While its still Aug. 27th in the states and its Aug. 28th here in Buenos Aires, I want to say Happy Birthday to my grandfather Aye-Aye (Aug 27) up in PA and my grandmother Nerma (Aug 28) in VA.
Right now Im reading up on the history of Argentina and cant really write too much. Im in the 1930's right now and need to make it another 25 years before I can stop!
28 August 2008
26 August 2008
Villa Carlos Paz
I'm back!!!!
This past weekend a couple friends and I took a trip to Villa Carlos Paz, Argentina. It's a little west of Cordoba and the bus ride was around 12 hours long! We left friday morning and arrived that night and stayed in a Hostel for the weekend. We went out to eat and had some delicious lasagna at a restaurant then watched the gold medal game for the Argentine soccer team. there wasnt a place to sit the place was so packed. Carlos Paz reminded me a little of Farmville at night because nobody was out in the streets and there was pretty much one main street in the villa and there was a brigde with lights very similar to the bridge in F'ville.
This past weekend a couple friends and I took a trip to Villa Carlos Paz, Argentina. It's a little west of Cordoba and the bus ride was around 12 hours long! We left friday morning and arrived that night and stayed in a Hostel for the weekend. We went out to eat and had some delicious lasagna at a restaurant then watched the gold medal game for the Argentine soccer team. there wasnt a place to sit the place was so packed. Carlos Paz reminded me a little of Farmville at night because nobody was out in the streets and there was pretty much one main street in the villa and there was a brigde with lights very similar to the bridge in F'ville.
The next day we went on a trip with Aventuras El Oso. The first thing we did was ride horses. It was my first time ever on a horse(that I remember, I think there is a photo with my dad and I on a horse) and I was a little freaked out at first. But after a while I got used to it and could see myself as a cowboy. If I could use a horse as transportation over a car I'd definitely do it. During our horse ride the tour guide pointed out little stone walls on the hills and explained to us that those were the territorial markings the tribes used hundreds of years ago to divide up territory. The pix are under the link ill put up. After the horses we went on the zipline. Also a first, but it was very fun. After the zipline, we went on a walk down the river. The guide showed us some neat stuff like mortars scraped out of the boulders. The tribes would use the mortars to make food and instead of having a portable one it was like they had their own kitchen on a rock. We saw a mini waterfall and an area where iguanas come out and swim during the summer. Another thing I liked about the area was that it was warm!!! The trees were already blooming there and I cant wait until the warmth comes this way.
Later on that night we took advantage of the grill on top of the hostel. Of course yours truly was in charge of the cooking of the meat. I bought two steaks for myself to eat (for a whopping 3 USD) and we had our first asado in Argentina. It was fun.
On Sunday we woke up and went to see the cu-koo. Villa Carlos Paz is famous for their clock. Then we went up to the top of a mountain and had the chance to see the whole city from on top. It was amazing. That area is definitely a part of the country one should see if given the opportunity, especially if you like the outdoors. We might go back one day in the summer because we heard that Villa and another one near it are the best spots to go to when green. We got back early this morning and now I'm off to bed for another week of classes! Until next time.
On Sunday we woke up and went to see the cu-koo. Villa Carlos Paz is famous for their clock. Then we went up to the top of a mountain and had the chance to see the whole city from on top. It was amazing. That area is definitely a part of the country one should see if given the opportunity, especially if you like the outdoors. We might go back one day in the summer because we heard that Villa and another one near it are the best spots to go to when green. We got back early this morning and now I'm off to bed for another week of classes! Until next time.
19 August 2008
Random information from the dinner table
Over the past month...(cant believe its been a month!!!) I have found out some interesting random facts/gossip from the dinner table. I figured I would share it with you.
The first item lasted about a week and a half here, and from what my friends said, it was the topic of many dinner discussions in host families homes. It was a rumor that Condoleezza Rice and President Bush had an affair together. A little off the wall but the news stations carried it and people believed...
