"The basics of Basic" is what I always say, xP. It's more fun that way.
I didn't mention the city since I don't think you'd know it. I'm from Argentina, live in the capital of it. Right now I'm in a small touristic city called Bariloche, far from main cities.
I always wondered the same thing, how come they don't sell ICs?!
What's more, they used to sell them. I renember when I was a kid my father bought me one of those kits which bring a PCB, components and everything, all you had to do was put it together and solder it. Now, when I went there to ask, I was told they could supply me only with the resistors and such but not the ICs. I'll go ask again tomorrow, since last time I did was more than half a year ago.
Micro controllers are indeed the best choice, since I could use them for a lot of other things too, being myself more familiar with coding programs than designing circuits. But I'd have to purchase a Programmer, and if I can't get a 555, I certainly won't get a PIC, let alone one of this. Unless making one myself is an option.