The countdown is running

Day 163

It's not easy to concentrate on writing here. The modern ice cream café we are in is very busy. In front of me is the long counter, where a lot of people are waiting for their coffee or a piece of apple cake. The dishes clatter and the people around me are talking enthusiastically. The powerful chocolate ice cream that I am currently enjoying makes me anxious about the Submarino, which is still untouched on the table in front of me and waiting for me. But we have time. We take it easy, even though our little beach vacation in Mar del Plata is over since yesterday. Now we are already five hours further north in the student city of La Plata. Buenos Aires is only 52 kilometers away.

The days in Mar del Plata were very relaxing and let me say in advance that we were lucky with the weather, unlike on the first day. We went to the beach a few times, sunbathed by the pool, and enjoyed being in one place. However, the city itself is less attractive except for the long beach, as a lot of high-rise buildings are lined up there. So many maritime buildings next to each other, just a bit outdated. The promenade was rarely developed and therefore appeared a bit dreary. But whatever, we were at the beach, got a good tan, and the hotel we treated ourselves to was first class anyway. Now we are in La Plata, in a six-bed room. Linus and I increasingly realize that we only really appreciate things when they are already over. We are also constantly aware of this when we look back on what we have experienced, but that's just how humans are. Now we are at least here in La Plata, where one of the largest cathedrals in the world is located. Buenos Aires is only an hour's drive away, which we can't imagine at all, but it will take a bit longer before we return to the metropolis to fly back to Germany from there. Before that, we still have to visit a million city further inland and make a detour to the neighboring country of Uruguay.

Nevertheless, we both cannot deny that the end of our journey has already begun. We can understand it even less than believe it, and the thought of waking up in Germany again soon and realizing that it's just over feels strange. Understandable. But with all these thoughts, we are by no means sad, we can't wait for it and often talk about the moment when the captain greets us on the flight to Frankfurt or the last days in Buenos Aires. Of course, we also talk about the first days in Germany and what they will be like. The anticipation of coming home can perhaps be compared to the anticipation we had before this trip. You are excited, but still enjoy the last weeks and have no idea what awaits you. And of course, you start to think about it. You can't really process all of this. The journey has become normal for us, this constantly being somewhere else, the backpack, the uncertainty. We have been living in the world for almost six months and constantly getting to know it anew. It's incredibly exciting, we have seen so much, almost impossible in such a short time. We will see more. In Uruguay, a completely new country, and also in Buenos Aires, where we have planned a few more things for the last days. Nevertheless, it is now almost the end of March and that is just crazy without any digressions. What's coming now is the end. The countdown is running. And slowly the first plans or ideas for what happens next in Germany are coming.

But we are still here in Argentina. We are still on a journey. And for us, that's still normal.

There are now a total of three stops until we reach the capital Buenos Aires, where the second big chapter began and where everything will end. We will face these stops with full awareness. Even though everything is slowly becoming more predictable, we still enjoy everything we experience, and I'm sure there will be a lot more. We will continue to travel a bit longer, with the thought that each day could be the last.

Because that's not far-fetched at all.