Another topic of discussion was about the original Zorro star Armand Joseph Catalano, aka Guy Williams. He retired here in Buenos Aires and died here at the age of 65. My host mother said he lived a couple streets over from where I live and he died in his house right here in Recoleta. I googled the new rumor and it turned out to be a fact. Hmm, just found another website that says he lived off Ayacucho (my street) six blocks up. I'm at 1385 and he was at 1964. Sounds like ill have to take a little walk there soon. Guy also starred in the original Lost in Space as Professor John Robinson. That was something new to me (maybe not to those who have reached the age of twenty before I have though)
A topic from tonight's dinner was about Hitler and his escape from Germany. This one my host mother admits is a rumor but its fun to consider. The rumor is that Hitler escaped Germany and traveled to Argentina. He retired and died in Cordoba, a big German about a 9 hour bus ride from here. They say he took a submarine up the river to land and fled there. I don't think that one has much behind it but it's interesting.
Another random fact, my host mother told me about a building approximately 5 blocks away where the Pope stayed on his visits to Argentina. We went by to check it out yesterday but I couldn't confirm what she said so I'll leave that up in the air. I don't know if its true or not but I took a picture just in case. If it is true, then I live in a pretty decent neighborhood. Who else can say they live in the same spot where Zorro died, Evita is buried and the Pope stays during his visits???? oh and did I mention the Alvear Palace Hotel a few blocks from me? other than housing royalty and other heads of state it really isnt that important...haha
Hope you guys enjoyed this. As I remember and encounter more stories from the dinner table I will be sure to inform you guys back home.
The first item lasted about a week and a half here, and from what my friends said, it was the topic of many dinner discussions in host families homes. It was a rumor that Condoleezza Rice and President Bush had an affair together. A little off the wall but the news stations carried it and people believed...
Another topic of discussion was about the original Zorro star Armand Joseph Catalano, aka Guy Williams. He retired here in Buenos Aires and died here at the age of 65. My host mother said he lived a couple streets over from where I live and he died in his house right here in Recoleta. I googled the new rumor and it turned out to be a fact. Hmm, just found another website that says he lived off Ayacucho (my street) six blocks up. I'm at 1385 and he was at 1964. Sounds like ill have to take a little walk there soon. Guy also starred in the original Lost in Space as Professor John Robinson. That was something new to me (maybe not to those who have reached the age of twenty before I have though)
A topic from tonight's dinner was about Hitler and his escape from Germany. This one my host mother admits is a rumor but its fun to consider. The rumor is that Hitler escaped Germany and traveled to Argentina. He retired and died in Cordoba, a big German about a 9 hour bus ride from here. They say he took a submarine up the river to land and fled there. I don't think that one has much behind it but it's interesting.
Another random fact, my host mother told me about a building approximately 5 blocks away where the Pope stayed on his visits to Argentina. We went by to check it out yesterday but I couldn't confirm what she said so I'll leave that up in the air. I don't know if its true or not but I took a picture just in case. If it is true, then I live in a pretty decent neighborhood. Who else can say they live in the same spot where Zorro died, Evita is buried and the Pope stays during his visits???? oh and did I mention the Alvear Palace Hotel a few blocks from me? other than housing royalty and other heads of state it really isnt that important...haha
Hope you guys enjoyed this. As I remember and encounter more stories from the dinner table I will be sure to inform you guys back home.
18 August 2008
Which pigeon doesnt belong with the others???
We were waiting for some friends in the park and came across a parrot hanging out with the pigeons. A little random because it was the first parrot seen here but neat to see hanging around.
MIA pt. 2
I decided to walk around on Saturday and explore the area south of where I live so I could get an idea of what was around me. I came across a HUGE building with amazing architecture. I couldn’t get a good picture of it because I would need to zoom out more than I could so I took pictures of what I could fit in the picture. I found a little strip of teatros where I hope I can check out some shows while im here. COPA takes a group of 9 out to the theater every Wednesday but I have class at that time so it doesn’t work out for me. I walked a little more and ran across the Washington Monument of Buenos Aires El Obelisco which was built in a little over a month. You can’t go in it but it looks pretty cool.
