this was the best little movie we got on our trip to torres del paine. we got caught in the gnarliest wind storm ever. having to sit on the ground many times along the way. the walk was only supposed to be 4 hours that day but it took us 6! we even met a couple right after this video was taken who said they had been lifted into the air and knocked down into prickly bushes. pretty intense!
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Monday, April 16, 2007
adventures in south america, part 1 (buenos aires)
i'm baaaack. never got around to blogging on the actual trip. for some reason, it felt like a real chore to sit down and type on painfully slow internet connections when the clock and pesos were ticking away. though i'd give you a nice little play by play when i got back. and as always, i think the photos tell the stories best.
it started out on a pretty long 12 hour non-stop flight from NY to buenos aires. long because i can't for the life of me, sleep on planes. it's so annoying!!! probably the most painful thing of travel for me is that i just can't sleep sitting up. even with drugs. just can't do it. so while martin and everyone else around me is snoring and drooling, i keep myself busy looking at the usually crappy in-flight films and magazines. never the less, we made it and arrived to a sunny warm day in BA.
we headed straight for our hostel, the gardenhouse which was nothing to speak of on the outside but perfectly clean on the inside. we were greeted by a sweet, young and hip twenty-something who spoke perfect english and showed us around the place. it definitely had that backpacker vibe with well traveled youngsters hanging about, checking their emails and reading travel guides on the torn sofas and hammocks which hung on the roofdeck. we had a private room that was perfectly fine. clean comfy bed with nice white sheets. and we even had a sliding door to shared patio deck complete with big hammock. only drawback was that we had a shared bathroom that seemed to be perpetually occupied. whatever. i'm not complaining for $10 a night.
we rested a while then headed into the main bit of san temlo. another slight negative of gardenhouse was that it was quite a good walk to the center of the hood. but whatever, we were only staying there one night. we walked up and down the old streets and checked out the scene. then stopped in the main plaza for a beer at golden hour. it was quite pleasant. we had dinner at des nivel which we thought looked like a good divey place. turned out this place was in all the guide books as every other table had foreigners scanning the menus. it was a famously cheap parilla (i.e. steak place). we ordered yummy steak, basic salad, fries, wine and dessert (delicious dulce de leche crepe with ice cream) which all came to about $15 each!!! this was living! we went home and slept very well. oh yeah, and it was my birthday! happy 32nd to me.
i was excited about the next day because i had reserved a room at the cocker which i had read about and was dying to stay after obsessing over their website. looked like my kind of place... a converted old building with all the modern conveniences. and the furnishings had a nice mixture of antique and modern. this was my birthday treat, to stay in a nice place for 2 nights. we were only a few blocks from it and were greeted by the owner ian and their new employee, will, both very sweet english guys. they gave us a tour around the place and i was STOKED. it was gorgeous. the house was impeccably decorated. they had kept all old touches of the original place in tact, like the cool painted tiles on the floors. there was a long spiral staircase that lead to the upper floors which eventually took you to the rooftop. there were two room on the main rooftop and another room one more flight up. the gardens on the rooftop were beautiful and i felt like i could just stop and stay there the rest of my trip.
it's funny because i've never been that bothered about accommodations before when travelling. as long as the place was clean and comfortable, it was fine. i just wanted to be where ever i was and didn't care about "service." maybe it's travelling in my 30s and wanting more comforts or just appreciating "the finer things." whatever it is, i realized after staying at the cocker, i really liked this level of satisfaction in a hotel. sign me up for "conde nast traveller!" HA!
we had a sweet room complete with big cozy bed, pretty art on the walls AND a huge wetroom with fantastic water pressure. god i loved that wetroom. made me want one in my future home. we slept amazingly well that night after staying out pretty late to check out a local milongra (amateur tango dancers).
