CHE in Cordoba

EVITA and the election

Hola. Yes, I am in Buenos Aires again by myself.  It is so hard to be away from Leo, my heart hurts when I think about it.  I arrived last Tuesday.  I took care of setting myself up. I checked into the apartment, the land line had no answering machine and I was without computer (as well as Leo). 

My friend, Chris offered to buy the phone from me once I finished using it.  I just had to do the leg work.  Now, if you have never been to Argentina and only know American customer service you MUST lower your expectations about the service here.

I walked over to the trendy and very overstimulating Alto Palermo mall.  I went to Personal's kiosco (one of the cell phone companies here) and bought the "mas barato" phone.  It meant a basic phone, no camera or any other tricks and gadgets.  I was advised by the sales chica that within 24 hours I would get a message with my new phone number.  Ok,  I thought thats cool.

As this is Argentina  the story does not end yet.  On Tuesday, no service. On Wednesday, I made the dreaded trip back to Alto Palermo and to the Personal kiosco.  In my best Spanish, I advised the chica I had no service.  She assured me that in another 24 hours I would have service and if not I could call her.  I was skeptical but also hopeful.  No service on Thursday, Friday.  I really did not want to go back to the Kiosco.


Today, I met my friend Richard and his sexy boyfriend Carlos ("Charlie") at Alto Palermo to see a terrible Bruce Willis movie.  Anyways, Richard said Charlie would help me with fixing the no cell phone problem.  We got to the kiosco and the Spanish flying between Charlie and the sales guy was so fast I just mentally blacked out.  The sales guy was a jerk, he told me to go to the main office.  The main office is usually packed with 100 people waiting to be seen (not unlike the DMV).

We went around the shopping center to another Personal kiosco.  The chica was very helpful and called the woman I had spoken to the other day and said she would be there in 15 minutes. We waited (although I was certain she would not show). I saw Mickey Mouse on Ave Santa Fe giving out balloons which only made me homesick.  Anyways, the woman showed up said it was a bad chip and changed it.  All that drama for a "bad" chip. Now, I have cell phone and I am plugged in.

I thought I would add a picture of Buenos Aires' most famous cyrpt, Evita Peron.
Its to remind everyone to get out and vote on Sunday! I am being ironic, as voting is obligatory here unlike my birth country, where less then 45% of the population votes. Ok, this is not meant to be political but alas my commentary appears to be so.
Feliz fin de semana.

HOMELAND SECURITY SAID OK

Ok, so that was our engagement photo taken in November, 2005. Now, almost 2 years later, U.S. Homeland Security approved my husband's visa waivers and he is allowed back into the United States. I am walking on air, I never really though it would happen and still we are not yet there. We have to wait for our 2nd wedding anniversary before his Visa is placed in his passport so that his green card will be unconditional.
Thats all the technical stuff. The good stuff is how shocked and happy we are but also its bittersweet as we have made some good friends in Buenos Aires.
Our life is very different here then in the USA. I meet more and more Americans immigrating to Argentina, fed up with the quality of life there and the possibility of a better one here.
I believe everything in life happens for a reason, we are not on to the next chapter just yet, as we are still in Buenos Aires. We dont know when we leave as we have to wait until December 25.

VACAS O VERDURAS

Argentina: meat central, yes? This is not necessarily so anymore. As a committed vegetarian (that means I do eat dairy products) unlike vegans (no dairy or eggs) I feared moving to Argentina and being deprived of vegetarian options. I would be in carnivore heaven and starve, well maybe not. What could I eat except for deep fried cheese, pizza and be completely deprived of nutrients. (and about 25 pounds heavier)

I was surprised! There are many vegetarians in Buenos Aires (compared to the USA its not that high) and numerous vegetarian dining and cooking options.

