tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353249292024-02-20T05:21:00.515-03:00A Guideless Traveler's blog: Vida Surrealista<a href="http://www.lacoctelera.com/vidasurrealista/">Spanish Version</a>
<br>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger126125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35324929.post-26511248050648483732008-08-27T16:11:00.003-03:002008-08-27T16:44:26.242-03:00<div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/SLWnum0rJuI/AAAAAAAAAl4/a6gJ7RhSwGk/s1600-h/DSCN2445.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239278160652740322" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/SLWnum0rJuI/AAAAAAAAAl4/a6gJ7RhSwGk/s320/DSCN2445.JPG" border="0" /></a>Ser argentino y no conocer <a href="http://www.mardelplata.com/">Mar del Plata</a>, es casi como ser francés y no conocer la <a href="http://www.parissweethome.com/parisrentals/eiffel_es.php">Torre Eiffel</a>.<br /><br /><br />Por eso Mar del Plata era una de mis <strong>asignaturas pendientes</strong> hasta el fin de semana pasado.<br /><br /><br />¿Eso quiere decir que ahora s<strong>oy un poquito más argentina?<br /></strong><br /><br />Con frecuencia había escuchado hablar maravillas sobre esta ciudad costera <strong>404 km al sur de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires</strong> sobre el Océano Atlántico: "es una pequeña Buenos Aires con mar," me decían, "es imposible no enamorarse de esta ciudad."<br /><br /><br />Personalmente prefiero los lugares más verdes, menos edificados y más tranquilos, sobretodo cuando me tomo unos días para descansar. Pero debo admitir que <strong>la ciudad tiene su encanto.<br /></strong><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/SLWoNKBN91I/AAAAAAAAAmA/GbdK8Ar8RJA/s1600-h/DSCN2438.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239278685496670034" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/SLWoNKBN91I/AAAAAAAAAmA/GbdK8Ar8RJA/s320/DSCN2438.JPG" border="0" /></a>En el <strong>Puerto de Mar del Plata</strong> (pesquero, petrolero, y cerealero), uno puede observar <strong>lobos marinos </strong>que descansan y toman sol sobre las plataformas del puerto. Acostumbrados a los humanos, se muestran pacíficos y es posible acercarse para tomarse fotos con ellos. Algunos audaces hasta se animan a tocarlos. Aunque es aconsejable seguir las instrucciones de los carteles y mantener distancia ya que son animales salvajes.<br /><br /><br />Frente al puerto existe un mercado donde se comercializan pescados frescos y enlatados junto con sus derivados. Allí también es posible encontrar recuerditos de la ciudad.<br /><br /><br />Tanto en <strong>invierno</strong> como en verano, los turistas pueden deleitarse del <strong>mar</strong> mientras caminan por la <strong>Rambla</strong>.<br /><br /><br />Durante el <strong>verano</strong>, Mar del Plata recibe entre <strong>dos y tres millones de visitantes</strong> que disfrutan del "turismo deportivo, ecológico, aventura, pesca y eventos culturales" que ofrece la ciudad. Mar del Plata está muy bien preparada para recibir el migración de turistas provenientes de Buenos Aires y otras ciudades Argentinas. Según <a href="http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ciudad_de_Mar_del_Plata">Wikipedia</a>, la ciudad cuenta con "un total de <strong>56.771 alojamientos hoteleros</strong> de diferentes características para la recepción de sus turistas. Además de <strong>1.590 establecimientos gastronómicos</strong> con diferentes servicios de acuerdo a las preferencias de la demanda que abastece la ciudad..<strong>129</strong> establecimientos tales como <strong>bares, discos, pubs</strong> y demás." Por si fuera poco, también cuenta con "el <strong>Casino</strong> Central..diferentes Bingos: del Puerto, el Peatonal, el Bingo del Sol y el del Mar."<br /><br /><br />En mi caso, <strong>no describiría Mar del Plata como la “Biarritz argentina”</strong> como hacen los amantes de la ciudad. Pero considero que es una <strong>ciudad interesante</strong> con una amplia y diversificada oferta de ocio para el turista.<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Publicidad</strong> </div><p class="EC_MsoNormal"><br /><img class="imgIzq" style="WIDTH: 210px; HEIGHT: 150px" height="1320" src="http://www.lacoctelera.com/myfiles/vidasurrealista/Estoy-con-el-campo-reducido.jpg" width="1988" /><img class="imgDer" style="WIDTH: 143px; HEIGHT: 150px" height="179" src="http://www.lacoctelera.com/myfiles/vidasurrealista/contra-la-pornografia-infantil.jpg" width="155" /><br /><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><br /><br /><span lang="ES-AR" style="mso-ansi-language: ES-AR;font-family:Verdana;font-size:9;" ><img class="imgcen" id="img_0" height="46" src="http://www.lacoctelera.com/myfiles/vidasurrealista/banner-en-movimiento.gif" width="390" /></span><br /><br /><br /><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35324929.post-7087887140532856152008-08-12T10:13:00.006-03:002008-08-12T10:33:17.813-03:00Primavera en Buenos Aires en Pleno Invierno<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/SKGQlWsDaSI/AAAAAAAAAlw/7xmb5qPWmAM/s1600-h/DSCN2417.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233623213401139490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/SKGQlWsDaSI/AAAAAAAAAlw/7xmb5qPWmAM/s320/DSCN2417.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/SKGPLS4G3gI/AAAAAAAAAlo/oLN_ced7p3U/s1600-h/DSCN2425.JPG"></a><br /><br /><div>Primavera en Buenos Aires en Pleno Invierno<br /><br />Este sábado nos visitó la primavera en pleno invierno en Buenos Aires, y aprovechamos para ir conocer el <a href="http://www.clarin.com/diario/2005/11/05/laciudad/h-06702.htm">Parque de los Niños</a> a orillas del Río de la Plata.<br /><br />Detrás del golf del Círculo de la Policía Federal, entre Capital y el Partido de Vicente López, se esconden <strong>24 hectáreas verdes</strong> con mesas para picnic, áreas de juegos, bicisendas, baños y hasta un anfiteatro.<br /><br />El Parque fue <strong>inaugurado en 1999</strong>, y ofrece una alternativa diferente para <strong>disfrutar del aire libre sin salir de la capital.</strong> Es un hermoso lugar para jugar a la pelota, saltar en colchones inflables, montar barriletes o simplemente descansar sobre el césped observando los <strong>veleros que navegan por el río.</strong> <strong><br /><br /></strong><a href="http://www.pescaeneldelta.com.ar/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=161">Pescaeneldelta.com.ar </a>cuenta que el Parque también es un excelente lugar para pescar bogas que promedian los 3 kilos, mojarritas, mojarrones, bagres pequeños, doradillos y dorados.<br /><br />Considerando que lo bien cuidado que está el parque, me llama la atención que tan poca gente lo conozca. Por eso les dejo indicaciones de cómo llegar y los invito visitarlo. Realmente vale la pena.<br /><br /><strong>Cómo llegar:</strong><br />Avenida Cantilo y Zufriategui (Av. General Paz y costa del Río de la Plata) </div><br /><br /><div><br />El parque está situado detrás del golf de la Círculo de la Policía Federal, junto al campo de la Armada Argentina.<br /></div><br /><br /><div>Viniendo desde capital hacia la General Paz por Av. Cantilo, tome Vedia, la última salida hacia el río a su derecha antes de subir el puente.<br /><br /><strong>Horarios:</strong> (<a href="http://www.clarin.com/diario/2005/11/05/laciudad/h-06702.htm">según Clarín</a>)<br />Lunes a viernes: 9 a 20<br />Sábados y Domingos: 9 a 23.<br /><br />Entrada gratuita.<br /><br /><strong>Otras curiosidades sobre el Parque:<br /></strong>Según <a href="http://www.buenosairesbuendia.com.ar/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=173&Itemid=62">Buenosairesbuendia.com.ar</a>, es el único parque de la ciudad que “cuenta con una planta de tratamiento de los residuos cloacales. Esa planta filtra los residuos generados en los baños públicos, con lo cual los líquidos son arrojados al arroyo Raggio sin contaminación. Luego los barros contaminados deberán ser retirados por un camión atmosférico.”