breakfast in the cocker was also lovely. tea and coffee and juice and amazing pastries and toast and cereal and a plethora of ripe fruits all served in the cute dining room around a big square table. i also have to say that i've enjoyed hostels because it's easy to meet other travelers. but sitting around that big table in the morning, you got to meet the other guests. we had a very sweet couple from scotland and a girl from munich. all interesting and well-travelled people. we ended up going to dinner with all of them that night and had a fantastic meal at a place called balthazar (i think... will have to check) in san telmo. it was more upscale but again, we ate amazingly well... starters, a few bottles of wine, main courses, desserts and each only paid $30!
we decided to check out an official tango show (when in rome) at a place called bar sur, which was recommended to us. it was pricey, about $30 (martin haggled with the host). the place was very intimate and the dancers and musicians were very talently but it was just so touristy. like flashing digicams the whole time. honestly, if i were to do it again, i'd leave the tango show since you can see really great performers for free in the streets.
next day we checked out la boca which was a really cool, brightly colored neighborhood. again, total touristy vibe with handy crafts for sale and tango dancers dancing for change in the hat but the area was just groovy. we took a million photos that day. maybe my favorite picture taking day ever.
we lucked out at the cocker because they had two nights open up for availability, so we took em! just didn't want to move and it was just too good there. we also got to switch rooms which was fun. we checked out the recoleta cemetery which was vast. row upon row of huge statues and monuments for dead people. and of course evita's grave.
again, when in rome... we attended a soccer match of the local team, the boca juniors against mexico. totally fun!! singing and chanting the whole time. man, are they into their futbol. it probably would have been more intense if it was two local teams but it was still a good time.
our last night, martin took me out for my official birthday dinner. we were going to go to the popular las lilas in puerto madero which had been recommended by a few friends. but when ian, our host had told me about a place he preferred for the money, i decided to check it out. they had given us such good advice so far that i thought we couldn't go wrong. besides, he said las lilas was pretty touristy and i wanted to real deal. so we went to patagonia sur in la boca. omg! again, talk about service!! we were the first people there at a 9:30 seating. the place was dark and initimate, only about 8 tables and the waitstaff were the bomb.
it was a 3 course meal and each one was delish, especially the dessert! apparently it was famous argentinian chef, francis mallmann's place, where the restaurant was downstairs and his residence was above. we found out later when we asked to sip our wine outside and they showed us upstairs to the balcony, right through his living room where he, himself was sitting watching TV. talk about intimate!
our last day in BA was spent in ultra trendy palermo viejo. each street was occupied by some cooler than cool clothes or furniture shop. very designy. i felt like i was in nolita or williamsburg. the shops were cool but not really cheap. they were slightly cheaper than ny prices but i wouldn't say "deal." there were also plently of independent designer flea markets happened but nothing i hadn't seen before. i guess i was hoping for more. but it was still a cool hood and we definitely didn't get a chance to really explore.
we left for patagonia the next day which will be in part 2...
and here are the rest of the BA photos
it started out on a pretty long 12 hour non-stop flight from NY to buenos aires. long because i can't for the life of me, sleep on planes. it's so annoying!!! probably the most painful thing of travel for me is that i just can't sleep sitting up. even with drugs. just can't do it. so while martin and everyone else around me is snoring and drooling, i keep myself busy looking at the usually crappy in-flight films and magazines. never the less, we made it and arrived to a sunny warm day in BA.
we headed straight for our hostel, the gardenhouse which was nothing to speak of on the outside but perfectly clean on the inside. we were greeted by a sweet, young and hip twenty-something who spoke perfect english and showed us around the place. it definitely had that backpacker vibe with well traveled youngsters hanging about, checking their emails and reading travel guides on the torn sofas and hammocks which hung on the roofdeck. we had a private room that was perfectly fine. clean comfy bed with nice white sheets. and we even had a sliding door to shared patio deck complete with big hammock. only drawback was that we had a shared bathroom that seemed to be perpetually occupied. whatever. i'm not complaining for $10 a night.
