The past three years that I have visited Argentina for the holidays, I join a "club" here in Mendoza. It is called the "Club Mendoza de Regatas" (CMR). It's a pretty incredible place...honestly. The building is about 5 stories all-equipped with basketball courts, squash courts, an indoor pool, an outdoor 50-meter pool, a huge work-out gym, its own lake, hair-dresser (one for guys, one for girls), nail salon, golf club across the street, tennis courts, separate building for yoga, restaurant, and much more! And, it's in this huge park. Pretty convenient for all work-out needs. The only dilemma is on the days that the club bus is not running (directly takes us to and from our apartment every 2 hours...for a mere 1.50 pesos), it is a journey to get to. Not because it is too far (maybe about 8 miles at most) but because we have to take 2 buses, one of which only runs every 45 minutes. If I were on my own, I would gladly do the last 2-mile walk...especially since it's in the nicest and, therefore, safest area of town. However, since I am with my grandmother, I would never make her walk that much. Particularly in the heat.
On our journey today from the club (the club bus does not run on Sundays or Mondays), we went through an area of town that I have never been through...the not-so-rich area. Actually, I'll just say it, the poor area of town. However, I really do not like to use the word "poor" just because it sends such a derogatory message. I should probably say "lacking sufficient money," as that is the correct phrase to describe it. The reason I say this is because the people who live in this area are not unhappy at all--I see kids playing soccer all over the place, families sitting outside their houses chatting or playing cards, couples taking a walk while holding hands. Although, their surroundings are houses with ceilings made of wood planks with bricks and stones keeping everything in place. Tarps are used sometimes as walls or fences. I even noticed a huge "DirectTV" tarp used to essentially make the entire wall of a house. It seems that even the poor benefit from the luxurious of the rich here, as DirectTV is most certainly a luxury (just like Wi-Fi). At least it is not as important to have something withstand too much rain, as Mendoza is known to go years without precipitation. But, despite their insufficient technological advances or even houses that could be considered shelter, they seem just as delighted with their own entertainment as any of us would. Now I feel pretty awful about complaining regarding the fact that I do not have internet connection where I live.
CMR is also pretty sweet because they have every type of sports team imaginable here...including 4 different swim teams and a triathlon team that I can train with. So, what do I do with my jobless days? Swim. Run. Haven't gotten on the bike yet (those who know me know that I am afraid of falling off that thing), but may in the near future. But swimming is definitely a treat. Something I have missed since February. Not because I did not have an opportunity to swim, because I always have. But because I haven't had a team to train with. Now I do! And, I'm doing it for fun. I have 2 practices tomorrow. Too bad no techno music to go along with...
More tomorrow. Love you all.
k bye.
No comments:
Post a Comment