<br /><br /></div><br /><br /><p class="EC_MsoNormal"><strong>Publicidad</strong><br /><br /><img class="imgIzq" style="WIDTH: 210px; HEIGHT: 150px" height="1320" src="http://www.lacoctelera.com/myfiles/vidasurrealista/Estoy-con-el-campo-reducido.jpg" width="1988" /><img class="imgDer" style="WIDTH: 143px; HEIGHT: 150px" height="179" src="http://www.lacoctelera.com/myfiles/vidasurrealista/contra-la-pornografia-infantil.jpg" width="155" /><br /><br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><br /><br /><span lang="ES-AR" style="mso-ansi-language: ES-AR;font-family:Verdana;font-size:9;" ><img class="imgcen" id="img_0" height="46" src="http://www.lacoctelera.com/myfiles/vidasurrealista/banner-en-movimiento.gif" width="390" /></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><script type="text/javascript"><!-- google_ad_client = "pub-4631254308126914"; google_ad_width = 468; google_ad_height = 60; google_ad_format = "468x60_as"; google_ad_type = "text_image"; //2007-04-14: Argentina, Buenos Aires, Veracruz, España, México, América Latina, Viajes, pasajes, cámaras google_ad_channel = "8746190026+1749796690+7439470795+9946550855+7286182743"; google_color_border = "E1771E"; google_color_bg = "FFFFFF"; google_color_link = "CC0000"; google_color_text = "000000"; google_color_url = "940F04"; //--><br /><br /><br /><br /></script><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><script src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js" type="text/javascript"><br /><br /><br /><br /></script><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35324929.post-60025513982414990992008-06-19T16:48:00.010-03:002008-06-26T20:39:35.471-03:00El Narguile: Cultura de Fumar<div><div><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/SFq47HnkLsI/AAAAAAAAAjg/Vd0kb83rokM/s1600-h/Narguile.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213682844431560386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/SFq47HnkLsI/AAAAAAAAAjg/Vd0kb83rokM/s320/Narguile.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />A <a href="http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cachimba">narguile</a> is a <strong>water pipe used for smoking flavored tobacco.</strong></div><div><br />The word <strong>“narguile” comes from the Persian word “narguil”,</strong> which means coconut. This smoking instrument is also known as <strong>shisha</strong> (which means bottle in Arabic), <strong>Kalyan</strong> (Iran), <strong>hookah</strong> (India).</div><div></div><div>For <strong>North Africans</strong>, from Morrocco to Egypt, smoking shisha is a <strong>common practice</strong>. In the last decade, this tradition has become popular at <strong>“cultural cafes” around the world</strong> where they offer it as a diversion while their clients sip their tea, coffee or cocktails.<br /><br /><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/SFq5X6BY6CI/AAAAAAAAAjw/bVIV8WvJxto/s1600-h/Narguile,+botella.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213683338997983266" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" height="206" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/SFq5X6BY6CI/AAAAAAAAAjw/bVIV8WvJxto/s320/Narguile,+botella.JPG" width="197" border="0" /></a>This curious pipe, has a base made out of glass, ceramic or metal, that is filled with water, or a mixture of vodka and water. Its body is made of metal and on the top there is a piece with holes in it where the humid flavored tobacco is placed. The tobacco is then covered with aluminum foil, where you place a piece of coal to heat up the tobacco.<br /><br />Tobacco <strong>flavors are very varied</strong>: apple, peach, mango, strawberry, coconut, piña colada, coffee, vanilla, mint, cherry, lemon, coca-cola, banana and orange, among many others.</div><div></div><div><br /><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/SFq5OyIB4vI/AAAAAAAAAjo/PDNhro7LAGs/s1600-h/Carbon+del+narguile.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213683182259528434" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/SFq5OyIB4vI/AAAAAAAAAjo/PDNhro7LAGs/s320/Carbon+del+narguile.JPG" border="0" /></a><strong>The smoker, needs to suction from a thin tube connected to the narguile.</strong> The aspiration enables air to circulate though the internal tube close to where the tobacco is located, to the bottom, where the <strong>tobacco mixes with the water and it “cleaned”,</strong> producing a thinner, but not less injurious smoke.<br /><br />While <strong>popular belief indicates that smoking through a narguile is less harmful than other methods</strong>, there are studies that contradict this belief. <strong>Smoking is always damaging.</strong> Nevertheless, it is always interesting to learn about different methods and rituals used in different cultures.</div><div></div><div>According to <a href="http://www.aturquia.com/">http://www.aturquia.com/</a> a narguile is composed of the <a href="http://www.aturquia.com/tradiciones/narguile.htm">following pieces</a>:</div><div></div><div></div><div><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/SFq5loX5p3I/AAAAAAAAAj4/8zpHNRegLno/s1600-h/aturquia.com+narguile.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213683574778734450" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/SFq5loX5p3I/AAAAAAAAAj4/8zpHNRegLno/s320/aturquia.com+narguile.gif" border="0" /></a><strong><br /></strong><u>Lüle:</u> Where you place the tobacco and the piece of coal.</div><div><u>Ser:</u> The body of the narguile that is connected to its base.</div><div><u>Shishe (base):</u> The part that is filled with water or a mixture of water and vodka.<br /><u>Marpuch:</u> Tube used for smoking.<br /><u>Sipsi:</u> The mouthpiece connected to the tube that is used for smoking. Aturquia recommends that each user utilizes a different one for sanitary purposes.</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35324929.post-285702089777425202008-06-18T19:17:00.003-03:002008-06-26T20:40:14.709-03:00Unrolling Pasta Bundles<strong>Last week</strong>, we tried to distinguish different types of <strong>“dry” pasta</strong> so we can stop asking the same questions every time we go to an Italian restaurant. But the truth is stuffed pasta presents the same confusion whenever we eat out.<br /><br />That is why this week I decided to focus on this delicious dough once again so we can put it into place for once and for all.<br /><br />Curiously, I found out that the recipe for the <a href="http://recetasdeargentina.com.ar/masa-basica-para-preparar-pastas-rellenas-agnolottis-sorrentinos-ravioles/)">basic dough </a>for all these <strong>different types of pasta</strong> <strong>is the same</strong>. The only thing that <strong>varies is its shape and its varied fillings</strong>: from traditional such as chicken, meat, vegetable and cottage cheese to more peculiar ones such as cabbage, blood sausage with apple, and eggplant with cheese and nuts.<br /><br />Here are some pictures to help you <strong>differentiate different types of stuffed pasta</strong> so next time you visit an Italian restaurant you can venture into this delicious cuisine without having to ask about the difference between agnolotti and ravioli.<br /><img class="imgCen" style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 263px" height="277" src="http://www.lacoctelera.com/myfiles/vidasurrealista/Raviolli.jpg" width="356" /><br /><br /><img class="imgCen" style="WIDTH: 273px; HEIGHT: 215px" height="267" src="http://www.lacoctelera.com/myfiles/vidasurrealista/Gnocchi.jpg" width="354" /><br /><br /><img class="imgCen" height="223" src="http://www.lacoctelera.com/myfiles/vidasurrealista/Agnolotti.jpg" width="258" /><br /><img class="imgCen" style="WIDTH: 292px; HEIGHT: 224px" height="273" src="http://www.lacoctelera.com/myfiles/vidasurrealista/Panzerotti-1.jpg" width="415" /><br /><br /><img class="imgCen" style="WIDTH: 272px; HEIGHT: 231px" height="250" src="http://www.lacoctelera.com/myfiles/vidasurrealista/Tortelloni.jpg" width="300" /><br /><strong>Publicidad</strong><br /><br /><img class="imgIzq" style="WIDTH: 210px; HEIGHT: 150px" height="1320" src="http://www.lacoctelera.com/myfiles/vidasurrealista/Estoy-con-el-campo-reducido.jpg" width="1988" /><br /><span lang="ES-AR" style="mso-ansi-language: ES-AR;font-family:Verdana;font-size:9;" ><img class="imgcen" id="img_0" height="46" src="http://www.lacoctelera.com/myfiles/vidasurrealista/banner-en-movimiento.gif" width="390" /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35324929.post-70842790823154459762008-06-14T15:09:00.002-03:002008-06-26T20:40:33.933-03:00Stop Repression in ArgentinaAfter more than 90 days of conflict between the Argentinean government and Argentinean farmers, government officials ordered imprisonment of Alfredo de Angeli, one of the leaders of Federación Agraria Argentina.