...And The Hiatus Is Over

Hi!

Lo siento for the little hiatus there. I've unfortunately been a little under-the-weather and thus, have been inside staying warm rather than sightseeing. However, yesterday, for work, I was sent to Belgrano, another barrio in Buenos Aires in the opposite direction of downtown. Belgrano is a very residential area, although its main drag, Avenida Cabildo, is an extremely busy thoroughfare that reminded me of El Microcentro (downtown).

Off to the side of the main Avenue, the streets are tree-lined and you get into a more suburban neighborhood area. I walked by a few schools and I noticed that there were bars on every door and every window, but the kids looked happy playing soccer in the main dirt/sand area for recess.

Nearby my apartment I have found the most delicious little bakery, Il Panino. I think the owners might be Italians, but all of their pastries and facturas are Argentine and wonderful! There are these little breakfast pastries called "Medialunas" which are Argentine croissants, and Alfajores, which are basically cookies filled with dulce de leche. Breakfast here is like dessert, coffee, pastries, cookies (except they do often eat meat for breakfast too).

On Saturday, my friends and I went to a bar nearby owned by an expat called Sugar (the first picture) to watch the US play Ghana. It was wild! The bar was FILLED to the brim with Americans. They had set up a huge screen and everybody was packed in close. The food was exactly what you need when watching a sporting match - french fries, hamburgers, nachos, you name it? They had it.

I'm not sure what we're doing tonight, but I will make sure to keep you posted.

Love you all,

Ciao,

Sam

A Little Homemade Dinner...

Last night we went over to Bill and Eli's apartment and made dinner (we ended up eating at 12:00, midnight)! It was so much fun. We made Chicken Parmesan, a huge salad with red bell peppers, palmitos, tomatos, cucumbers and almonds, bread with olive oil and mozzarella, and finally wine all around!

Ciao,

Sam

Argentina Wins and a little more Tango!

Hola Chicos,

Yesterday I went to San Martin Plaza to watch the live telecast of the World Cup game featuring Argentina versus Greece. It was absolutely insane: smoke, firecrackers, drinks, etc. But I have to admit, the Argentines love their country and it's something that I admire. When Palermo scored (I guess he's big in La Boca, a big barrio in Buenos Aires), the crowd went WILD! They chant, they scream, they cuss, you name it? They do it! I've tried to add pictures and video of that, hopefully it turns out.

Last night I went back to La Catedral for Tango round 2. I didn't dance, but watched my friends and other Argentines take on the "8 easy steps". The atmosphere was great, and the space got really crowded towards 11:30 when the free-dancing started. It was real, authentic, and super underground (how cool!). I've posted some pictures of the cathedral (they don't allow cameras inside, so I had to turn off the flash and improvise!).

Ciao,

Sam

¡El Fin de Semana!

Chicos,

Right now, I'm cooking dinner in our apartment - spinach and mozzarella ravioli - hopefully I won't burn down the house (Talking Heads are playing on my ipod, how fitting). Today was amazing; I went to El Ateneo, a historic theater that has been turned into a bookstore filled with shelves of books, DVDs, CDs and other knick knacks. There's a cafe on the stage where you can enjoy a cup of coffee while browsing through the books. It is one of my favorite places here to date!

After I left El Ateneo, I walked about a mile to another big tourist hot-spot, Recoleta! This spot is full of architecture reminiscent of Parisian boulevards and European construction. In the center of Recoleta is one of the most magnificent sightseeing spots in the world - El Cementerio de La Recoleta (El Masoleum Sarmiento). It is filled with the tombs of Argentina's most important dignitaries, politicians, and generals. However, one of the more noteworthy tombs is Eva Peron's (Hollaaaa Evita!!!) resting place. I don't believe she's actually buried there, but her family's tomb is there (Duarte).

All of the tombs are different in design and structure; some are made of black marble, others of granite and stone. I have to say, even though it was 5 PM when I was walking through the tombs, it was quite eerie. If you peer inside, there are coffins right there, as well as stairs leading down below the tombs where other family members are buried. Some tombs' doors have been opened slightly, but I think people are too afraid of disturbing the dead to cross the threshold.

The cemetery makes up the entire plot of land situated behind La Basilica Nuestra Señora del Pilar. I have also posted pictures of the inside of the church. Right outside, on the weekends, is a large fair that consists of hundreds of vendors selling knick-knacks and other small, handcrafted items. It was fun to walk around and watch the buyers bargain and negotiate pricing; it was also nice to hear English being spoken!

