Welcome to my travel blog! I've visited 30 countries (kickstarted by Remote Year) and 38 U.S. States. Click SUBSCRIBE to receive an email when a new post is published.
Waterfalls, rainbows and butterflies. EVERYWHERE.
A few weeks back when I was in Buenos Aires, I took a trip to Iguazu Falls, which borders Brazil and Argentina. The trip was nothing short of spectacular. There are anywhere between 150 to 300 waterfalls in Iguazu depending on water levels. It’s paradise.
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The Buenos Aires Festival Internacional de Cine Independiente (BAFICI) is an 11 day film festival that spans 27 different venues around BA. I was exploring the Centro Cultural Recoleta area, and noticed some familiar faces on signage for BAFICI. Good ole Wallace n Grommit from Aardman Animation Studios! The British animation studio is celebrating 40 years and lucky for me, the Creative Director of Aardman, Merlin Crossingham was speaking in a free Q&A seminar!
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We landed in city #3: La Paz, Bolivia! But, I’ve got more to say about my beloved Buenos Aires! I saw 5 art museums, each with their own style. But, some of the best art in BA is on the streets. Just like New York City, or Venice, Cali, street art is part of the cityscape. It is encouraged and celebrated. And, I think it's beautiful.
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One of my goals for this Remote Year is to host 1 public speaking workshop per city. 12 cities, 12 workshops. I’m calling the series 'Communicate Like Cousteau'. (RY3 code name = Cousteau) Jacques Cousteau was a true Renaissance man. A revolutionary scientist, explorer, filmmaker, conservationist, photographer, author, etc. Cousteau was also an orator who often gave speeches about his ground-breaking work and political views. I think Cousteau would be proud of us. And, I hope we honor his name.
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The Contemporary Art Museum is right next to MAMBA and it is a great complement to the Modern Museum. Minimalism is the main motif in MACBA. 'MAC' might as well stand for 'minimal and clean'. While a bit smaller than the other 3 museums we visited, the space was brilliantly curated and aesthetically on point.
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Another rainy weekend in Buenos Aires made for memorable art museum adventures! Lucky me, I met the most amazing mujer, mi novia nueva Fernanda, who is studying to be an art curator. She showed me 4 museums in 2 days: two in San Telmo, and two in Recoleta. (Both are awesome artsy areas of BA)
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My fellow Remote Arestia Rosenberg is a Moth StorySLAM Champion! A StorySLAM is an open mic storytelling competition. Storyteller names are picked out of a hat randomly and each person has 5 mins to share a story based on the theme ‘del dia’. Arestia hosted a StorySLAM last night, and of course I wanted in.
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El jueves pasado, I left Spanish class and heard rhythmic protesting, and occasional kabams! (the norm in Argentina) Careful curiosity drew me near...
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Bethany Saint-Smith
I met the coolest Buenos Aires chica Fernanda, who invited me to a live show on Sunday with her amigos Bruno and Fernando. The show was at this garage venue El Emergente, and started super early for Buenos Aires (~6pm) because it was Sunday.
(Wait, so I guess they do follow SOME laws here?)
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Fuerza Bruta translated = ‘Brute Force’. (Probably) the best live show I’ve ever seen! ~Cirque Du Soleil meets Blue Man Group. Intense music, performance art and acrobatics. Most of the show happens in / on top of the crowd. You can’t help but be a part it.
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I love tacos. (Main reason I moved to LA) Al pastor 'til I die!
Mi amigo (Jeremy) and I have a favorite taco truck in LA. I miss her sweet trompo. Córdoba does empanadas really well, but not really tacos. Before I left for Buenos Aires, Jeremy researched and found: La Fábrica Del Taco.
Turns out, it’s ~5 blocks from mi apartamento nuevo!
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On Remote Year, there are events ~every night. We arrived in Buenos Aires late Sunday, and on Monday, there was an open mic night called “Folk You Monday” at this cool little artsy venue. 4 of my travel mates got on the list and performed live!
Kudos to Travis, Kirsten, Tanya and Mike for stepping up and absolutely killing it!
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My last post about lovely lady Córdoba. A little sad. But, time to move on! I’ve already got plenty to write about for Buenos Aires. Here are the 7 best blog posts I never got around to writing...a rare 7-in-one! Argentineans are known for their meat. This blog post is MEATY.