<br /><br />While de Angeli was being taken away, in Buenos Aires, people spontaneously protested on the streets.<br /><br />United for a federal Argentina. "Argentinean Farmland ¡Cheers!"<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211781081038959842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguwp7Ko9igc0LwaIz8bMijZRAZAmhq9BzJsDCd_aQc9QUHQCpe9D3hCPNwUZ4sEKQ8rpYI6P04U-DA_twvVs7zWGMctmkNtCwj9b5WsGL2TOfnPGb0L8jqe37To5QYg8iG7VO4/s320/Al+Gran+Campo+Argentino+Salud!.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br />Argentinean ask for PEACE.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211783214601043858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCSd-ZdllNUuxiZknrSmErp__3AMBrIDQxAAAiAgBeYlIhZyePs-5Fg5DtZceveRKWfBuhXljA7o-z65fbfIBch2U_Bb8gATF6qTT2DmlJATL_DggEGsAbjDx8FK95t45gQb4e/s320/Cacerolazos+-+14+junio+2008.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p>No more repression.</p><p></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211781788628592194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMjDjm-UiomkMYVJP4sl3qF6BUlLQ-tJb9Dw98P0Fmw62BxxQUJqzhhHmR-fG9rI5riShO6H47GYQdu6LvDPKsdFHONUfRNCSnbObJ7MTswSwRGPrl18W62gQ7cHsuuhGNvQRZ/s320/Detenci%C3%B3n+Alfredo+de+Angeli.jpg" border="0" /> <p></p><br /><img class="imgIzq" style="WIDTH: 210px; HEIGHT: 150px" height="1320" src="http://www.lacoctelera.com/myfiles/vidasurrealista/Estoy-con-el-campo-reducido.jpg" width="1988" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35324929.post-42261588812084439132008-06-05T13:23:00.002-03:002008-06-26T20:41:42.349-03:00Italy: Solution for Pasta Mix-up<em>By Laura Vaillard</em><br /><br />What does a <strong>university student and an Italian have in common</strong>?<br /><br />They both place <strong>“pasta” in the center of their food pyramid.</strong> A <strong>student</strong> always has a pack of pasta on his/her shelf because it’s <strong>economical</strong>, and it’s a <strong>dish that easy to prepare</strong>. While <strong>Italians</strong> always have pasta on their shelves for <strong>cultural reasons</strong>.<br /><br />In <a title="http://www.quieroitalia.com/" href="http://www.quieroitalia.com/">Ital</a>y, <strong>lunch</strong> in one of the most <strong>important</strong> <strong>meals of the day</strong>: they have a <strong>pasta dish as an appetizer</strong>, meat with a side of vegetables as the main dish, and sweets and fruit for dessert.<br />Since pasta is present in every Italian lunch, they invented an infinite number of pasta types to camouflage idea of eating the same thing ever day.<br /><br />However, this <strong>excess of creativity tends to cause problems when we go to an Italian restaurant</strong>. What is the difference between rigatoni and fusilli again?<br /><br />Here are some <strong>pictures</strong> to help you out next time you visit a <a title="http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trattoria" href="http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trattoria">trattoria</a>:<br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><img class="imgCen" height="84" src="http://www.lacoctelera.com/myfiles/vidasurrealista/Spaghetti.jpg" width="210" /> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 12pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 14.4pt"><span lang="ES-AR" style="mso-ansi-language: ES-AR;font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;color:black;" ><img class="imgCen" height="148" src="http://www.lacoctelera.com/myfiles/vidasurrealista/Fetuccini.jpg" width="226" /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 12pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 14.4pt"><span lang="ES-AR" style="mso-ansi-language: ES-AR;font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;color:black;" ><img class="imgCen" height="122" src="http://www.lacoctelera.com/myfiles/vidasurrealista/Rigatoni.jpg" width="179" /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 12pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 14.4pt"><span lang="ES-AR" style="mso-ansi-language: ES-AR;font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;color:black;" ><img class="imgCen" style="WIDTH: 237px; HEIGHT: 196px" height="200" src="http://www.lacoctelera.com/myfiles/vidasurrealista/Penne-lisce.jpg" width="250" /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 12pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 14.4pt"><span lang="ES-AR" style="mso-ansi-language: ES-AR;font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;color:black;" ><img class="imgCen" height="167" src="http://www.lacoctelera.com/myfiles/vidasurrealista/Penne-rigate.jpg" width="250" /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 12pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 14.4pt"><span lang="ES-AR" style="mso-ansi-language: ES-AR;font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;color:black;" ><img class="imgCen" height="170" src="http://www.lacoctelera.com/myfiles/vidasurrealista/Pipe-rigate.jpg" width="229" /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 12pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 14.4pt"><span lang="ES-AR" style="mso-ansi-language: ES-AR;font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;color:black;" ><img class="imgCen" style="WIDTH: 248px; HEIGHT: 187px" height="200" src="http://www.lacoctelera.com/myfiles/vidasurrealista/Maruzze.jpg" width="250" /> </span><br /><br /></p><p class="EC_MsoNormal"><strong>Publicidad</strong><br /><br /><img class="imgIzq" style="WIDTH: 210px; HEIGHT: 150px" height="1320" src="http://www.lacoctelera.com/myfiles/vidasurrealista/Estoy-con-el-campo-reducido.jpg" width="1988" /><br /><br /><span lang="ES-AR" style="mso-ansi-language: ES-AR;font-family:Verdana;font-size:9;" ><img class="imgcen" id="img_0" height="46" src="http://www.lacoctelera.com/myfiles/vidasurrealista/banner-en-movimiento.gif" width="390" /></span><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35324929.post-4453072540142684902008-06-02T16:46:00.000-03:002008-06-02T16:58:34.067-03:00My Seven Wonders for 2007: Asia<em>Pictures by Laura Vaillard</em><br /><br />Aisa: Indonesia, China, Malasia<br /><br />This week I leave you my seven favorite pictures from my trip through Asia in 2007. These are my Seven Wonders. Enjoy!<br /><br /><em>Bali, Indonesia</em><br /><img class="imgCen" style="WIDTH: 463px; HEIGHT: 349px" height="1224" src="http://www.lacoctelera.com/myfiles/vidasurrealista/Bali,-Indonesia.JPG" width="1632" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><em>Traditional Boat at the Summer Palace, China</em><br /><img class="imgCen" style="WIDTH: 474px; HEIGHT: 415px" height="1527" src="http://www.lacoctelera.com/myfiles/vidasurrealista/Barco-en-el-Palacio-de-Verano-China.JPG" width="2019" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><em>The Great Wall of China</em><br /><img class="imgCen" style="WIDTH: 453px; HEIGHT: 359px" height="1536" src="http://www.lacoctelera.com/myfiles/vidasurrealista/Muralla-china-copy.jpg" width="2048" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><em>Rice fields in Bali, Indonesia</em><br /><img class="imgCen" style="WIDTH: 327px; HEIGHT: 394px" height="1632" src="http://www.lacoctelera.com/myfiles/vidasurrealista/Bali-Indonesia.JPG" width="1224" /><br /><br /><br /><em></em><br /><em>Bangkok, Tailandia</em><br /><img class="imgCen" style="WIDTH: 326px; HEIGHT: 374px" height="2048" src="http://www.lacoctelera.com/myfiles/vidasurrealista/Bangkok,-Tailandia.JPG" width="1536" /><br /><br /><em></em><em></em><br /><em></em><br /><em>Petronas Towers, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia</em><br /><em><img class="imgCen" style="WIDTH: 370px; HEIGHT: 461px" height="2260" src="http://www.lacoctelera.com/myfiles/vidasurrealista/Petronas,-malasia.JPG" width="1640" /></em><br /><br /><br /><em></em><br /><em>Sunset at the Fire Fly Park, Malaysia</em><br /><img class="imgCen" style="WIDTH: 443px; HEIGHT: 304px" height="2448" src="http://www.lacoctelera.com/myfiles/vidasurrealista/Atardecer-en-el-Fire-Fly-Park.JPG" width="3264" /><br /><br /><br /><p class="EC_MsoNormal"><strong>Advertisements</strong><br /><br /><img class="imgIzq" style="WIDTH: 210px; HEIGHT: 150px" height="1320" src="http://www.lacoctelera.com/myfiles/vidasurrealista/Estoy-con-el-campo-reducido.jpg" width="1988" /><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><br /><br /><span lang="ES-AR" style="mso-ansi-language: ES-AR;font-family:Verdana;font-size:9;" ><img class="imgcen" id="img_0" height="46" src="http://www.lacoctelera.com/myfiles/vidasurrealista/banner-en-movimiento.gif" width="390" /></span><br /><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35324929.post-79522167010147615092008-05-02T13:34:00.000-03:002008-05-02T19:23:30.580-03:00Porteños Smoked in Buenos Aires<div><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/SBuUEjo7LYI/AAAAAAAAAik/LfCbcxGztPM/s1600-h/Estatua+tras+humo+blog.