we rested a while then headed into the main bit of san temlo. another slight negative of gardenhouse was that it was quite a good walk to the center of the hood. but whatever, we were only staying there one night. we walked up and down the old streets and checked out the scene. then stopped in the main plaza for a beer at golden hour. it was quite pleasant. we had dinner at des nivel which we thought looked like a good divey place. turned out this place was in all the guide books as every other table had foreigners scanning the menus. it was a famously cheap parilla (i.e. steak place). we ordered yummy steak, basic salad, fries, wine and dessert (delicious dulce de leche crepe with ice cream) which all came to about $15 each!!! this was living! we went home and slept very well. oh yeah, and it was my birthday! happy 32nd to me.
i was excited about the next day because i had reserved a room at the cocker which i had read about and was dying to stay after obsessing over their website. looked like my kind of place... a converted old building with all the modern conveniences. and the furnishings had a nice mixture of antique and modern. this was my birthday treat, to stay in a nice place for 2 nights. we were only a few blocks from it and were greeted by the owner ian and their new employee, will, both very sweet english guys. they gave us a tour around the place and i was STOKED. it was gorgeous. the house was impeccably decorated. they had kept all old touches of the original place in tact, like the cool painted tiles on the floors. there was a long spiral staircase that lead to the upper floors which eventually took you to the rooftop. there were two room on the main rooftop and another room one more flight up. the gardens on the rooftop were beautiful and i felt like i could just stop and stay there the rest of my trip.
it's funny because i've never been that bothered about accommodations before when travelling. as long as the place was clean and comfortable, it was fine. i just wanted to be where ever i was and didn't care about "service." maybe it's travelling in my 30s and wanting more comforts or just appreciating "the finer things." whatever it is, i realized after staying at the cocker, i really liked this level of satisfaction in a hotel. sign me up for "conde nast traveller!" HA!
we had a sweet room complete with big cozy bed, pretty art on the walls AND a huge wetroom with fantastic water pressure. god i loved that wetroom. made me want one in my future home. we slept amazingly well that night after staying out pretty late to check out a local milongra (amateur tango dancers).
breakfast in the cocker was also lovely. tea and coffee and juice and amazing pastries and toast and cereal and a plethora of ripe fruits all served in the cute dining room around a big square table. i also have to say that i've enjoyed hostels because it's easy to meet other travelers. but sitting around that big table in the morning, you got to meet the other guests. we had a very sweet couple from scotland and a girl from munich. all interesting and well-travelled people. we ended up going to dinner with all of them that night and had a fantastic meal at a place called balthazar (i think... will have to check) in san telmo. it was more upscale but again, we ate amazingly well... starters, a few bottles of wine, main courses, desserts and each only paid $30!
we decided to check out an official tango show (when in rome) at a place called bar sur, which was recommended to us. it was pricey, about $30 (martin haggled with the host). the place was very intimate and the dancers and musicians were very talently but it was just so touristy. like flashing digicams the whole time. honestly, if i were to do it again, i'd leave the tango show since you can see really great performers for free in the streets.
next day we checked out la boca which was a really cool, brightly colored neighborhood. again, total touristy vibe with handy crafts for sale and tango dancers dancing for change in the hat but the area was just groovy. we took a million photos that day. maybe my favorite picture taking day ever.
we lucked out at the cocker because they had two nights open up for availability, so we took em! just didn't want to move and it was just too good there. we also got to switch rooms which was fun. we checked out the recoleta cemetery which was vast. row upon row of huge statues and monuments for dead people. and of course evita's grave.
again, when in rome... we attended a soccer match of the local team, the boca juniors against mexico. totally fun!! singing and chanting the whole time. man, are they into their futbol. it probably would have been more intense if it was two local teams but it was still a good time.
our last night, martin took me out for my official birthday dinner. we were going to go to the popular las lilas in puerto madero which had been recommended by a few friends. but when ian, our host had told me about a place he preferred for the money, i decided to check it out. they had given us such good advice so far that i thought we couldn't go wrong. besides, he said las lilas was pretty touristy and i wanted to real deal. so we went to patagonia sur in la boca. omg! again, talk about service!! we were the first people there at a 9:30 seating. the place was dark and initimate, only about 8 tables and the waitstaff were the bomb.
