Inconspicuous

I just returned from a good run. I’m making an effort here to work on the “instant” part of the blog. I’ve decided to finally bite the bullet and commit to training for Cerro Aconcagua. This is the highest mountain in the Americas, standing at 6,960 meters, or 22,831 feet, or 4.3 miles above sea level. The basic route is not terribly technical, ropes and special equipment are not required. However, because of the altitude and distance involved, the climb requires extreme physical and cardiovascular endurance. People die on Aconcagua every year, but more on that later. I really wanted to tell about my run and how it relates to the title of this post.

Hawaii is an ideal place to run around without a shirt both climate-wise and culture-wise. Mendoza is a fairly conservative place. Even during the summer, you do not see shirtless men in public and it gets HOT. It is currently winter in Mendoza. Often while traveling, I do my best to remain inconspicuous. It doesn’t always work out that way, but nevertheless, I try. Today I felt like going for a run and I didn’t feel like wearing a shirt.

I didn’t even get out of my building before I realized that this was not going to go unnoticed. People were bundled up in their full winter regalia. They looked at me as I ran by, some stared shamelessly. I’d break the ice with the staring people with a “Que tal, che?” (what’s up, dude). I got a few hoots, hollars, shouts, whistles, and honks, most of them friendly. The elementary school kids thought I was a gaucho (Argentine cowboy). I did happen to be wearing my gaucho pants.

One of the greatest moments was when I was running past one of those guys with a face full of earrings and the expression on his face was like “I’m weird, but I ain’t that weird” That’s right you wanker, I’m raising the social deviance bar in your town. There are hundreds of guys like you in this town with tough looking cloths and 40 holes in their skin filled with metal bits and bobs but if you want to be Mr. Cool now, you gotta take off your shirt and get some exercise. Right after that, an attractive young woman looked at me and smiled coyly. That was a nice one. I told Wendy when I got home that some older women fainted. But that was one wasn’t true, I just said it to be funny.

World Cup (Mundial) Continues

Friday is a BIG one. Argentina takes on Alemania (Germany) on their home turf. A few Argentines I’ve talked to think this could be their toughest competitor. It looks like the US didn’t fare so well in this years Mundial. If I could be so bold as to suggest to any of you non-afficionados out there to take up the torch for Argentina, this is me doing so. We have fallen into quite a pleasant routine for watching the games. I’ve never been much of the type to become a “regular” because I usually like to check out new things and return occasionally to the ones I really like. Starting with the second game, however, Wendy & I and Eric & Monica (our franco-argentine couple, friends) have been watching the games at the Liverpool Pub. It has muy buena onda (a really good vibe). Come to think of it, we really have the multi cultural experience in full effect. We have represented: Hawai`i, Colorado, France, Mendoza, and occasionally the East Coast of the US. We go to an English pub, drink German beer, and scream and shout in any combination of languages. During our first appearance there, we were on the evening news which everyone in Mendoza watches. I never wanted to be famous, but it is kind of fun to be recognized. After every game, including the 0-0 tie with Holland, people pour into Calle San Martin and march down to La Peatonal Sarmiento (pedestrian mall). Every time, the crowd grows in size and frenzy. There are people of all strips, ages, economic classes. Argentine flags are everywhere, everybody is decked out in albiceleste (white and light blue), and the streets that are not blocked off are filled with cars honking. There are people hanging from anything and everything elevated; street signs, signals, trees, tall people, stacks of short people. Nobody is expected back at work or school and fireworks continue to the wee hours. Happily, I have not seen or heard about a single incedent on the part of either the celebrators nor the police.

Party in the streets! Argentina won!

20060616 123027, originally uploaded by kristian.kerr

Wendy snaps a shot of the kids getting part of the action.

Fútbol is in their blood before they can even walk.

Argentina – 6, Serbia Montenegros – 0.

20060616 123558, originally uploaded by kristian.kerr.

Forget classes today. What a game! So many goals. What is everybody going to do after a victory like that? Take to the streets, of course! The crowd was boisterous and exhuberant. 6 hours later bombs are still going off in the streets. Next Wednesday we face our competitor. I can't wait.

Preparing entire animals for consumption.

Tonight, Wendy & I are hosting some of our Mendocino Rotary friends, putting on something of a "Hawaiian Night". Before we left Hawai`i, we shipped ourselves three boxes. Only the box with books arrived. The cookbook, "Ethnic Foods of Hawai`i", is especially great for us. Ironically, we make more Hawaiian meals here than we ever did in Hawai`i. In true Hawaiian style, tonight will be a fiesta of meat. We are making chicken long rice, kālua pork, sweet potatoes, a salad, and mai-thais. I started thinking about my lack of experience with cooking animals whole or in large chunks. I have chopped up a few "whole fryer" chickens for the barbecue in my lifetime, but in all my years, I have never boiled a chicken. And why not, Wendy and I just boiled our first chicken and it was just about the easiest thing. I think it may be a generational thing. It's so easy to just pick up boneless, skinless breasts that require nothing in the way of preparation. However, I have come to understand that cooking meats with bones and sometimes skin makes them much more flavorful.

One of my favorite places in town is the Mercado Central. They have everything a boy could want to eat. It is the ultimate grocery shopping experience. They have a huge variety of the freshest meats. Same goes for chicken, which here, is considered something besides meat. While the fish and seafood here is not a highlight, you can still find the best selection at the Mercado. Goat? Yes! Wine? Of Course! What are you, crazy, this is Mendoza. Here, you will find every part of the animal that you ever imagined and some that you never did. For the life of me, I can not understand what somebody would want to do with a pigs head, Want to eat a bunny rabbit? Here you can get one made of chocolate as well as one made out of actual bunny.

I really enjoy cooking. It can be a creative process or if you're just following a recipe or a partners instructions, a mindless, relaxing, activity. It can also be a very enjoyable way to pass time with your significant other. Growing up, my sister and I were each required to cook one night of the week. I'm sure I complained (but probably not as much as Tricia ) Looking back, I think that this was a fabulous policy, one I am sure will be implemented when I have kids. I always thought I would have two kids but maybe seven would be a good number. Hmmm. Hopefully our big chunk of pig in the oven comes out good.

Here is a photo of our friends in Puerto Esperanza slaughtering a pig in our honor. I don't think any was implied, but wouldn't it be funny if there was some symbolism behind this generous gesture?

Our pig in the oven is smelling marvelous! We had to adjust it becuase the fat was dripping onto the flame (gas oven) and creating a little fireball every other second. Guess we ought to keep an eye on the thing.