'The Institute'

Most days here I get up at 8 and go to the institute, This is where I am working, taking pictures and studying fossil material. Research is going great, making some unexpected discoveries that I'm sure will surface in the future (if you're thinking 'ecological signals in fossil freshwater crustacea!?', then yes, you guessed right). My hosts here are awesome, funny, kind and sincere, it is a real encouragement to be around other people so passionate about palaeontology and evolution, I often forget to realize that I am the only active palaeobiologist in my university and I really miss waxing scientific with increasing excitement over some minor detail and convincing ourselves of the discoveries significance. I love my job.

Anyway, enough 'Squee!'-ing about my awesome vacation research, here are some pictures of  'the institute'...

As you can see, it is a very harsh working environment. It's surprising anyone would sign up for this.

I was taken out by the two grad students in the lab (Lara & Mateo) last night to buy local Argentinian wine from a nearby bodega and then to a restaurant on the river to eat Pacú, the local river fish. I have to say this was one of the tastiest teleosts I've ever eaten, baked in a bag with cheese, walnuts, mushroom and potato. Bloody brilliant. The highlights of today included Mateo manning the BBQ to produce some fine Argentine beef:

nom nom nom. This meal was served at 1pm with wine, in the lab and lasted until 4pm. I hope you're taking notes Northern hemisphere!

This dude wanted in, but we don't want no vertebrates.

This guy however, made my day. Possibly the best behaved spider in the world. I named him Sid and we went through something similar to the sketch scene in Titanic, but without Kate Winslet. Or a boat. Or a drawing. Whatever. LOOK AT THE PRETTY SPIDER! HE'S LOOKING AT YOU!

Argy-bargy

So, it has been a while. Two things

1. I got funded

2. I am travelling

With these two revelations in hand, you should be able to bring yourself up to speed. I am in Argentina. Corrientes in Argentina more precisely.

 
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I am here meeting a long time correspondent concerning the little fossil shrimpy men I study. I will be taking images of fossil collections here. In the meantime here are some things wot I have seen!

BEHOLD! My strangely ornate bedroom ceiling. Score one Argy.

Big Iron dude on a horse. Every town has one.

OK, so this is the Paraná River, it's massive. This whole area of Argentina is flood plains fed by dozens of rivers and thousands of tributaries. I've been reliably informed the freshwater fish are tasty. I will confirm this as soon as I get a chance.

Not all rivers are this shiny. Fact.

So Corrientes is abbreviated (thankfully) from it's original moniker:San Juan de Vera de las Siete Corrientes("Saint John of Vera of the Seven Currents")Apparently, the etymology behind this has something to do with the shape of the vast river that forms seven 'banks' that channel wind in the region, explaining all the really bendy trees I keep seeing.

And here are some cool pieces of town I shot 'cus I liked them. there are scooters EVERYWHERE. People drive with a death wish and the patience of saints, it's so weird.

Anyway, enough of me using this as a poor mans flickr account. I might post some sciency stuff here soon! Woot!