it was a 3 course meal and each one was delish, especially the dessert! apparently it was famous argentinian chef, francis mallmann's place, where the restaurant was downstairs and his residence was above. we found out later when we asked to sip our wine outside and they showed us upstairs to the balcony, right through his living room where he, himself was sitting watching TV. talk about intimate!
our last day in BA was spent in ultra trendy palermo viejo. each street was occupied by some cooler than cool clothes or furniture shop. very designy. i felt like i was in nolita or williamsburg. the shops were cool but not really cheap. they were slightly cheaper than ny prices but i wouldn't say "deal." there were also plently of independent designer flea markets happened but nothing i hadn't seen before. i guess i was hoping for more. but it was still a cool hood and we definitely didn't get a chance to really explore.
we left for patagonia the next day which will be in part 2...
and here are the rest of the BA photos
Friday, March 09, 2007
hasta la vista
i know, i'm a total blogger slacker. it just seems when i get too busy, the blogging slides. besides, i'm just not an obsessive blogger at all. sometimes i wish i were. especially this weekend, when ariel was here and she met all these cool ladies, some of whom were her blog fans. weirdly kind of cool. i mean, the whole blogging community boggles the mind sometimes, like why would you want everyone to know your personal stuff? but i then again, there's something about it which is very cool. i can't quite put my finger on it but i suppose it has to do with being a part of a community that seems to be a very informed, tech savvy, finger-on-the-pulse bunch. and a cool community at that. i know know, just rambling with no point really.
the other thing is that i don't fancy myself a writer. and good bloggers are good writers. i just use this here thing to keep my friends updated with my life. not to be entertained with my witty banter. so perhaps i don't feel worthy. whatevs. i feel like writing today, so there.
part of my busy-ness in the last month or so has been the fact that martin was here. that always keeps me busy. in a good way. plus, i was working in-house for a couple weeks and have been working on my latest business venture on the side. it's not quite ready to launch yet but when it is, i'll let you know.
and the biggest news is that i'm about to take off on a big journey. i haven't quite digested the fact that i'm going to be away in 2 foreign countries (possibly 3 or 4 depending on what happens) for almost a whole month! i've noticed i've had bizarre guilt about going on this trip. like i don't want to tell people just how long i'll be away because i don't want to sound like some priviledged snob who can travel the world on a whim. it's not like that but sometimes i feel like people think that. and who cares really? but i still can't help the feeling.
travelling is my favorite thing to do in the world and i wish i could do it more. i mean, yeah, i'm away a lot but not on crazy across the world adventures. my last big trip like this was to new zealand for 5 weeks. that was my first real solo journey and it changed me in many ways. i've never had so many adventures in one chunk of time and i'll never forget any of them (sky diving, swimming in open water with wild dolphins, white water rafting, mountain biking, ocean kayaking, insane hiking, camper- vanning with a stranger, camping for 2 weeks straight, zorbing!). it was all fantastic and all i wanted was MORE.
so now is the time for more. this will be my first big trip with a boyfriend (which should be an adventure all its own). this will also be my first time in argentina and chile (patagonia). my first long trip in a spanish-speaking country. and my first big over night hiking trip. i don't feel ready. but i gotta say, the travelling i have done, i've always enjoyed figuring it out as i go rather than plan every last detail. granted, we may learn along the way that some planning may have helped but it'll be a learning experience.
we have the first 3 nights in buenos aires booked and the rest we have no idea. think we'll probably stay there a couple more days, then figure out how to get down to patagonia. we both want to do a big hike in torres del paine national park but we haven't booked any refugios (lodge type places where you can sleep on a cot and get hot food). i also have a bad knee at the moment and marts has a bad tummy. we will be a pair! we've been laughing, saying that we'll get down there and end up on the old folks bus pointing at the glaciers out the window instead of hiking on them. UGH!!
we're just gonna play it by ear. my ticket is a freebie... been saving up the miles for years now. and it should be pretty cheap down there. so i'm hoping it's not all totally lost. at least i have no expectations. that's the best way to go if you ask me.