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195909401109278082" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/SBuUEjo7LYI/AAAAAAAAAik/LfCbcxGztPM/s320/Estatua+tras+humo+blog.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>There is <strong>no article for this week</strong> because it was impossible to find a new corner of Buenos Aires to write about, since the entire <strong>city was playing hide and seek with the smoke.<br /></strong><br />Due to the <strong>burning of grass</strong> in an island close to Zarate, in the provice of Entre Rios, Argentina, and the lack of governmental action, the <strong>capital city and hundreds of other cities hid behind the smoke for over a week.<br /></strong><br />In the statue, one of the Argentinean heroes is raising his spade to proclaim victory, while in the picture, it appears that he is trying to cut through the thick smoke to liberate its people from this cloud that transforms porteños into <strong>smoked, red-eyed, taciturn zombies, tired of forcing their sight to see through the smoke. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195909645922413970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/SBuUSzo7LZI/AAAAAAAAAis/QcaOEzYWiMI/s320/Plaza+Francia+con+humo+blog.jpg" border="0" /></strong></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35324929.post-1873969342003552012008-05-02T12:49:00.000-03:002008-05-02T19:18:58.250-03:00Unplugged in El Tigre<div><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/SBuRmTo7LVI/AAAAAAAAAiM/5cWHQ0n3JQE/s1600-h/DSCN2056.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195906682394979666" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" height="263" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/SBuRmTo7LVI/AAAAAAAAAiM/5cWHQ0n3JQE/s320/DSCN2056.JPG" width="192" border="0" /></a> <strong>Desire.</strong> What an ambiguous word!<br /><br />Despite its various meanings, <strong>many of us share the desire to slow down</strong> during the weekends so we can spend more time with our family and friends, and travel to a world without deadlines and worries, like <strong>El Tigre</strong>, only 33 km away from Ciudad de Buenos Aires.<br /><br />This place over Parana River, <strong>is a labyrinth of canals and islands</strong>, ideal to escape from the boisterous capital.<br /><br /><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/SBuQnTo7LUI/AAAAAAAAAiE/OXZAor38Nb4/s1600-h/DSCN2054.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195905600063221058" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 181px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 275px" height="290" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/SBuQnTo7LUI/AAAAAAAAAiE/OXZAor38Nb4/s320/DSCN2054.JPG" width="190" border="0" /></a>According to enargentinaturismo.com.ar “The Delta of Paraná is the <strong>world's fifth biggest delta</strong>, it begins in the port of Diamante (close to Parque Nacional Pre-Delta ) and continues towards the southeast up to Río de la Plata, so it is the only one that flows into sweet water.”<br /><br />Once you reach <strong>El Tigre, you can select among hundreds of options to entertain yourself.<br /></strong><br />Those who enjoy <strong>shopping</strong> can visit <strong>Puerto de Frutos del Tigre</strong>, and get lost among a rustic world where you can buy wickerwork and wooden furniture, a wide diversity of handmade adornments for the home, hammocks, and paintings, among other things.<br /><br /><strong>Adventurous</strong> people and lovers of <strong>aquatic sports</strong> may want to hop on a canoe or a kayak for <strong>an excursion along the river</strong>, practice rowing, water sky or wakeboard, for example.<br /><br /><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/SBuSfzo7LWI/AAAAAAAAAiU/tzEg2XOgHcU/s1600-h/DSCN2042.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195907670237457762" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 278px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 194px" height="246" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/SBuSfzo7LWI/AAAAAAAAAiU/tzEg2XOgHcU/s320/DSCN2042.JPG" width="278" border="0" /></a>Those interested in <strong>nature</strong>, may want to explore the interesting flora of the place, totally different from the one found in Buenos Aires, or enjoy <strong>bird watching</strong>.<br /><br />While those interested in <strong>resting</strong> or having a <strong>romantic outing</strong>, may want to take a boat along the river or spend the day in one of the "recreos" of Delta.<br /><br />Whatever you choose to do, El Tigre is a great option to unplug yourself from Buenos Aires.<br /><br /><strong><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195907902165691762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="212" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/SBuStTo7LXI/AAAAAAAAAic/676PnSYwZvg/s320/DSCN2061.JPG" width="280" border="0" />Attractions according to <a href="http://enargentinaturismo.com.ar/">enargentinaturismo.com.ar</a></strong><br /><br /><u>Estación Fluvial Tigre:</u> (Mitre 305) Located on Tigre River, a short distance from Lujan River.<br /><u>El Museo Casa de Domingo F. Sarmiento- Monumento Histórico Nacional:(</u>Over Río Sarmiento and arroyo Reyes) A small wooden construction built in 1853 for Sarmiento. The house is protected by a glass structure that surrounds it.<br /><u>Paseo Victorica:</u>(Lavalle Street)<br /><u>Museo Naval de la Nación:</u> (Paseo Victorica 602) originally founded in 1892 at the Naval Center. In en 1948 it was relocated to the Marina de Tigre, where it is found today.<br /><u>Ex-Tigre Club</u>: (Paseo Victorica 972) Built in 1900 and inaugurated in 1912. In 1910 the country's first casino operated in the bottom floor; the casino was then transferred to Mar del Plata.<br /><u>Parque de la Costa:</u> (Calle Vivanco 1509) Amusement park inaugurated in 1997.<br /><u>Casino Trilenium</u>: (Calle Perú 1385)<br /><u>Museo de la Prefectura:</u> (Avenida Liniers 1264)<br /><u>Museo de la Reconquista:(</u>Calle Padre Castañeda 470)</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35324929.post-16390631616378838932008-04-08T09:16:00.000-03:002008-04-22T10:10:41.745-03:00Buenos Aires takes a Nap while its Plazas Party<strong>The Capital sleeps while its plazas come to life every weekend.</strong><br /><br />I visited <strong>Parque Centenario</strong> for the first time, and even though the park was not the same I frequently visit, the scenario was still the same: girls sunbathing, groups of friends dirking mate, circles of boys playing guitar, and clowns performing in between the people (sometimes entertaining, while others disturbing).<br /><br />A couple of years ago, the <strong>government of Buenos Aires began to renovate the park</strong> to transform it into a welcoming place for family recreation.<br /><br />The <strong>first stage of the renovation, already visible</strong>, began with the reconstruction and restoration of the lake’s section and its surrounding area. While the <strong>second stage, still in process</strong>, comprehends the periphery of the park, surrounded by the following avenues: Antártica Argentina, Ángel Gallardo, Díaz Vélez and Leopoldo Marechal, limiting the neighborhoods of Caballito, Almagro and Villa Crespo.