Later that night a group of my friends from COPA ventured out to Belgrano (barrio near me) to eat at a Chinese food restaurant. The food was great because we all craved some Chinese that day.
Yesterday I checked out the tango festival which will go on all week. We missed most of the shows but stumbled across a couple dancers in the streets. We went into the main building for tango week and saw some vendors which sold everything you could possibly imagine that had to do with tango. I also stumbled across a restaurant yesterday and had a bife de chorizo with papas fritas, a Coke, 2 empanadas, and pan for 40 pesos~13 USD and that included the tip. The only weird thing about the restaurant was that it had a Mafioso feel to it. The people in there looked like they could be part of the mob and everybody knew somebody there.
Good news, I found a pizza place a block away from me where i can go to upload pictures and vidoes a little easier. Over the next week or two I hope to have everything upto this point online for you to see!MIA
It’s been a few days since I’ve updated. All is well down here. Let’s see, what have I done since the last update?
Last week was my second week of classes and I’m starting to get the hang of a quicker tongue in the classroom. I’m beginning to understand the professors a little better now which is good. Now all I have to do is develop a quicker hand or abbreviations for note taking. In one class we are reading Facundo, a book on the history of Argentina written by Sarmiento, in another class we are reading Jorge Luis Borges.
On Friday I finished up my visa process over at immigration. I had to be there at 7:45 am only to sit and wait for three hours before they called my name, I signed some papers paid 200 pesos and was told to go to another room where I waited for another hour and a half. They called my name again, took my thumbprint and had me sign another paper and I was done for a grand total of about 5 hours. I’m glad I was scheduled to be part of the first group because I would hate to sit around that building on a warmer day. The other groups are scheduled for next month.
Later that night my host mother took me out to eat with a friend of hers to a little restaurant one block over. I ordered ravioles there and enjoyed them. The pastas here are great; they are my second choice for food outside of the steaks. Nate and Sam (little brothers) would have loved the restaurant because of the wall lined with seven soccer jerseys from Argentine teams that are big here. It’s interesting to see the different sponsors on the jerseys like Wal-Mart. A little random because I believe there may be on Wal-Mart in the whole city and I’ve never seen it but there is a bus that stops there, it’s a long drive from where I live.
Speaking of food, I had a traditional Argentine dish last week. The meat is called milanesa (a breaded sirloin) and placed on top of it is an egg sunny-side up. Put some mustard on it and you have yourself a very delicious meal. I’ve never placed eggs on my meat by this was delicious. The milanesa was followed by a bowl of vegetable soup, salad and one more round of milanesa, without an egg though because we ran out. After that I ate a torta made of chocolate with a layer of dulce de leche in between. Pictures will be up soon!!!
Last week was my second week of classes and I’m starting to get the hang of a quicker tongue in the classroom. I’m beginning to understand the professors a little better now which is good. Now all I have to do is develop a quicker hand or abbreviations for note taking. In one class we are reading Facundo, a book on the history of Argentina written by Sarmiento, in another class we are reading Jorge Luis Borges.
On Friday I finished up my visa process over at immigration. I had to be there at 7:45 am only to sit and wait for three hours before they called my name, I signed some papers paid 200 pesos and was told to go to another room where I waited for another hour and a half. They called my name again, took my thumbprint and had me sign another paper and I was done for a grand total of about 5 hours. I’m glad I was scheduled to be part of the first group because I would hate to sit around that building on a warmer day. The other groups are scheduled for next month.
Later that night my host mother took me out to eat with a friend of hers to a little restaurant one block over. I ordered ravioles there and enjoyed them. The pastas here are great; they are my second choice for food outside of the steaks. Nate and Sam (little brothers) would have loved the restaurant because of the wall lined with seven soccer jerseys from Argentine teams that are big here. It’s interesting to see the different sponsors on the jerseys like Wal-Mart. A little random because I believe there may be on Wal-Mart in the whole city and I’ve never seen it but there is a bus that stops there, it’s a long drive from where I live.
