn. i was kind of resigned to going back home tomorrow and now i read this! ***** airline wont change my flight. f**k!!!!
and: yeah, very cool trayc.
saludos & suerte for the rest of your stay!
FKNA, FKNA, FKNA!!!!
16 days in and it's "too early in the trip for an injury?" Jesus! Just how long are you down there for?
I am so jealous right now that it's not even funny...
Cool,
Sounds like you're having a good time, despite the fact that it's despejado every day. And I finally have a fast enough connection to read some posts :D
Will be back in LL by the 30th (and I am French Canadian too :) )...
... But unfortunately, a lot older than 1981
Steve
Jeezuz, T, I thought you'd be home by now, so I sent you a FKNA in the front tee shirt as a thank you for all the tata inspiration you've provided. :p
Now that you're quoting Nina Simone I have to post in this historic thread. Pics are great - can the army ski well?
Day 17
Battery is running low, so today's report is short. Great day getting the lay of the land.
This is the lineup at Marte at the end of the day:
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k1...7/sa067475.jpg
Do not stare at the cute lift attendant standing near the back of the line. You will knock people over like bowling pins, and earn the disdain of the pretentious BroBrahs in line. I did. LOL!
My sentiments exactly when I read that. This is quite a trip. I stopped reading this thread after a week because I though TrayC was back in the states. This is a pleasant surprise to read more into the SA adventureQuote:
Originally Posted by Ubersheist
It's quite funny that she run into a few maggots during this marathon too, keep on rockin' in the free world....or whatever world it is down there!
B)
Best put you FKNA shirt on so he trips over his dick lookin at you.Quote:
Originally Posted by bklyntrayc
I love trayc...so sweet, beautiful, and filled with stockilicious goodness.
Funny!Quote:
Originally Posted by bklyntrayc
Looks like they are trying another configuration for that lift line. Last week, they had a guy about 50 feet up the trail stopping everybody there and letting 5-6 people at a the time join the line up below.
Is that snow in the top of the picture?
I´ll be there en la mañana...
Steve
^bump^ - 'cause this thread doesn't deserve to be on Page 3 while tracy's trip is still going on...
Much appreciation of this thread. You get an A+++++
Days 18 & 19
Cómo fue
(How did it happen?)
No sé decirte cómo fue
(I can't tell you how it did)
No sé explicarme qué pasó
(I can't explain what happened)
Pero de ti me enamoré
(But I fell in love with you)
Fue una luz
(It was a beam of light)
Que iluminó todo mi ser
(That brightened my entire being)
Tu risa como un manantial
(Your laughter, like a spring)
Regó mi vida de inquietud
(Watered my life with desire)
Fueron tus ojos o tu boca
(Was it your eyes or your mouth)
Fueron tus labios o tu voz
(Was it your lips or your voice)
Fue a lo mejor la impaciencia
(Perhaps it was the impatience)
De tanto esperar tu llegada
(Of waiting for your arrival)
Más no sé
(Any more, I don't know)
No sé decirte cómo fue
(I can't tell you how it happened)
No sé explicarme qué pasó
(I can't explain what happened)
Pero de ti me enamoré
(But I fell in love with you)
When did I fall in love with this place?
Was it along the dusty bus ride from Portillo?
Was it over dinner with Enlosandes & Espousa as they shared their story of falling in love with the mountains here?
Was it on my last breezy ride up Marte before it closed?
Was it the wine or the Quilmes, the sushi or the ravioli?
Was it the sweet powdery windblown turns I made today?
Was it the sun in my eyes and the sting of my own snowy contrail on my face?
Mas No Se.
No photos, my video adapter has died, so I've only got 640x480 4 bit color. Doesn't exactly work with Photoshop.
Wind closed Marte early yesterday and most of the lifts today. I considered climbing to earn my turns and escape the white ribbons of death, but a group with a photographer gave me a convenient excuse. Speaking to the pistero led to a nice stash of windblown goodness.
Esta Solo? Si. Bumped into Yossarian's friend Nate today, but no maggot sightings. I guess it would be easier for them to recognize me than vice versa. I think most skipped today when they saw what was open.
The light breeze turned into strong winds. The wind has brought snow, first light and now driving steadily.
Fue a lo mejor la impaciencia... De tanto esperar tu llegada
A long time.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ubersheist
Heh. I might have to do that. The pisteros are on to me now, though. They know my name.Quote:
Originally Posted by splat
Never thought I'd be the one saying this, but... Boy, if I was 20 years younger!Quote:
Originally Posted by Atrain505
You're not that old and he's not that young.:biggrin:Quote:
Originally Posted by bklyntrayc
Days 20-23
Keep Stoke Alive!
Just the highlights, ma'am.
Out of the swirling snowstorm, gincognito arrives. Just in time to enjoy a bluebird day of fresh snow.
Random meetups and dinner with Kellie, la bella. How will we breathe without you, necessary as the air?
Cross posting some pictures from gincognito's camera.
http://tetongravity.com/forums/attac...1&d=1157238614Quote:
Originally Posted by gincognito
http://tetongravity.com/forums/attac...1&d=1157238960Quote:
Originally Posted by gincognito
http://tetongravity.com/forums/attac...1&d=1157239331Quote:
Originally Posted by gincognito
http://tetongravity.com/forums/attac...1&d=1157239516Quote:
Originally Posted by gincognito
http://tetongravity.com/forums/attac...1&d=1157239650Quote:
Originally Posted by gincognito
http://tetongravity.com/forums/attac...1&d=1157239744Quote:
Originally Posted by gincognito
Gin, such a good man, nursing me and my bad knee. Getting it back together a bit more every day.
Marte closed and now open, I think I saw Sra. Enlosandes drop a cliff under Marte today. Was that you? Damn Chica!
Keep it up Trayc, keep adding to the stoke!
[Kasey Kasem voice]... And the hits keep coming! [/creepy old dude who never seems to age]
Thanks Tracy!!
Just
plain
sweet!
Trayc...under that helmet and goggles you must have a big smile going on:DQuote:
Originally Posted by bklyntrayc
hoosier daddy!
bump
Dr. Henry Jones?Quote:
Originally Posted by lemon boy