I’m settling into my place in Recoleta. Upon arrival on Sunday, I unpacked, made myself at home, fell asleep at an Argentinian time of 3 am (I should have gone out!), woke up at the German time of 7.30 and started my day.

One: Supermercado with the basics: pasta, Coke, Granola, milk, Heinz ketchup, cheese, tomatoes, cebollas etc…

Two: got my gym membership at Megatlon Barrio Norte, Sven’s gym when I visited him in 2011, which has a swimming pool. All done in spanish, a bit improvising, but I got it right.

Three: cooked my favorite meal.

Four: Had a roof top sun bath, tried out the (cold) water in the pool and got a bit of a tan.

Five: Went to the gym, this time to swim, did 20 laps. The girl now already greets me with Hola Chris, feels like home.

Six: met with Javo, a friend of Sven that I had met three years earlier, for a nice post-work beer and a short stroll through the neighborhood. He basically lives two blocks down, and is such a nice chap. I’m glad there’s someone to connect to right away.

Seven: a fellow traveller gave me a tip for a bar close by, Notorious, that has performances of musicians every night. So I met with Mike from Taiwan, who is visiting Buneos Aires, and we watched those guys from Brazil (of all places!) Club Brasil presenta BRODER BASTOS over a beer.

Perfect first day in Buenos Aires, just as I imagine it to be: no obligations, go with the flow, see where it gets you.

I can’t believe I have four weeks here!!! Just being. No stress.