A few days ago, I stayed in Necochea with a contact I had made through this blog… guess it is good for something after all! Katie, an American ex-pat, lives there with her fiance, Daniel, and his family.  

 Necochea is a neat and tidy little tourist town, lying on the beach but quite cold still at the moment (or perhaps only for people like me with defective body temperatures) - I really enjoyed my time there.  This had a lot to do with the company, of course - being able to bore everyone else with my stories is always a good time for me!!

Katie and Daniel took me to see the sea lions in the port, out to an amazing steak restaurant, to multiple ice cream parlors (mmm, I was able to choose my favorite!) and to a candy store in the town center, even the beach!  I was able to try the infamous Argentinean pizza.  Perhaps best of all, Daniel’s mother cooked a couple of “muy rico” meals for the family, which temporarily included me. 

I’m always a little surprised by the hospitality I encounter as I travel.  It keeps my faith in humanity high, but it also means I’ve built up an impossibly high debt of kindness and favors that I can’t possibly come close to evening out in a lifetime.  Katie and Daniel’s family was just one example of a place where I was welcomed like a member of the family - I always appreciate this, especially being so far away from my own. To be a part of something, rather than just a solitary traveller, always makes a country feel a bit more like home.

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Also, tonight I received my second request for a TV interview!  Weee!  This time there won’t be a Spanish interpreter, so hopefully it all goes well.  Cross your fingers for me tomorrow morning.