Hope you enjoy the photos!

Besos,

Sam

Plaza de Mayo

Tango... it's only 8 steps

¿Que Tal Chicos?

Last night we went to Tango lessons at this awesome space on Sarmiento and Medrano (a few blocks away from our apartment). It seemed to be an abandoned cathedral/warehouse full of awesome, original paintings replete with a huge makeshift heart made out of what looked like red silk or satin tapestries. I don't think I've seen anything like it before.

The interior housed a bar/restaurant with a lounge area along the sides of the dancefloor. It was dimly lit to set the mood, and at 9:30 we started our lessons. It was pretty funny watching everyone try to get around the dancefloor (we were basically stumbling over one and other). My partner was a "couch surfer" who opens his home to other couch surfers in Mexico in return for the same favor in their respective countries (actually a pretty neat thing). He did tell me that few to no Americans are couch surfers because they (we) are very suspicious and do not trust others by nature. Suffice to say, we weren't a good tango pair, but it was fun nonetheless.

After trying out the 8 steps of beginner's Tango, we headed back to the apartment to catch the tail end of the Lakers/Celtics game... and we all know how that ended! YAY LAKERS! I can't wait to watch tomorrow night; it will be a busy sports day since Argentina plays South Korea in the morning. I have noticed many signs on the doors of businesses that say "for the month of the World Cup, we are only open 2 hours a day". WHAT?! If only you could find a business that would take a month hiatus in order to be able to follow the World Cup in the USA!

Today I went to El Microcentro to meet my boss in the early afternoon. It was great to get out of Palermo. My first bus ride was insane! People were pushing me from behind because I had no idea what I was doing! Thankfully the bus driver was kind enough to help me, but I had a feeling everyone was staring at me for the remainder of that bus ride wondering how it could be difficult to put 1.20 pesos in a machine. Not to worry, the bus ride back went very smoothly!

I miss you all,

Besos,

Sam

Un Día Muy Lindo!

Hi Everybody!

Today, the weather was absolutely gorgeous. I spent the day wandering around Palermo. I went to Plaza Serrano; looks like a great place to hangout and the boutiques surrounding it remind me of New York's SOHO district.

Last night was fun; my housemates and I went out to dinner at a place called Cielito Lindo. It was authentic Argentinian food; rich and yummy! The restaurant was painted a bright turquoise inside, with tons of antique knick knacks that lined the walls.

After, we met up with some other program people at their apartment in Serrano, and then moved to another apartment nearby. I posted pictures of this apartment in the top right hand corner because it was a little different than all the others. All surfaces, including the floor, are covered in the owner's artwork. Most of it is colorful spirals, but he had paintings on the wall that were very intricate and detailed.

Tonight we're going to Tango lessons and tomorrow I start work! I can't wait; it's going to be another adventure. I'm meeting my boss in El Microcentro (the prime spot for sightseeing!). Hopefully, I'll be able to make it on El Subte without getting lost!

Miss you and love you,

XOXO,

Sam

It's Raining Cats & Dogs!

¿Que tal?

Today it's pouring with a side of thunder, killing all hopes of walking downtown (El Microcentro) to go sightseeing. Maybe I'll catch a bus or el subte to a museum or mall so I'll be able to stay dry. Yesterday was a blast, meeting my roommates Victoria and Marijke - they are awesome! I met some other program people and we watched the Laker game ... not a good night for LA.

I went to a Supermercado for the first time last night. It was overwhelming to say the least, so many people, so many Argentinian products! I have to admit, I didn't see one American brand (which is a good thing) except for a special Lays Chips product. Thank goodness for elementary Spanish class; I knew where the milk, eggs and butter were!

I have also learned that Buenos Aires is a walking city! The meeting place for our orientation was 20 blocks away (to them that is nothing!). I'm glad I'll be able to sightsee as I'm navigating around town. However, on days like this, public transportation or Radio Taxis seem like the better choice.

Shopping is a big thing here; I stopped into one of the HUGE shopping centers in Palermo Viejo (Alto Palermo). It was crazy! Lots of American brands (Calvin Klein, Lacoste, Levis, etc) plus many more Argentinian shops. The style here is edgier, a little more high fashion than what I'm used to. Think lace up black boots, black skinny jeans, big scarves and coats. The Argentinian men and women seem to be more put together, more glamorous.