<br /><br />According to the government's webpage, “The <strong>job was adjudged to Teximco S.A. for $15.867.770,34 (pesos).”</strong> The project was previewed that the restoration <strong>would be ready in 2006.</strong> However, there are sections of the park that have not been renovated yet, The question is, <strong>why is it taking so long?</strong><br /><br />Around Parque Centenario you can also find many other attractions like the<strong> famous fair of used books</strong>, and the artisans fair (a bizarre combination of San Telmo, Recoleta and El Rastro of Madrid: you have people selling empty perfume bottles, used toys, used clothing, DVDs, old CDs and cassettes.... A <strong>giant garage sale!</strong><br /><br />Around the plaza, you can also find the <strong>Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales Bernardino Rivadavia</strong>, the Hospital Oncológico Marie Curie, the Fundación Instituto Leloir (scientific research institute), and the Asociación Argentina Amigos de la Astronomía, among others.<br /><br />Visit the plaza during the weekend to se how different groups of people go to the park when the city takes a nap.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35324929.post-47584384863772376462008-03-26T20:49:00.000-03:002008-04-22T10:08:41.530-03:00Europe and America Unite in New Orleans<a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/SA1MNDo7LMI/AAAAAAAAAhE/1XySptNZe0A/s1600-h/Balcon+de+carnaval.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191889732627016898" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" height="202" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/SA1MNDo7LMI/AAAAAAAAAhE/1XySptNZe0A/s320/Balcon+de+carnaval.JPG" width="283" border="0" /></a> <em>Pictures by Laura Vaillard and Lucia Tissone (Buenos Aires, Argentina) </em><br /><em><br /></em>New Orleans is the place where the <strong>New World and the Old World meet</strong>, in a city that has no resemblance with any other American city: French-style town houses, musicians playing jazz in the city corners, and people drinking coffee at petit coffee bars.<br /><br />At this city, <strong>African slaves, indigenous people and European colonizers shared their cultures and mutually influenced each other</strong>, motivated by the French government, until New Orleans became a peculiar city with unique history. From its foundation in 1718 until Napoleon sold it to the US in 1803, New Orleans remained a <strong>French-Spanish colony</strong>.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/SA1MaTo7LNI/AAAAAAAAAhM/mYghBDAMJ-I/s1600-h/New+Orleans.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191889960260283602" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" height="217" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/SA1MaTo7LNI/AAAAAAAAAhM/mYghBDAMJ-I/s320/New+Orleans.JPG" width="268" border="0" /></a><br />Between 1920 and 1870, New Orleans continued to <strong>welcome immigrants</strong> from Germany, Ireland, Croatia, Italy, Greece, the Phillipes, and Haiti, who continued adding diversity to the city.<br /><br />During carnival and <strong>Mardi Gras, the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday</strong>, each afternoon people in New Orleans demonstrate the city's diversity and strong Creole heritage through the colorful carnival celebrations.<br /><br />While during the night, <strong>Bourbon Street</strong> is <strong>covered by colorful beads</strong> that people throw from the balconies in exchange for a little fun: a dance, a smile, or a daring flash, depending on how adventurous you are that day.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/SA1NBDo7LPI/AAAAAAAAAhc/ZAnlzgK4iBc/s1600-h/Jazz.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191890625980214514" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" height="231" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/SA1NBDo7LPI/AAAAAAAAAhc/ZAnlzgK4iBc/s320/Jazz.JPG" width="204" border="0" /></a><strong>Behind this energetic and crazy New Orleans</strong>, there are parts of the city that still display <strong>leftover damages from Hurricane Katrina</strong>; a sight that saddens the city's festive and jovial ambiance.<br /><br />Nevertheless, the <strong>sounds of jazz that emerge from the city's main arteries</strong> are able to give back the happiness to tourists.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/SA1NYTo7LSI/AAAAAAAAAh0/6uW3kTzUAFM/s1600-h/DSCN1926.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191891025412173090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="172" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/SA1NYTo7LSI/AAAAAAAAAh0/6uW3kTzUAFM/s320/DSCN1926.JPG" width="274" border="0" /></a>In one of the extremes of the <strong>French Quarter</strong>, at Jackson Plaza, you can find <strong>Café du Monde</strong>, where you can try the <strong>famous vignettes</strong>, typical of New Orleans.<br /><br />Despite its name, the <strong>café was originally Spanish</strong>, and not French. Regardless of the place's popularity, the cleanliness and tidiness of the place lag behind (especially the kitchen, which you have to walk through on the way to the restroom). Nevertheless, the place is still ideal to rest and recharge batteries to continue to sightsee this beautiful city.<br /><br /><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/SA1NSTo7LRI/AAAAAAAAAhs/H9S41yhMzo8/s1600-h/Katrina.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191890922332957970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/SA1NSTo7LRI/AAAAAAAAAhs/H9S41yhMzo8/s320/Katrina.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/SA1NKjo7LQI/AAAAAAAAAhk/Dt6LO2xtI7U/s1600-h/Gateway.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191890789188971778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/SA1NKjo7LQI/AAAAAAAAAhk/Dt6LO2xtI7U/s320/Gateway.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191890303857667298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/SA1MuTo7LOI/AAAAAAAAAhU/kW68B2fWsYc/s320/Vignette.JPG" border="0" /></div></div></div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35324929.post-24445199162692844982008-03-26T20:36:00.000-03:002008-03-26T20:55:53.272-03:00Mexican food is more than tacos and fajitas in Houston, TexasMexican food is more than tacos and fajitas, and Mexican Restaurant <a title="http://www.hugosrestaurant.net/" href="http://www.hugosrestaurant.net/">Hugo's</a> in Houston, is an excellent place to experiment the <strong>diversity of Mexican cuisine.</strong><br /><br />Mexican chef, Hugo Ortega, is in charge of <strong>making sure that every dish at Hugo’s is as authentic in the United States as it would be in Mexico.</strong><br /><br />To begin the evening, I had <strong>spicy peanuts</strong> and <strong>empanadas made with plantain dough</strong> filled with cheese: the sweetness of the plantain invaded my mouth with each bite, and the cheese melted throughout my mouth preparing it for the next dish.<br /><br />The <a title="http://www.hugosrestaurant.net/dinner.html" href="http://www.hugosrestaurant.net/dinner.html">menu</a> offered a large variety of tempting dishes like: Tampiqueña BBQ meat, huachinango a la Veracruzana, duck with mole poblano, stuffed chilies, shrimps with black sauce, among others. I finally decided upon <a title="http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,,FOOD_9936_3698,00.html" href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,,FOOD_9936_3698,00.html">cochinita pibil</a>, one of Mexico’s most typical pork dishes. The cochinita was so tender that I didn’t even have to bite it, since it melted as it touched my lips.<br /><br />For dessert, I decided to venture myself with an interesting dish: <strong>chocolate cake with chilies.</strong> The strong taste of chocolate and the spicy chilies made an explosive combination: curiously, first you tasted the <strong>sweetness of the chocolate</strong>, while after a couple of minutes, <strong>you felt a spicy after-taste that enabled the taste to remain in your mouth for a long time.