Speaking of food, I had a traditional Argentine dish last week. The meat is called milanesa (a breaded sirloin) and placed on top of it is an egg sunny-side up. Put some mustard on it and you have yourself a very delicious meal. I’ve never placed eggs on my meat by this was delicious. The milanesa was followed by a bowl of vegetable soup, salad and one more round of milanesa, without an egg though because we ran out. After that I ate a torta made of chocolate with a layer of dulce de leche in between. Pictures will be up soon!!!
12 August 2008
El Ateneo y La Boca
Yesterday I went over to La Boca, a barrio southeast of where I live. It is known for the very colorful houses/buildings it has in some areas. The whole barrio isn't colorful, just a few select places. The area is a huge tourist attraction and is very beautiful on a sunny day, unfortunately for me I was only able to see the area on a cloudy day, but the pictures still turned out decent. This place is in a bad part of town and it is recommended not to go alone or at night....at all. The link to the photos: http://picasaweb.google.com/HSC02010/ElAteneo
I also went by El Ateneo, a huge bookstore which used to be a theatre. I went there to purchase the book Facundo for my Argentine Lit. class. It is a very cool place to visit and see. Here are some photos from inside: http://picasaweb.google.com/HSC02010/LaBoca
I’ve also uploaded two pix from at the Plaza de Mayo from this weekend while I passed through. Check that album out to see them.
I also went by El Ateneo, a huge bookstore which used to be a theatre. I went there to purchase the book Facundo for my Argentine Lit. class. It is a very cool place to visit and see. Here are some photos from inside: http://picasaweb.google.com/HSC02010/LaBoca
I’ve also uploaded two pix from at the Plaza de Mayo from this weekend while I passed through. Check that album out to see them.
11 August 2008
El Sanjuanino
I forgot to mention El Sanjuanino which is a restaurant where my host mother took me to eat on Friday. They specialize in empanadas. Great place. The restaurant has a gaucho theme to it and made me feel like I was out in the midwest during the 1800s. The website to the place is www.elsanjuanino.com I took a few pics, they can be found: http://picasaweb.google.com/HSC02010/SanJuaninos
After dinner, I was treated to ice cream at Volta. The best ice cream in the city. It is very very very delicious.
After dinner, I was treated to ice cream at Volta. The best ice cream in the city. It is very very very delicious.
Dia del Nino
Feliz Dia del Nino!!!!
Today was Children's Day, a day where every child receives(or should receive) a present from their family. Its sort of like Mothers/Fathers day in the States. A different idea for a holiday. There have been sales at stores here since I've been here just for this holiday.
Today I found a great steak spot 4 blocks from me where the steaks are great. I got a bife de chorizo steak for 33 pesos and it took up over half of my plate! I'm still stuffed from the piece of meat. This is not good that the spot is so close to me...
I've also been watching the Olympics since Friday, the opening ceremonies sure were pretty cool. Most of the time I watch the Argentine teams play in various sports but I did have the opportunity to see our men's Team USA in basketball put a beating on the host China team. Go Team USA. I'm also shocked to hear about Georgia and Russia and Bernie Mac. What an eventful weekend.
I've started to meet a lot of Argentines my age through a friend of mine who is also in the program with me. He was involved in a program in High School which he stayed here for 2 weeks and I've been hanging with him meeting new people. I've found it a little harder to understand the people my age speak at first but after a little while I get used to their speech. Its a lot quicker and slurred than the adults.
Friday, I went to the Jardin Botanico Carlos Thays in Palermo. Neat place but I bet it will be even nicer in the spring/summer when more flowers bloom. I was still able to find some pictures of some flowers and they can be found here: http://picasaweb.google.com/HSC02010/JardinBotanicoCarlosThays?authkey=NTIqjUX0IyE
I don't know what flowers I took pictures of so good luck in trying to figure it out!
Tomorrow I'm going to try and figure out how this whole books and notes system works for homework. Some classes we buy books from, others we go to the bookstore and get photocopies....very confusing.
