A new continent!

We arrive in Porto Alegre under a pouring rain. For both of us, it is the first time that we step on the Latin American soil... The adventure starts without pedaling.

First challenge: we have to bring our packed bicycles to the city center. Purists would suggest to unpack them and go by bicycle. But pedaling at night, under the rain, in the unknown suburb of Porto Alegre with a disabled teammate is definitely not recommended in any travel guide. Since our cardboard boxes don't fit in any cab waiting at the airport, we have to wait for an hour before a local company decides to "help" us for 80 Reais.

Um taxi, por favor...

In Porto Alegre, it's the end of winter and temperatures are still low. Without surprise, we are the only dumb ones walking around wearing short pants. Since Akira's laps are not yet able to ride, we decide to travel by bus to Buenos Aires (Argentina) in order to rest during a few weeks and learn Spanish.


When we were buying our tickets, the guy at the window told us with an exaggerated confidence that our bikes (still packed in a box and in multiple parts) would fit "sem problema" in the bus. Of course, when the bus arrives, the bicycles don't fit! In a hurry, we open the boxes and watch impassively as the drivers throw our bikes in the trunk, and hope that we are not loosing any nuts or bolts.

A Brazilian porter at the Porto Alegre bus station

The overnight journey takes 18 hours. Just a few minutes after the start from the bus station, the urban environment is replaced by a incredibly green and wild scenery.

Leaving Porto Alegre

Once in Buenos Aires, we reassemble our bikes without problem and ride for the first time in South America, just for a few first kilometers. During three days, we share a dorm in a youth hostel with Jesus aka "Tranquillo", a very friendly student from Paraguay living there for 4 months.


The first day, to gain some time, we take a cab that runs out of gas in the Avenida 9 de Julio. We end up pushing a car in the middle of the world's widest avenue. This turns out to be a imminent-death experience, due to the driving style of Porteños (citizen of Buenos Aires) who have a very different conception of road-sharing.

After a few days of accommodation hunting, we find the ideal place to learn a language: a student residence with an incredible atmosphere. About twenty persons are sharing a tiny kitchen, always in a very good mood. Our roommates are youngsters from almost every country in Latin America. After only a few hours, we are already part of the family.

Algunos de nuestros compañeros de piso (from left to right):
 Juan, Diego, Ana-Carina, Akira, Cynthia, Gladys, Séb, Anahi, Melissa, Karen, Belén, Esteban y Paul

Every night, we spend hours discussing in the kitchen around a maté (THE Argentinian drink, based on herbs). Together, we go out at night, visit the city and wander in unknown areas.

Gladys, the mamá of our residence

Tango exhibition in San Telmo

We take Spanish classes every day during 4 hours. The school is excellent, the teachers are young, friendly and we are less than five per class.


More news will follow soon...