Mate is a culture, not a tea. It is used as means of inclusion, of creating companionship. It is ingrained in the culture, and when you are invited to participate, it is a sign of acceptance. On Sunday I came to fully appreciate the extent of the habit, or more aptly, the ritual. Let me …
Author Archives: Mellamadness 2
White eyes
‘Maril!’ He calls me to sit down beside him by the huge bonfire which is gradually reaching manageable proportions. ‘What is your title for the day?’, he wants to know. Before I can answer, he says: ‘I have one: White Eyes. You see that dog with the white eyes that is blind? Sometimes he doesn’t …
Watch what you ask for
Last year I did a competent crew course, in the hope of sailing to South America. The only sailing I ended up doing, was from Knysna to Gordon’s Bay. Not that simple. It turned out to be a gruelling 3-day survival trip in a galing south-easter, with the other crew member below deck with sea-sickness, …
On my way to Sante Fe
My hot, steaming breath blows little white clouds out on the crisp morming air as I emerge from the subway. I’m sweating, in spite of the 5°C, as I’ve been lugging my 20kg suitcase and 10kg backpack up and down stairs down there, en route to the bus station. And here I am, on the …
Turns, right and wrong
Of course I do gardens on a Sunday. The most beautiful in Buenos Aires is the Parque 3 de Febrero in Palermo, an area north of the microcenter (as it is known). It is far from my apartment, so I decided to brave the public transport. Someone had given me a SUBE card, a magnetic …
3rd day blues
I receive comments about how brave I am and how easy I make things seem. But let me tell you, often I am só scared that I truly think I must be mad (hence the name of my blog). However, that does not deter me. Let me share something about myself. I believe in carpe …
Tango and tantalizers
So I bought the coke. This is my Fernet, coke & ice taking a seat (I had to take the picture) on my balcony. It was a long day of walking and exploring.And I’m drinking a toast to an old friend who sadly passed away today. Gerrie, it was good to share friedship and spend …
No surprise
Why am I not surprised by what my first day had to offer…?!? That’s why I’m here, after all! Within the first hour of stepping out into the street I had become part of a massive march on the way to the Palacio del Congreso, ánd I met a Peruvian poet who humbly invited me …
Almost there
So far so good. I’m at Sao Paulo, waiting for my flight to Buenos Aires, which might be delayed until the early hours of the morning, creating problems for my Airbnb hostess. The Atlantic crossing was effortless and smooth, even though I was sitting in the very back corner of the plane, gently being swayed …
Going big
”Can’t you just go and live in one of these retirement villages here?” my son wanted to know. “Just sit in a room, start acting your age you know!” he teased. We were discussing my plans to travel to South America, which I had originally started making 2 years ago, but had repeatedly aborted for …
Mella Madness 