Today was Children's Day, a day where every child receives(or should receive) a present from their family. Its sort of like Mothers/Fathers day in the States. A different idea for a holiday. There have been sales at stores here since I've been here just for this holiday.
Today I found a great steak spot 4 blocks from me where the steaks are great. I got a bife de chorizo steak for 33 pesos and it took up over half of my plate! I'm still stuffed from the piece of meat. This is not good that the spot is so close to me...
I've also been watching the Olympics since Friday, the opening ceremonies sure were pretty cool. Most of the time I watch the Argentine teams play in various sports but I did have the opportunity to see our men's Team USA in basketball put a beating on the host China team. Go Team USA. I'm also shocked to hear about Georgia and Russia and Bernie Mac. What an eventful weekend.
I've started to meet a lot of Argentines my age through a friend of mine who is also in the program with me. He was involved in a program in High School which he stayed here for 2 weeks and I've been hanging with him meeting new people. I've found it a little harder to understand the people my age speak at first but after a little while I get used to their speech. Its a lot quicker and slurred than the adults.
Friday, I went to the Jardin Botanico Carlos Thays in Palermo. Neat place but I bet it will be even nicer in the spring/summer when more flowers bloom. I was still able to find some pictures of some flowers and they can be found here: http://picasaweb.google.com/HSC02010/JardinBotanicoCarlosThays?authkey=NTIqjUX0IyE
I don't know what flowers I took pictures of so good luck in trying to figure it out!
Tomorrow I'm going to try and figure out how this whole books and notes system works for homework. Some classes we buy books from, others we go to the bookstore and get photocopies....very confusing.
05 August 2008
Class...
Good Afternoon,
Here is the link to my adventure to San Telmo, or at least the pictures of my adventure: http://picasaweb.google.com/HSC02010/DefensaMercados?authkey=fYvu36zLE1o.
I had my first class last night from 6-8 and absolutely hated it. Classes here are annual, meaning they last the whole academic year which begins down here in February. The class I attended was The art and culture of South America and Argentina and they were in the second half of the class so I've missed the part about Argentine history and culture and now they are on the South American part. The classrooms here don't have any heat in them and we are in the midst of winter down here and on top of it the class is at night so I had to bundle up. It sure was a different experience. I didn't like the way the professor taught because she spoke very fast, she had the lights completely turned out for her PP Presentation and there are no windows in the classroom for us to use light from so everyone in the class used their cell phones for lights. It sure is a different way to use a phone and I thought it was rather hilarious to see everyone using them for light. At the end of class our professor told us it was her first time teaching with foreigners in her class because she just started teaching this year. I don't want to be a guinea pig in Argentina. The class consisted mostly of people in their 30's and above and there were only 5 people from the US in the class but that is 2 people too many. The older crowd also threw me off because I'm not used to anyone being older than 24.
My second experience in a class was this morning. The class was in a different building about 4 blocks from the other building I went to last night but the same university. I went to a Spanish Literature II class and enjoyed it much more. I have some knowledge of what we are talking about in class with the Renacimiento and Siglo de Oro in Spain. The professor also spoke at a comprehensible speed so that's always a plus. The age group is majority college age with the exception of three or four people over 50. I think I'm going to stick with this class and not continue with the first one.
I also have some videos of different things around here and when I have some time to figure out how and where to upload them Ill post a link to them to give you a better feel for life down here.
Here is the link to my adventure to San Telmo, or at least the pictures of my adventure: http://picasaweb.google.com/HSC02010/DefensaMercados?authkey=fYvu36zLE1o.