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The first thing I do on a long bus, train or plane ride is pop on my headphones and listen to the “Into the Wild” soundtrack by Eddie Vedder. All the way through.
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Thursday night was our Farewell Dinner Party for Córdoba. We had dinner at ‘El Arrabal’, featuring a brilliant Tango Dance show by beautiful dancers!!
I’ll let this video speak for itself. Es muy caliente!
And, some party pics!
Sarah and I.
Our lovely leaders, Travis & Samantha, aka Tramantha
Patrick...it's great to see this guy finally loosen up.
"They're matching!"
Some of our group who took tango lessons while in town.
Mike & Jess, who I would say earned Best Dressed!
Lisa & Abe!
Kelly & Tom!
And, the birthday girl, Samantha!
If you know me well, you know that I can take down a big bag of Lay’s Salt & Vinegar Chips in one night. (Right, Dad? Not proud.)
When I entered my first supermercado (grocery store) in Córdoba, I noticed a familiar color set. Classic Lay’s amarillo, Sour Cream & Onion verde, and of course, that powder blue color that makes my mouth water: Salt & Vinegar azul!
After looking closer, I noticed something unfamiliar. No jar of red vinegar or ramekin of salt.
Instead, a seared steak on a wooden cutting board. Sabor, Asado. (~“Flavor, Roast”)
My mouth stopped watering. Pavlov effect over. Soul crushed.
But I figure, maybe this Asado flavor is just as bueno as Salt & Vinegar? If they’re willing to give it the powder blue color, it must be mouth watering, si? So, I forked over the 40 pesos and headed home for a taste test.
An Asado in Argentina is a big deal. It’s pretty much a BBQ...a big get together with tons of grilled meat. But, the Asado flavor is not like BBQ flavor chips. The best way to describe the taste is: if you were to grill a steak, trap the juices in a cup, and then pour those juices over classic Lay’s chips. Steak juice chips!
I was weirded out at first, and then warmed up to them. I may not finish an Asado Lay’s bag in one night, but I wouldn't NOT want to eat them in bed while reading. (Like I'm doing in the pic above)
Don’t judge.
Our first monthly, big networking event! Remote Year invites ~50 local business people to join us for a schmoozing night. First, a cocktail mixer; second, a series of ‘lightning presentations’ (3 min career related speeches by various remotes and locals); and lastly, a sit down dinner.
Last Thursday was our first Junction and I was asked to be a lightning presenter. They put me last, which was an honor. Most of the presenters talked about their specific businesses, but my topic was more motivational: “Find Your Career Zen”. Master Nomi would be proud!
Side note: it was ~40 degrees C, aka ~105 degrees F in this small room and everyone was drenched in sweat. I felt like I played 2-on-2 before speaking. Below, I'm attempting to strip my soaked shirt off my stomach.
This was an awesome event! At my table was one of the other presenters, Marcelo from a local studio MindSmack. It turns out, Marcelo and I have practically identical resumes! We hit it off big time, and I know we will keep in touch and maybe even work together in the future.
Loreda, Me, Samantha, Marcelo
Score one for Remote Year! These Junctions are incredibly valuable networking opportunities. It's a global market and you can learn a lot from your international counterparts. #networking
And a rare #selfindulgent #selfie.
It’s fascinating to experience the cultural differences in foreign countries.
In Cordoba, restaurants don’t open for dinner until ~8:30pm and waiters & waitresses are incredibly lax about bringing the check, or even checking on you. SO different from the US, where the main goal is to churn you out.
One difference I’ll never get used to is night construction...directly across the street. The sound of an intermittent power saw from ~midnight to ~5am is not the type of white noise I need to Zzzz.
I don’t mind the drunken revelers that oft pass by my place, singing and slurring. Reminds me of the good ole days! But, that power saw.
Funny thing, is that NO ONE EVER YELLS at them. If this were New York City, the string of obscenities would be entertaining enough to make me take out my ear plugs. But, people just seem to accept it here.
I guess the show must go on. Maybe these guys are working under a tight deadline. (Doubt it) Or maybe they just like working at night. (Maybe?) Or, they just want to get the job done as quick as possible? (Hmmm)
If only the waiters and waitresses had that same drive. :]
You just have to accept that things here are different! Embrace the soothing sounds of power saws at 4am. Plan for 2 hour meals. And ask for the check a half hour before you want to go.