AND i've been taking spanish classes so i won't sound like a complete idiot (hopefully!). i also plan to blog while we're there, so stay tuned...
adios amigos.
the other thing is that i don't fancy myself a writer. and good bloggers are good writers. i just use this here thing to keep my friends updated with my life. not to be entertained with my witty banter. so perhaps i don't feel worthy. whatevs. i feel like writing today, so there.
part of my busy-ness in the last month or so has been the fact that martin was here. that always keeps me busy. in a good way. plus, i was working in-house for a couple weeks and have been working on my latest business venture on the side. it's not quite ready to launch yet but when it is, i'll let you know.
and the biggest news is that i'm about to take off on a big journey. i haven't quite digested the fact that i'm going to be away in 2 foreign countries (possibly 3 or 4 depending on what happens) for almost a whole month! i've noticed i've had bizarre guilt about going on this trip. like i don't want to tell people just how long i'll be away because i don't want to sound like some priviledged snob who can travel the world on a whim. it's not like that but sometimes i feel like people think that. and who cares really? but i still can't help the feeling.
travelling is my favorite thing to do in the world and i wish i could do it more. i mean, yeah, i'm away a lot but not on crazy across the world adventures. my last big trip like this was to new zealand for 5 weeks. that was my first real solo journey and it changed me in many ways. i've never had so many adventures in one chunk of time and i'll never forget any of them (sky diving, swimming in open water with wild dolphins, white water rafting, mountain biking, ocean kayaking, insane hiking, camper- vanning with a stranger, camping for 2 weeks straight, zorbing!). it was all fantastic and all i wanted was MORE.
so now is the time for more. this will be my first big trip with a boyfriend (which should be an adventure all its own). this will also be my first time in argentina and chile (patagonia). my first long trip in a spanish-speaking country. and my first big over night hiking trip. i don't feel ready. but i gotta say, the travelling i have done, i've always enjoyed figuring it out as i go rather than plan every last detail. granted, we may learn along the way that some planning may have helped but it'll be a learning experience.
we have the first 3 nights in buenos aires booked and the rest we have no idea. think we'll probably stay there a couple more days, then figure out how to get down to patagonia. we both want to do a big hike in torres del paine national park but we haven't booked any refugios (lodge type places where you can sleep on a cot and get hot food). i also have a bad knee at the moment and marts has a bad tummy. we will be a pair! we've been laughing, saying that we'll get down there and end up on the old folks bus pointing at the glaciers out the window instead of hiking on them. UGH!!
we're just gonna play it by ear. my ticket is a freebie... been saving up the miles for years now. and it should be pretty cheap down there. so i'm hoping it's not all totally lost. at least i have no expectations. that's the best way to go if you ask me.
AND i've been taking spanish classes so i won't sound like a complete idiot (hopefully!). i also plan to blog while we're there, so stay tuned...
adios amigos.
Thursday, January 25, 2007
my boyfriends back (almost)
only 4 days til martin gets here! it will be almost 2 whole months we've been apart physically. amazingly, we've kept up great communication the time apart, speaking everyday (save for maybe 1 or 2 days). pretty awesome. and strangley, i feel closer to him now more than ever. we talk about everything all the time and are super supportive of our each other's life endevours. great relationship evolution if you ask me. i feel like one lucky girl.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
i was on TV!
not last night but the night before, i saw myself on network TV, on the 11 o'clock news, right after "the golden globes." it was a little story about the night called cringe. not only was i shown as a member of the audience, they chose to display me as the ridiculous laughing girl. big old close-up of ME, laughing my ass off. it was sorta funny to see my face that big on television but also a little embarrassing. whatever, i was on TV!
i thought i was probably the only person who saw it, as i just happened upon the story on the news that night, but no! a couple friends saw it too. one of which was a long lost friend who sent me this hilarious email (which describes my "guffawing" to a tee):
I saw you on NBC 11 o'clock news last night. You probably already know this, but you were in Brooklyn at one of those diary readings. You were in full close-up doing what I would describe as a first-rate guffaw!!!
