(Editor's Note: During the winter semester break, the Emory softball team visited Argentina for competition and sight seeing. This is the first of two parts.)

Emily Sunshine

January 19, 2005

Hola! Well, after a very long 11-hour plane ride we finally made it to Buenos Aires, Argentina! Despite a very cramped, sleepless (for a lot of us!) 11 hours, we were so happy to be in the warm weather of South America.

After arriving at Hotel Mayflower located in downtown, where we stayed for our duration in Buenos Aires, many of us went out explored, shopped, and ate.

Later that night we had our first group dinner and we met our amazing and awesome tour guide, Lia. The restaurant we went to was clearly for the beef eaters, as there was a giant pit of meat cooking in the entrance. Being a vegetarian would be very difficult in this country!

After the meal we enjoyed watching a dance show outside the restaurant on the river.
On day two of our trip we had the morning to explore the city on our own. I would say that the majority of our team spent the time shopping on Florida and Santa Fe streets. Word has it that Betsy and Haag got well acquainted with the Lacoste store!

In the afternoon it was game time. Despite the game starting at 5 pm in order for us Americans to survive the blazing sun and heat, it still was 95 degrees outside!! Before playing our first game, we all had the realization how cool it was to be playing softball in South America. It really doesn't get much better!

After the game, which we won, and a quick shower, it was then time for the tango show. The majority of us had never seen the tango before and I believe we were all thoroughly amazed and impressed. In fact, Summa and Cobi were able to pick out their favorite dancer after much deliberation.

After a late night, the following morning we headed five hours south to Mar del Plata. I recall Kathy Gordon saying "how great it was to be riding on a double-decker bus through Argentina." After arriving in our nice, cool, and 'air-conditioned' hotel, we headed off with Lia to grab lunch by the beach.

Later that day we took a bus tour around the city of Mar del Plata, making a few stops along the way. One of them was at an area by the beach where numerous sea lions lay sunbathing on the rocks and swimming in the water. The smell was one to forget, though!

That same night was New Year's Eve, and what a New Year's Eve it was! At the restaurant, where we celebrated the holiday (we were there from 9:30 pm to 3:00 am—it was a late night for the parents) there were families from Argentina, Colombia and South America to name a few.

Some of the highlights of the night include singing along to the YMCA, because that was the only American song the band knew of; doing the train around the restaurant; watching the fireworks which were set off 10 feet away from us; and dancing in the discotheque, conveniently located in the basement of the restaurant! By the way, if you really want to know how to dance, talk to Joan.

The next morning, a bunch of us headed to the beach. Despite the many applications of suntan lotion, a few of us still managed to get burned--I guess some people forgot a few spots!

Despite the minor setback for some, going shopping at the local stores and craft market was still pursued. We also managed to eat a lot of helado. I won't name anyone in particular, though. After a fun couple of days in Mar del Plata, we headed back to the city.

(For part two of the Argentina trip, click here.)

Emily Sunshine is a junior from Evanston, Ill. She would love to answer e-mail questions from Emory recruits and fans.