</strong><br /><br />After tasting the food at Hugo’s it is <strong>no wonder that the restaurant won several awards: </strong>Sante Award for the excellent traditional menu, "Houston Branch of The International Wine & Food Society Award", a mention as "Best Mexican Restaurant" according to Best of Houston-Host Press 2005, and an Award to the Restaurant of the Year in 2003 according to Houston Press.<br /><br />For that reason, if you find yourself in Houston, stop by Hugo’s, <strong>it is a good option to escape the typical Tex-Mex food</strong>, and enjoy authentic Mexican food in a cozy and familiar atmosphere.<br /><br /><strong>HUGO’S RESTAURANT </strong><br />1600 Westheimer Houston, TX 77006<br /><strong>Phone:</strong> (713) 524-7744<br /><strong>Fax:</strong> (713) 521-7719<br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>Working Hours:<br /></strong>Monday to Thursday and Sundays: 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.<br />Friday and Saturday: 11 a.m. - 11 p.m.<br /><br />See MapUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35324929.post-61834930093808800782008-03-24T11:41:00.000-03:002008-03-26T20:35:19.920-03:00What better partners to visit NASA?<div><div><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/R-ra-8i40jI/AAAAAAAAAgk/xckHIES7cL4/s1600-h/DSCN1821.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5182195096182379058" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/R-ra-8i40jI/AAAAAAAAAgk/xckHIES7cL4/s320/DSCN1821.JPG" border="0" /></a><em>Written by Laura Vaillard with Carlos Crespo (Quito, Ecuador / Houston, TX, EEUU)<br />Pictures by Laura Vaillard and Nuria Minces (Buenos Aires, Argentina)<br /></em><br />What better partners to visit <a href="http://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/home/index.html">NASA</a> in <a href="http://www.houston.com/">Houston</a>, than a guy who always dreamt to become an astronaut and a young lady who is not afraid to act out the girl she carries within?<br /><div><br /><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/R-rbk8i40kI/AAAAAAAAAgs/Z0PQNC4TFps/s1600-h/Houston+3+115.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5182195749017408066" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/R-rbk8i40kI/AAAAAAAAAgs/Z0PQNC4TFps/s320/Houston+3+115.JPG" border="0" /></a>Even though NASA was not far from where we were living, rockets <strong>and astronauts never interested me</strong> enough to motivate me to visit the Space Center. </div><div><br />However, due to my never-ending curiosity and my interest to see new things, these two individuals <strong>convinced me to drive up to NASA with them.</strong> </div><div><br />I did not expect much from the trip. Yet, I came back fascinated after seeing astronauts live from the Space Center and comparing models of <strong>how astronauts lived in space in the 70s versus how they live now in the XXI century. </strong><br /></div><div><br /><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/R-rb8si40lI/AAAAAAAAAg0/b1J90rnU7OE/s1600-h/Houston+3+065.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5182196157039301202" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/R-rb8si40lI/AAAAAAAAAg0/b1J90rnU7OE/s320/Houston+3+065.JPG" border="0" /></a>I returned excited like a little girl, after balancing myself of a string and weighing myself in different scales that showed <strong>how much I would weigh if I were to live in Mars or Jupiter, instead of Planet Earth. </strong><br /></div><div><br />I was overwhelmed after looking at the size of <a href="http://usuarios.lycos.es/chiqui98/Apolo/index.html">Saturn V</a>, and amazed after looking at pictures of the different mission crews, including Apolo XI, Mercury and Gemini. </div><div><br />It was a wonderful experience and I am very glad my friends made sure I did not miss it.<br />This time, Houston, we had no problem. </div><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5182196552176292450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/R-rcTsi40mI/AAAAAAAAAg8/pfXvwws5Vfs/s320/Houston+3+097.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35324929.post-2686552371560077692008-03-24T11:30:00.000-03:002008-03-24T11:40:27.081-03:00Machismo in Argentina: International Woman’s Day<a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/R-e82Mi40iI/AAAAAAAAAgc/uI4LO-Q1yhc/s1600-h/DSCN2005.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181317535579558434" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/R-e82Mi40iI/AAAAAAAAAgc/uI4LO-Q1yhc/s320/DSCN2005.JPG" border="0" /></a>People say “in ancient Greece, <strong>Lisistrata began a sexual strike against men in an attempt to end the war.”</strong> This way, she demonstrated the power women are able to acquire in a society.<br /><div><br />During the <strong>Socialist International Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, 1910</strong>, the proposal to celebrate the <a title="http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dia_Internacional_de_la_Mujer" href="http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dia_Internacional_de_la_Mujer">International Working Woman’s Day</a> was <strong>approved unanimously.</strong> From then on, different countries started to celebrate that day.<br /></div><br /><div>From that moment, the<strong> gap between men and women has begun to decrease little by little.</strong> According to the investigation about the place that women occupy today in Argentinean society, conducted by <a title="http://www.mindshareworld.com/" href="http://www.mindshareworld.com/">MindShare </a>to 300 individuals in Argentina, “<strong>more than half of the people interviewed said that machismo is not as dominant as before</strong>, since people have been able to free themselves from ‘old prejudices.’”<br /></div><br /><div>However, the study also found that “37% of people interviewed said <strong>machismo in Argentina continues to be a reality.”<br /></strong></div><br /><div>“On top of that, 27% of the 300 people interviewed by MindShare stated that men and women have equal labor rights. But 64% considered that in this field, <strong>‘differences still exist’.”</strong><br /></div><br /><div>MindShare also conducted a more detailed study about <strong>“how women perform in positions of power.”</strong> In this analysis, “52% thought that <strong>women are stricter than men</strong>, and almost an identical percentage said that both genders are able to perform their tasks with equal efficiency.”<br /></div><br /><div>“Regarding decision making, almost half of people interviewed <strong>(43%) considered that men show more security (firmness) and speed.”</strong> While, “40% considered that women are more competitive than men, and 33% attributed this trait equally to men and women.”<br /></div><br /><div><strong>This study shows promising results</strong>, since it demonstrates that society’s perception towards women at work has been positively affected, even though women and men still have to be treated equally at work.<br /></div><br /><div><strong>Enjoy and celebrate International Woman’s Day!<br /></strong></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35324929.post-32506052158257982472008-03-08T12:41:00.000-02:002008-03-08T12:42:35.228-02:00Dreaming to be a Carnival Dancer in Gualeguaychu<a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/R9KgMjMFomI/AAAAAAAAAeY/nuxGQiW-XeY/s1600-h/Mari+mari+con++batucada.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175375059266937442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/R9KgMjMFomI/AAAAAAAAAeY/nuxGQiW-XeY/s320/Mari+mari+con++batucada.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><em>Pictures by Marina Paron (Buenos Aires, Argentina) and Laura Vaillard</em></div><br /><div></div><div>When I was small, I <strong>dreamt to become a carnival dancer when I grew older</strong>, and last weekend I almost accomplished my dream.</div><br /><div>Friday night, after work, we drove my friend’s car through Route 12, also known <strong>“Death Route”,</strong> towards <a title="http://www.gualeguaychu.info/" href="http://www.gualeguaychu.info/">Gualeguaychú</a>, Entre Ríos, Argentina.<br /><br /><strong><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/R9KghTMFonI/AAAAAAAAAeg/LFK8fVq8-C8/s1600-h/DSCN1989.