Córdoba and Skydiving!

Arrived in Córdoba. O Lord, it was so ugly, and dirty, i wasnt happy at all!
We had been told it is one of the most beautiful cities in Argentina, but i really wasnt seeing it. The hostal we stayed in - La PAlenque- was really cool though. Really busy, and then french guys from salta were there too.
I met a dutch guy called Tom there, and managed to pursuade him to go skydiving with me on monday!
Sunday, was pretty crap in Cordoba. We hadnt gone out the night before because we had spent so long awake and travelling and were really too tired. Sunday, we walked arouind, but it was just a ghost town. It was horrible. No prettier by day than by night! Very disapointing. So we just spent the day chilling. Tom told us all his crazy stories of building a raft in the jungle and sailing downriver for a week and how the girl he was with almost drowned, and he almost broke his leg, and also their week of horse riding through bolivia... made me very jealous. In his time with this english girl, he had learn artesinian handicrafts, so he made me a necklace for my andian cross, and then taught us how to make necklaces and bracelets. Very cool!
The next day me and Tom headed off skydiving. Unfortunatly Skye couldnt join us becasue she had blocked ears and was feeling a bit ill.
On the way there i was feeling nervous like crazy, but once i was sat in the plane i felt fine. We had been giving vague training. How to get into the plane, how to exit, the position during the freefall, and to put our legs in the air for the landing.
Tom went first... watching him jump out was pretty scary... i was watching from the ground,a nd he fell so fast! Then he was falling for much longer than he should have, becasue the parachute was released, but wasnt opening! I actually thought he was going to die! that wouldnt have been good... thankfully it opened.. and it was all fine.... but worried me a bit for my flight!
The ride up in the plane lasted about 15mins. The plane is tiny. I am taller than it, and it is made of a thin piece of aluminium. Only 4 people fit. The pilot, the instructor, me and the camera man! VERY tight squeeze. I was feeling pretty calm till they opened the door and i was sitting on the edge. Wind blowing in my hair... the ground very far below. - Why the hell am i about to jump out the plane! - O well... and we went for it! At first it makes your stomach hurt a bit like on a fairground ride, but then its fantastic. Freefalling with the camera guy right next to you. When you open your shoot, the camera guy keeps falling, its scary how quick he falls, and lands. In the meantime, the instructor and I do some twists and turns.. he starts to centrifuge us, we almost makes me puke, but then its all good. The flight is only about 10mins down. Its AWESOME. and the landing was pretty smooth. Overall it was a bloody good day.
Whilst there met an Irish guy who jumped after me, and he was heading to mendoza that night... so i decided i would go with him. Thats where i am now.
So bizzare. This city is so cold! There are ski shops everywhere.. it is bizarre. Tomorrow gonna go paragliding and wine tasting. Then off to Bariloche for a few days skiing! WHoo HOO!
xxx