The director of Buenos-Aries by FINC

The prerogative of backpackers is the freedom to roam. Unlike the normal tourist the backpacker independent and usually young and exuberant lives on their wits. A discussion at a bar between travellers or that last minute cancellation of transport can lead them on a constantly flowing river of new and unexpected experiences.It was in once such Buenos-Aires drinking hole that Lara had negotiated a lift into the hills to a jungle topped adventure. The man in his early thirties was a frequent visitor to this bar and many more around here. He was English speaking’ probably an Australian maybe Kiwi and from his laid-back clothes and fantastic tan it seemed he had once been a backpacker too who had chose to remain in this fascinating place.

Lara had been reluctant to get to know him as it was clear by the opinions of others around that he was a bit of a ladies man. But on this night with only a few days until she moved on she let caution take the better of her and listened to his invitation to an exclusive sight.

“I take a selected few up to a secret spot about 30 miles into the jungle in the valley between Mount Acosta and Mount Paz. There you’ll find the most spectacular waterfall ever. Its kind of restricted by the government so only for small parties.”

Lara had smiled, listen, laughed and generally found him to be quite attractive and not the rogue she’d heard. He’d arranged before leaving that night to meet her with his jeep and latest lucky guest on the other side of town at noon tomorrow.

On parting she realised he’d not even made a lame pass at her. It seemed he was indeed a nice guy or so cock sure of himself he’d wait till later. Either way it had certainly attracted her interest to see more of him.

Lara was no lovesick teen. At 25-yeasr-old this diminutive blonde had a stream of admirers at the high school were she taught. She was use to men ‘s eyes trailing to her firm bust rather than looking her in the eyes and found the more respectful attention of this adventurer man quite refreshing. With a fiancée back home she wondered if a last fling could be on the cards. She’d being travelling for 3 months now getting the bug out of her system but soon it would be time to go home and settle down. As she walked back to her hostel that night the thought of romance ran through her mind but soon faded to idle fantasy as she slipped to sleep.

***************

It was noon when the cab slowed then stopped in the stifling hot square. The taxi ride had taken fifteen minutes from down town and after crossing the castle like Alcine Bridge the car had entered the “Villas” a place Lara had heard about.

Lara asked again if this was the correct address as she now sat in the middle of the cities slum area. The driver nodded a little disinterested. It was here in the lower west side of Buenos-Aires that shanty towns ran for miles of 2 and 3 storey huts and dark brick homes. The square was hardly that; the road uneven more a dirt track, the side streets like a maze, narrow and looking like open sewers.

As the taxi pulled away she looked for the meeting place an old bar with a footballers name. The bar was there just off a side street and as she neared she realised it was closed and had been for maybe years.

“This is where we were suppose to meet?” Her mind was confused.” Is there another bar with the same name?”

From the square she heard whistles and shouts. A noise she was use to; playful youths.

A gang of boys aged from maybe ten to fifteen where smiling and hollering to her. Their bravado was evidently of a sexual nature and Lara felt a little uncomfortable standing here looking as sexy as ever

With a rucksack on her back her sweaty t-shirt encased tits thrust up and out. Her tight waist and great turned ass looked divine in jean shorts. Her thighs were strong from months of walking and in trainer shoes with her black rooted blonde mane she looked every part the schoolboys wet dream.

She gave a nervous smile with her fabulous teeth then turned to move away from them heading a little further into the alley. But she was aware the boys had moved closer.

The boys were still whistling and gesturing. Some of the bigger ones were holding their crotches sniggering making hip movements. She tried to ignore them moving faster; not running but a more urgent departure. But then she paused she didn’t know which way to go. All the tiny side streets looked the same.

The eclectic collection of box shaped buildings seemed to curve in over the streets. Masses of washing lines, TV antennae and phone cables were strung between blocks like they had been disembowelled from the concrete homes.

The sun was directly overhead and the intense rays were painful on her neck and eyes. The streets were full of barking and hi-fi music and these boys appearing more menacing now. She felt her breath becoming laboured as her nerves increased. There were many narrow alleys that she dare not go down, all the while the boys edging closer.