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175375415749223026" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/R9KghTMFonI/AAAAAAAAAeg/LFK8fVq8-C8/s320/DSCN1989.JPG" border="0" /></a>“Take care.” “Drive safely,”</strong> people frequently told us before we left. Luckily, despite spending long hours crammed into a car with huge trucks speeding next to us, the <strong>drive was very smooth</strong>; there were only few cars driving through the emergency lane.<br /><br />As soon as we arrived, we went to pick up the keys for<strong> “our house”, or “piggery”,</strong> a small room with two bunk beds, a kitchen set and a bathroom with <strong>faulty plumbing</strong>: to use the WC we had to open the water valve, but not for too long, because the sink <strong>had a leak and the bathroom would overflow</strong>; to take a shower, we had to <strong>wash our hair in the kitchen sink</strong>, because the shower only delivered a few drops which made it impossible to wash ourselves properly.<br /><br /><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/R9KgzzMFooI/AAAAAAAAAeo/gFH_v9jsjH4/s1600-h/Lau,+Barbie+y+Mari+bajo+los+chorros.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175375733576802946" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/R9KgzzMFooI/AAAAAAAAAeo/gFH_v9jsjH4/s320/Lau,+Barbie+y+Mari+bajo+los+chorros.JPG" border="0" /></a>To take advantage of the night, we decided to go for a walk in search <strong>for a place willing to serve us dinner at 1 a.m.</strong> Luckily, we found an opened pizza place. We cooled ourselves down with cold beers and tamed our appetite with <strong>delicious and crispy clay-oven pizzas.</strong> That way, we prepared ourselves to start the night and <strong>dance until sunrise</strong> to the rhythm of murgas, rock, and Latin music at the birthday party of a local friend.<br /><br />The next day, we woke up with our swimsuits practically on, ready to continue <strong>partying on the beach:</strong> we danced on the sand under the sprinklers with Spider Man, a doctor and Wonder Woman, we drank beer and <a href="http://www.lacoctelera.com/vidasurrealista/post/2007/08/14/fernet-ex-remedio-conventido-bebida-popular-san-francisco-)">fernet </a>on the beach and swam in the river with “Maradona”.<br /><br />The good vibe that people irradiated at <a title="http://www.gualeguaychu.info/playas.htm" href="http://www.gualeguaychu.info/playas.htm">Solar del Este</a> was unbelievable! Everyone was willing to collaborate to make sure <strong>everyone had a good time.</strong><br /><br />The good vibe was extended throughout the <strong>entire night to the Corsodromo</strong>, where we danced to the rhythm of O´Bahía, Ara Yeví y Mari Mari, three “comparsa” that spread energy and colorful happiness. It was amazing to observe how the shinning and slender <strong>bodies danced with elaborated suits in between colorful feathers</strong> and floats with intricate designs.<br /><br /><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/R9KhQTMFopI/AAAAAAAAAew/AFrPt2qjIQY/s1600-h/carroza+9.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175376223203074706" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/R9KhQTMFopI/AAAAAAAAAew/AFrPt2qjIQY/s320/carroza+9.JPG" border="0" /></a>Even though <a title="http://www.eldiadegualeguaychu.com.ar/portal/index.php?option=" href="http://www.eldiadegualeguaychu.com.ar/portal/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=27387&Itemid=134" itemid="134" task="view&id=">O´Bahía</a> was the first “comparsa” , which is supposed to be the most memorable, it <strong>passed almost unnoticed with less energy than the other “comparsas”</strong> under the theme: “From the Initial Chaos to Enegy, I am O’Bahia, Mother Water, Creator of Life.”<br /><br /><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/R9KhZjMFoqI/AAAAAAAAAe4/En28TGxA8JI/s1600-h/cocinero.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175376382116864674" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/R9KhZjMFoqI/AAAAAAAAAe4/En28TGxA8JI/s320/cocinero.JPG" border="0" /></a>On the other hand, <a title="http://www.ara-yevi.com.ar/" href="http://www.ara-yevi.com.ar/">Ará Yeví</a> <strong>surprised everyone with its cooking theme: </strong>its designers were able to <strong>harmoniously integrate olives, strawberries with cream, cheeses and other cooking elements to the dancers’ suits.</strong> In its “Recipe for a Carnival Celebration”, choreographers and artists were able to dignify culinary elements in a dance filled with colorful elegance.<br /><br /><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/R9KhvDMForI/AAAAAAAAAfA/0cnhHAbxjNg/s1600-h/guerreros+al+ataque+2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175376751484052146" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/R9KhvDMForI/AAAAAAAAAfA/0cnhHAbxjNg/s320/guerreros+al+ataque+2.JPG" border="0" /></a>Finally, <a title="http://www.mari-mari.com/" href="http://www.mari-mari.com/">Marí Mar</a>í <strong>demonstrated why it has received so many awards</strong>, with suits that made reference to “Alexander the Great.” Even though it was the last “comparsa”, it was the group with more energy and presence in the Corsodromo. Marí Marí’s murga, dressed as warriors, provided the perfect closing to the night showing that <strong>this year they had also come to win the battle.<br /></strong></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a title="http://www.turismoentrerios.com/gualeguaychu/rutasyaccesos.htm" href="http://www.turismoentrerios.com/gualeguaychu/rutasyaccesos.htm">How to get there:</a><br /><br />According to <a title="http://www.turismoentrerios.com/gualeguaychu/rutasyaccesos.htm" href="http://www.turismoentrerios.com/gualeguaychu/rutasyaccesos.htm">turismoentrerios.com</a>, the best way to get there from Buenos Aires:<br /><br />Take Zárate-Brazo Largo Bridge from Nacional Route N12 until Ceibas, where it connects with Route 14 until you reach Gualeguaychu.<br />TOTAL: 248 Kms.<br /><br /><a title="http://www.gualeguaychu.info/carnaval-costo.htm" href="http://www.gualeguaychu.info/carnaval-costo.htm">Costs</a>:<br />General: $30<br />Minors: $10<br /><br /><a title="http://www.gualeguaychu.info/carnaval-2.htm" href="http://www.gualeguaychu.info/carnaval-2.htm">Dates</a>:<br /><strong>January 2008:</strong><br />Saturday: 5, 12, 19 & 26<br /><br /><strong>February 2008:</strong><br />Saturday: 2, 9, 16 & 23<br /><br /><strong>March 2008:</strong><br />Saturday: 1 </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175376906102874818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/R9Kh4DMFosI/AAAAAAAAAfI/iflJg8qtmyg/s320/Cabre+y+Fandino.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><br /><div></div><div><em>Nicolas Cabre y Soledad Fandiño</em></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175377275470062290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/R9KiNjMFotI/AAAAAAAAAfQ/b64_DQEWCbQ/s320/mira+con+quien+estoy.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175377610477511394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/R9KihDMFouI/AAAAAAAAAfY/Vyfl0qPgbHM/s320/gualeguaychu+4.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175377911125222130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/R9KiyjMFovI/AAAAAAAAAfg/FN4rFyz9HLQ/s320/DSCN1977.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175378151643390722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/R9KjAjMFowI/AAAAAAAAAfo/hVTqHm5JhIo/s320/atardecer+a+gualeguaychu.jpg" border="0" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35324929.post-35419398622496981402008-03-06T09:49:00.000-02:002008-03-06T09:51:44.095-02:00Why say goodbye, if I am always coming back?I have <strong>said goodbye so many times that I have lost count</strong> of how many there have been. However, there are less and <strong>less tears shed every time I leave</strong>, because I always end up coming back.<br /><br />Two year ago, I said goodbye to Spain, a couple of months back, farewell to Argentina, and now<strong>, I say good-bye to Houston and “hello” again to Buenos Aires,</strong> the city that always awaits me with open arms, this time for longer (I hope).