My top restaurants for a guaranteed healthy and tasty meal include:

Pura Vida Restaurant on Uriburu 1489 and Pena (look for the bright orange awning). This is a juice bar that also serves soup, sandwiches and salads. It has been open less then a year ago by two expats from the United States. One owner is a strict "raw foodist" (nothing baked) and the other is a vegan. At Pura Vida you will have delicious liquados (smoothies) or jugos (juices). My favorite smoothie is the "Strawberry Fields Forever" which has banana, blueberry, raspberry, apple juice and I request spirulina to be added.

The other option although not solely vegetarian but carnivore friendly is California Burrito Company in Microcentro on Lavalle 441 and San Martin (4328-3056). This restaurant was also opened by three expats from the United States. This restaurant has an assembly line system to ordering your meal. They claim 15,000 variations can be created for a fajita, burritio or taco. As a vegetarian, you choose from either pinto or black beans, various salsas, spicy mole, guacamole, sour cream (non-vegan), and vegetables. The burrito also includes a beverage of your choice all for under the price of $20 AR.

In the Collegiales neighborhood, you will find Verde Llama on Jorge Newbery 3623 (4554-7467). This is a raw foods restaurant run by Diego, an Argentine and staunch believer of the "life foods philosophy." If vegetarianism is radical in Argentina then raw foodism is sacrelegous. At Verde Llama nothing is cooked. The base of the foods is made from cracker like food made from sprouts processed in a "dehydrator."

The menu includes salads, lasagna, coconut curry, and an extensive juice and wine list. They also have a mate mousse for dessert. Diego is very passionate about "life foods" and gives classes at the restaurants on preparing raw food dishes at home. One of the chefs at Verde Llama is also a baker and sells his wares for $10 AR at the restaurant along with some other ready made products.

As a vegetarian, its easier to prepare meals from home then scout out what I can and cannot eat from a menu. (Its also more cost effective to eat in!) The supermarket chain, Jumbo in Palermo (near the mosque) is a good resource for buying vegetables, soy sauce and some other staples. For more extensive shopping its worth a trip to Barrio Chino in Belgrano.

Barrio Chino is made up of about 2 or 3 blocks and there are many restaurants (some vegetarian) and shops crammed into this little area. You can always find soy milk in Barrio Chino. At Asia Oriental Market on Arribenos you will find an extensive supply of baked tofu, silken tofu,prepared foods such as vegetarian sushi, vegetables and fruits.

I have seen on expatriate websites in Buenos Aires people searchin for coconut oil, sesame milk and other items easily found at The Whole Foods market chain in the USA. However, these products are not easy to find here. The solution? People are learning to make their own almond, and sesame milk. There is clearly a market for a Whole Foods market here in Buenos Aires. There is a growing market to accomodate vegetarians and with all of these people opening up restaurants and markets the demand will increase. Perhaps, Argentina land of carnivores will become famous for vegetarian living too!

Argentina's Most Famous Transgender

mrspicci@gmail.comhttps://photos.google.com/Argentina's most famous transgender, Florencia "de la V" is our neighbor. I wont leave my address to protect her from unwanted paparazzi. Anyway, Argentines seem to love their celebrities. I had never heard of Florencia or any of these magazines like Gente or Caras but since moving here I have become familiar with them.

At any given time during the day, I can hear Florencia clomping around her apartment in her high heels. I see her frequently in the elevator waifed in a bottle of perfume. She is an attractive woman (in my opinion). I have then not seen her for many days say in January. To only accidentally look in Gente or Caras and see Ms. de la V and her novia bathing in the Punta del Este surf.

In the USA, it would be highly unlikely that I would be living in the same building as a magazine celebrity because of financial reasons. That what a tabloid star could afford might be a touch out of my price range. I have yet to have a mate with Ms. de la V but I will keep all informed.

I thought I would add a picture of Buenos Aires' most famous cyrpt, Evita Peron.
Its to remind everyone to get out and vote on Sunday! I am being ironic, as voting is obligatory here unlike my birth country, where less then 45% of the population votes. Ok, this is not meant to be political but alas my commentary appears to be so.
Feliz fin de semana.