I had my first class last night from 6-8 and absolutely hated it. Classes here are annual, meaning they last the whole academic year which begins down here in February. The class I attended was The art and culture of South America and Argentina and they were in the second half of the class so I've missed the part about Argentine history and culture and now they are on the South American part. The classrooms here don't have any heat in them and we are in the midst of winter down here and on top of it the class is at night so I had to bundle up. It sure was a different experience. I didn't like the way the professor taught because she spoke very fast, she had the lights completely turned out for her PP Presentation and there are no windows in the classroom for us to use light from so everyone in the class used their cell phones for lights. It sure is a different way to use a phone and I thought it was rather hilarious to see everyone using them for light. At the end of class our professor told us it was her first time teaching with foreigners in her class because she just started teaching this year. I don't want to be a guinea pig in Argentina. The class consisted mostly of people in their 30's and above and there were only 5 people from the US in the class but that is 2 people too many. The older crowd also threw me off because I'm not used to anyone being older than 24.
My second experience in a class was this morning. The class was in a different building about 4 blocks from the other building I went to last night but the same university. I went to a Spanish Literature II class and enjoyed it much more. I have some knowledge of what we are talking about in class with the Renacimiento and Siglo de Oro in Spain. The professor also spoke at a comprehensible speed so that's always a plus. The age group is majority college age with the exception of three or four people over 50. I think I'm going to stick with this class and not continue with the first one.
I also have some videos of different things around here and when I have some time to figure out how and where to upload them Ill post a link to them to give you a better feel for life down here.
03 August 2008
San Telmo and more
Today I had the chance to go to the San Telmo mercado (market) or at least one of the many. There is something for everyone there. The market attracts thousands of people each Sunday from all over the city, country and world. It truly is a sight to see. The link for pictures will be up soon. I also had a huge steak along with some rice tonight for dinner. It was great. On my second serving I opted to have a traditional Argentine serving of rice. I had rice with an egg sunny side up on top of it. Contrary to what I believed, the typical Argentine plate was delicious. Ill have to have it again.
I also went to San Telmo last night for dinner. One of my friends read about a restaurant with great steaks for a cheap price. I had the best steak of my life at that restaurant. Hands down, sorry everyone back in the states who has cooked me a steak. I just won't be telling the truth about your steaks being good without lying. Sorry! The steak was doused in a mustard sauce and was served along with potato slices. I could barely finish my plate it was so filling. To top it all off it was only 37 pesos for the plate~13 USD.
I found a mall near my house here in Argentina. Its ten blocks away yet took me two hours to get to because my friend and I took the colectivo (bus) for the first time here. there are so man buses and routes here that it gets to be very confusing. On top of it change for the bus is hard to come by in this city because the prices are made out so that everything is even and the change given back is only in bills. I also went back to Plaza de Mayo. Here is a little wikipedia link to some info on it http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plaza_de_Mayo. I also have the link to some pictures I took while there : http://picasaweb.google.com/HSC02010/PlazaDeMayo?authkey=3K9W5bJdxCQ. I've also put up the picture album to the Rural and the photos can be found here
http://picasaweb.google.com/HSC02010/ExposicionRural2008?authkey=LYiY4ABxNNw.
I also went to San Telmo last night for dinner. One of my friends read about a restaurant with great steaks for a cheap price. I had the best steak of my life at that restaurant. Hands down, sorry everyone back in the states who has cooked me a steak. I just won't be telling the truth about your steaks being good without lying. Sorry! The steak was doused in a mustard sauce and was served along with potato slices. I could barely finish my plate it was so filling. To top it all off it was only 37 pesos for the plate~13 USD.
I found a mall near my house here in Argentina. Its ten blocks away yet took me two hours to get to because my friend and I took the colectivo (bus) for the first time here. there are so man buses and routes here that it gets to be very confusing. On top of it change for the bus is hard to come by in this city because the prices are made out so that everything is even and the change given back is only in bills. I also went back to Plaza de Mayo. Here is a little wikipedia link to some info on it http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plaza_de_Mayo. I also have the link to some pictures I took while there : http://picasaweb.google.com/HSC02010/PlazaDeMayo?authkey=3K9W5bJdxCQ. I've also put up the picture album to the Rural and the photos can be found here
http://picasaweb.google.com/HSC02010/ExposicionRural2008?authkey=LYiY4ABxNNw.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
