The couch

One of the biggest differences between the houses I know in Argentina and those in Australia is the absence of a comfortable couch (in Argentina that is).  Maybe it's a question of space or money, or a difference in culture, but it is a rare luxury to find yourself lounging on a sofa when you visit a friend.  I am much more likely to be positioned at the dining room table, my slouching posture begging to slump onto a couch.  There is something warm and inviting about a room with a couch... it's there to be enjoyed with a book, or a cat on your lap.

Living without one for the last two and a half years has left me planning the perfect purchase.  I spotted this beauty at my local second-hand store...

Belize

Belize is an interesting place, with lots of conflicting ideas.  It's in the Carribean, but was settled by the British, so everyone speaks English.  Arriving by boat, it is picturesque with pastel, weatherboard houses, but as soon as you step outside the port it looks like a typical third-world country and kinda like Guatemala.  The people all want to sell you something or take you on a tour, but if you say no and that you are not interested, they politely let you go by and wish you a nice day.

We took a tour of the city with a local guy called Bernard who seemed passionate about education as he pointed out every local school (and there were a LOT) and explained that they each have a different coloured uniform.  We went past a parade that some school kids were doing for red ribbon day, which promotes saying no to drugs.

To escape from the insane heat, we went to a Chinese restaurant and ordered a local beer from a Spanish-speaking employee and drank it while listening to a remix of songs that included Gloria Estefan and Reggaton.  I quite like Belize...

Adelaide House

The house of my friend in Adelaide is full of light, art and colour, and the backyard is an oasis of trees.  The house itself is a lovely old building with lots of space, quite distinct to the places in Buenos Aires and it's interesting to see how people share a house with a lot of space or just a little.  Here there is so much room to move that you could sit on the front porch, in the living room, the kitchen space, or venture into the enormous backyard, which means there is always the opportunity to be alone.  For me this is the deal maker.

Everyday Adelaide

Quilts, magazines and peacock feathers are just a few of my everyday things back home.

Melbourne vs Buenos Aires

I realised that no matter where I am, I'm attracted to the same things: buildings, tiles, art, graphics, and I saw a lot of similarities between Melbourne and Buenos Aires, which both scares and amazes me.

Strange days

The weather is moody today and seems to be affecting people strangely, myself included...

Blue House

Walking back from paying the rent one saturday morning recently, I stumbled upon this lovely blue house in the barrio of Boedo.