The Argentinian version of Spanish is called Castellano. Instead of using the "tu" form in Spanish, its vos! I need to brush up on my conjugations rapidamente! They speak incredibly fast, and pronounce their "ll" as "sh". For example, instead of calle (cay-ay), they say cashe (cash-ay)... I've already had so many vocabulary mixups! Oops.

Finally, I've learned that the Argentinian schedule is MUCH later than in the states. Oftentimes they stay up till the morning (7 am) and then sleep till mid-afternoon. The regular time to go out is about 1:30 am! There are so many clubs and restaurants that stay open until 5 am, very different than college.

Anyway, I'm excited to explore some more even though its raining. Stay tuned for more pictures and adventure-telling!

Ciao,

Sam

PS. The two pictures at the top right are of the entrance to my apartment in Palermo!

Destination: check.

Buenos días chicos!

I have lost track of time. I remember that Friday night was spent packing last minute (perhaps, adding unnecessary items into my luggage) and Saturday I drove down to LAX. I flew into Dallas and then two and half hours later, I was on the LONG 11-hour flight to Buenos Aires.

Notes about this trip: 1) The Pasajero sitting next to me was, thankfully, very kind and normal sized, 2) The drive into the city was not too long, around 35 minutes, and the driver was also very kind and, much to my benefit, eager to talk about the city, 3) The apartment is gorgeous! I am living in a flat with two other girls. If I were to try to describe it, I would have to say that it is Anthropology meets Spanish Villa. The doors are tall, wooden and filled with glass. There is an OUTSIDE hallway to get to the other rooms and the kitchen.

When I got to the apartment, I crashed for about 2 hours. I hadn't slept since Friday night; I read Shutter Island from start to finish, then watched the movie (with Leo Dicaprio) on the plane - Shutter Island overload. For those of you who haven't read it: it is a PAGE-TURNER and the plot twist will blow your mind...unless, you see it coming.

As of right now, my roommates are still both asleep (it's 12:38 AM here)! I'm supposed to meet someone at 3:00 a few blocks away, and can't wait to explore a little. I promise there will be pictures posted soon!

XOXO,

Sam

Ready to go-go!

Hola!

I leave tomorrow for LAX, then off to Argentina! Yesterday, I took a one-day trip to San Francisco to visit family; I have a page long list of people that I need to send postcards to... I'll get started right away when I get there!

Today is going to be insane - running around town doing last minute errands (that probably should have been done much earlier in the week!). This has been a crazy month - Florida, Boston, SF, and now Buenos Aires is up next.

Note: THE WORLD CUP HAS STARTED! It's strange how Americans don't have the same passion for the sport as most countries around the globe. Supposedly Argentina has a chance at winning it all, and I can't wait to be there if that happens. I think they play Nigeria first either today or tomorrow... GO MESSI!

Adios mis amigos. Pienso que la próxima vez que voy a escribir será cuando estoy allí.

Hasta luego,

XOXO

Sam

PS. I already have my first Tango lessons set up; hopefully people with two left feet will be able to give it a try...

Blogblogblogblog

Dearest Followers,

This morning I counted "0" followers, of which I am not surprised or even slightly worried about . . .

Alright, I'm a little worried - PEOPLE, FOLLOW ME! Aye dios mio, I'm dying to get a bit o' fanfare, a little feedback here and there. You know, constructive criticism is a good place to start: "Your posts suck" or "Which one are you in that picture? The cow or the pregnant one?" would help make this blog better.

Anyway, to recap: leaving Saturday, and will be tweeting all the way down to Argentina. I hope this blog lives up to my expectations - it is going to be rad.

XOXO,

Sam

The Countdown Begins...

Hola Chicos!

I leave for Argentina on Saturday, but between now and then I've got a million things to do including a quick trip to San Francisco, finding electrical outlet adapters, and exchanging dollars for Argentinian pesos!


I'm finished with most of my packing now, and am just crossing my fingers that I won't forget something important, i.e. PASSPORT.


I can't wait to be settled in my Palermo Viejo apartment --> will post pictures when I get there. The suspense is unbearable, especially knowing there will be two flights, one of which is 11 hours between now and then. Traveling is so tedious; where is a teleport when I need one?


Also, I've started a twitter account (part of my job will be to research social media: i.e twitter) and I will post often before, during and after the trip to Argentina.


Hope you're all having a great day!
xoxo,
Sam