Really, it was a guffaw. Not a belly laugh, and not a snicker - a full on, bending forward, throwing head toward the ground, hair covering face, and then snap!! Back up you came all pearly-whites and bright eyes. You are a good laugher. You can be an extra in my movies anytime.
Anyway, I guess you're back in NY. Too bad it takes Sue Simmons and the entire News 4 Team for me to know your where abouts, but you can't say that they're not doing they're job. Those hacks at CBS, not to mention CNN, would never have delivered you to me so efficiently and lovingly and carefully packaged and presented. Yer cute!!! (from Jamie Hawkins)
i thought i was probably the only person who saw it, as i just happened upon the story on the news that night, but no! a couple friends saw it too. one of which was a long lost friend who sent me this hilarious email (which describes my "guffawing" to a tee):
I saw you on NBC 11 o'clock news last night. You probably already know this, but you were in Brooklyn at one of those diary readings. You were in full close-up doing what I would describe as a first-rate guffaw!!!
Really, it was a guffaw. Not a belly laugh, and not a snicker - a full on, bending forward, throwing head toward the ground, hair covering face, and then snap!! Back up you came all pearly-whites and bright eyes. You are a good laugher. You can be an extra in my movies anytime.
Anyway, I guess you're back in NY. Too bad it takes Sue Simmons and the entire News 4 Team for me to know your where abouts, but you can't say that they're not doing they're job. Those hacks at CBS, not to mention CNN, would never have delivered you to me so efficiently and lovingly and carefully packaged and presented. Yer cute!!! (from Jamie Hawkins)
Thursday, January 11, 2007
death to my digicam
sadly, my digital camera that i purchased from martin is DEAD.
it's by no fault of casio. martin sat on it a week after he got it.
he sent it in to be fixed. they sent it back and i bought it off him.
now, the focus is broken. sadness.
i feel naked without my digicam. no more obsessive documenting of my life.
guess, i'll just have to get a new one.
wonder which i should get?
hmmmmmmmmmmm
p.s. I'M DYING FOR THAT IPHONE! HURRY UP JUNE.
it's by no fault of casio. martin sat on it a week after he got it.
he sent it in to be fixed. they sent it back and i bought it off him.
now, the focus is broken. sadness.
i feel naked without my digicam. no more obsessive documenting of my life.
guess, i'll just have to get a new one.
wonder which i should get?
hmmmmmmmmmmm
p.s. I'M DYING FOR THAT IPHONE! HURRY UP JUNE.
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
new years rezzies/goals
here we go. the list for 2007.
1. career - new business faux reel is up, running and earning good money.
2. travel adventures - visit at least 2 new countries.
3. love - give more of myself, learn more and be a better listener, keep good momentum going.
4. volunteer work - find and new and interesting non-profit group to give my time.
5. health - get new health insurance, get full physical, figure out and stick to doable exercise routine, eat healthier (and more at home), no smoking.
6. money - research investment options, sort out a long-term savings plan, stick to a reasonable budget.
7. communication - continue working on talking with family and friends, don't avoid confrontation.
8. social life - do only want i really want to do and don't do what i don't want to do.
9. extra curriculars - read more, stay up to date with current affairs, familiarize self with more artists/designers/photographers/filmmakers, more music and dancing in my life, blog and journal more.
10. BE OK WITH BEING AMAZING.
1. career - new business faux reel is up, running and earning good money.
2. travel adventures - visit at least 2 new countries.
3. love - give more of myself, learn more and be a better listener, keep good momentum going.
4. volunteer work - find and new and interesting non-profit group to give my time.
5. health - get new health insurance, get full physical, figure out and stick to doable exercise routine, eat healthier (and more at home), no smoking.
6. money - research investment options, sort out a long-term savings plan, stick to a reasonable budget.
7. communication - continue working on talking with family and friends, don't avoid confrontation.
8. social life - do only want i really want to do and don't do what i don't want to do.
9. extra curriculars - read more, stay up to date with current affairs, familiarize self with more artists/designers/photographers/filmmakers, more music and dancing in my life, blog and journal more.
10. BE OK WITH BEING AMAZING.
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