Suddenly a door opened in one of the many creaky old homes facing the bar and a leathery woman appeared in an apron. She has long black hair and a motherly figure. She was gesturing and shouting to the group of boys who in turn laughed back. But Lara noticed they had slowed and a few younger ones were now edging back and looking about finding something else to do.

The woman continued her barrage at the older boys who after a few seconds slowed then stopped too. Without the full gang they began to appear less confident and eventually in a volley of Spanish expletives turned and sauntered away as if they owned the street.

Lara gave the woman a sweet smile saying thank you then looked back up the alley. The boys were still there at the moment disinterested but she could see one or two still sneaking a looking back. She once again felt nervous; and seeing this the woman gestured for Lara to enter her house.

“Oh no there’s no need.” Lara was about to say but the woman took her wrist. “I call you taxi.” She explained, the young woman nodding in realisation.

“Yes that would be best I think,” the backpacker added feeling so foolish that she’d let herself get into this situation.

“So much for the supposed waterfall!” She scoffed to herself making a mental note not to listen to jerks in bars again.

Inside the home it was as expected the old air con hummed but struggled the rooms jumping between brilliant sunlight and low watt power depending on size and placement of windows. Washing was hanging from racks and the TV was playing a loud game show with a transvestite looking hostess rattling off in machinegun Spanish.

“I’m completely lost!” Lara laughed following the woman up steps to her living area. All the homes appeared to intermingle and already she struggled to tell if she was above another house or even looking from the window into the same street.

Up stairs was a middle-aged man sat with a can of beer. He looked surprised wiping the beer from his beard his hand cleaned on his string vest. The woman explained in Spanish the man looking concerned nodding.

“It is very dangerous for tourists to be here.” He said in passable English.

The sexy teacher nodded starting to realise how reckless she been. The man waved his hand to reassure her.

“All these street look the same, no? It’s easy to get lost and easier still not to get found.”

He stood with a groan of effort lifting his potbelly. “I will go find your friends.”

Lara smiled razing her hand. “Its ok I’m on my own, I just need a taxi back to the city.”

The man smiled shaking his head. “Even more foolish on your own!” And then looked to the sky saying “ey yi yarrrr!”

Once again she nodded with an accepting smile.

“Ok no need to rub it in.” She thought to herself still grinning like a fool.

He pointed to her as he spoke to his wife. Lara’s Spanish was very poor and all she could understand was “phone” the woman nodded as he gave orders then turned to the ancient handset and began to dial.

Surprisingly quickly she was connected and started a monotone conversation looking a bit nervous before nodding once again then putting the phone down.

Lara waited for the woman to speak but instead she began to sort through washing
Lara just stood not sure what to say. “Your taxi is on its way”, the man finally said.

The backpack babe smiled saying thank you. The room was feeling a little claustrophobic now and she suggested she wait outside. His reply was concerned with something completely different.

“Why do you come to our poor homes?” He asked a little confrontationally.

Lara stuttered in surprise. “I don’t… I mean I was meeting someone.”

“Do you think it amusing we live this way?” He continued picking up his beer looking out into the street for the approaching car.

“No, no I don’t I, just like to get of the normal routes, you know backpacking and all. Its nice to have an adventure and see the unusual.”

“Unusual?” His eyebrows rose, “we are freaks, no?”

She raised her hands aware the conversation was getting a little out of hand.

“Now wait on, I didn’t say that at all I’m not trying to insult anyone.”

The man paused then seeing her face the sweat starting to bead added. “You can wait through there, its cooler than the street.”

Lara exhaled in relief. She now felt uncomfortable but he appeared to have given up on grilling her and besides the boys were still out in the street so she nodded and said thank you.

The girl dropped her rucksack and stepped through the door. It was a bedroom with a door to a dirty white tiled bathroom. The window to the street was grime covered and half barred with wood, most of the light coming from ceiling windows cracked and dirt covered showing glimpses of the brilliant sky. Standing near one wall was a tripod and video camera on the other wall a tripod and umbrella shaped lighting equipment.

The man was behind her and she tried to pull back out of the room realising that this room was no way the cool haven he had suggested. Her body backed into his solid form like a roadblock.