<br /><br />I still have a couple of <strong>pending stories from the US:</strong> the trip to NASA, the adventures through the streets of New Orleans, my experience at the ice hockey game…<br /><br />But I will <strong>intermingle these remaining articles with other stories in Argentina</strong> and stories from my collaborators, since that is <strong>the way our memory works:</strong> it continuously mixes the present with past experiences.<br /><br />This way, with a letter that says “good-bye” and “hello” at the same time, I <strong>open a new chapter to this Surrealistic Life, this time, from Argentina.<br /></strong><br />Hope you continue to enjoy it!<br />Best wishes,<br /><br />LauraUnknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35324929.post-88247289232189103202008-03-04T09:55:00.000-02:002008-03-04T10:00:15.383-02:00Dancing like a Cowboy in TexasYijahhhh. Two. Two. Oooone. Two. Two. Oooone.<br /><br />We started the night dancing "<a id="link_0" title="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two-step_%28dance_move%29" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two-step_%28dance_move%29">two-step</a>" in <a id="link_1" title="http://www.wildwesthouston.com/" href="http://www.wildwesthouston.com/">Wild West</a>, a country bar in Houston, Texas.<br /><br />We <strong>danced in circles around the dancing square</strong> along with men with boots, checkered shirts, and cowboy hats, and women with tight clothes and exaggerated make-up (a look that enhanced their beauty despite being outrageous).<br /><br />We <strong>observed the cowboys and their peculiar clothing with amazement</strong> (we had only seen people dressed like that in cowboy movies). <strong>They also looked at us,</strong> our sober clothing and our lack of rhythm as we attempted to dance that type of intermittent <a title="www.vallenato.com/ " href="http://www.lacoctelera.com/www.vallenato.com/">vallenato</a> called two-step.<br /><br />With time, we got used to them, and they got used to us. Together, we continued to <strong>enjoy $1 drinks</strong> and the good vibe of the place as we uncovered a side of Houston we hadn’t explored before.<br /><br /><br /><strong>How to get there:<br /></strong>6101 Richmond Ave.<br />Houston, TX 77057<br /><strong>Promo:</strong> 713-266-3455<br /><strong>Happy Hour: </strong>713-266-2282<br /><br /><strong>Hours of Operation:</strong><br /><strong>Monday:</strong> CLOSED<br /><strong>Tuesday:</strong> 6:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.<br /><strong>Wed-Thu:</strong> 7:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.<br /><strong>Friday:</strong> 5:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.<br /><strong>Saturday:</strong> 7:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.<br /><strong>Sunday:</strong> 4:30 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.<br /><strong>Dance Lessons:</strong> 4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35324929.post-90055250744505147122008-03-03T23:38:00.000-02:002008-03-03T23:44:40.724-02:00San Antonio: Speckled Attractions<div><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/R8ypMexwbvI/AAAAAAAAAeI/caD5_KpJzkU/s1600-h/DSCN1762.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173696103827140338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/R8ypMexwbvI/AAAAAAAAAeI/caD5_KpJzkU/s320/DSCN1762.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><a title="http://www.usatourist.com/espanol/places/texas/sanantonio.html" href="http://www.usatourist.com/espanol/places/texas/sanantonio.html">San Antonio</a> is located about 200 miles from Houston, and it is one <strong>of the most popular destinations within Texas.</strong> It is well known for its various attractions: the attractive River Walk, “<a id="link_1" title="http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batalla_de_El_%C3%81lamo" href="http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batalla_de_El_%C3%81lamo">El Alamo</a>” (that represents the battle where <strong>Texas became independent from Mexico,</strong> March 6, 1836), and its cultural and historic museums (El Alamo Museum, Wax Museum, Ripley’s Believe it or Not Museum, among others).<br /><br />Its historic district is very <strong>picturesque due to the Spanish architectonic influence.</strong> The Alamo Plaza is located in the heart of the historic district, where the Spanish Mission, and the chapel that hosts the Museum of Historic Artifacts are located. At the Plaza, one can also find a gigantic Alamo, whose <strong>smell is so pungent</strong> that it does not go unnoticed. In fact, one <strong>can probably reach the plaza by trying to find the source of that strange aroma.</strong></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div><br /><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/R8ypbexwbwI/AAAAAAAAAeQ/-lBAt4_KYqY/s1600-h/DSCN1758.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173696361525178114" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/R8ypbexwbwI/AAAAAAAAAeQ/-lBAt4_KYqY/s320/DSCN1758.jpg" border="0" /></a>“A block away from the Alamo Plaza, you can <strong>relive the historic Battle of the Alamo</strong> in the IMAX Theater of San Antonio’s Rivercenter and in the special effects theaters watching ‘Texas Adventure’,” according to Mile Leco from USA Tourist.</div><br /><br /><div><br />After visiting the museums and the historical part of the city, one should move over to the <a href="http://www.thesanantonioriverwalk.com/">River Walk</a> to take a break and <strong>relax while observing the boats floating down the river</strong> (if you happen to visit San Antonio during Christmas, you might be able to hear the chorus signing Christmas carols from the gongolas). If you happen to have time, it is a g<strong>reat idea to have a drink in one of the bars right on the Riverside</strong> or to take a boat ride down the river.<br /><br />It is important to highlight, that San Antonio is <strong>not just a touristy destination</strong>. It also has a <strong>very active night life</strong> with various bars and live music.<br /><br />Even if you travel in July or August (when it is very hot), or December (when it is simple chilly), San Antonio is a great destination with <strong>wide-ranging attractions that meet various tastes and all ages</strong>; it is almost an<strong> obliged destination for anyone visiting Texas.</strong></div><br /><br /><p><strong></strong></p><br /><br /><p></p><br /><br /><div><br /><strong>How to get there:</strong><br /><br /><br /><br />From Houston, take I-10 West<br />From Austin or Dallas, take I-35 South </div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35324929.post-45664284356176004802008-02-21T09:56:00.000-02:002008-02-21T10:05:04.961-02:00Love me like I want you to Love me: San Valentine's Day<a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/R71oo4HBAnI/AAAAAAAAAeA/MxwEgooHWHE/s1600-h/romantica.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169402998757065330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/R71oo4HBAnI/AAAAAAAAAeA/MxwEgooHWHE/s320/romantica.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>“If they don’t love you as you want them to love you, it doesn’t mean they do not love you with all they’ve got.” Popular saying.</div><br /><div><br />Sometimes we wish that <strong>our partner was more romantic</strong>, that he/she would send us flowers, leave us little presents or simply leave us a note wishing us a “Good day!”</div><br /><div><br />And this wish tends to intensify itself during <strong>San Valentine’s Day</strong>, the day where we are supposed to <strong>celebrate love</strong>.</div><br /><div><br />But, <strong>how do I materialize a feeling?</strong> What can I do to astonish the person I love? Do we really need to celebrate it?</div><br /><div><br />Here are some stories of people <strong>who have celebrated it</strong>, and some experiences of those who <strong>decided it was better not to celebrate.</strong></div><br /><div><br />This is how they celebrated:</div><br /><div><br />“<strong>The most romantic present is to create time to share together</strong> (and if it includes a trip, that’s even better!). My fiancé and I love to go to a place about an hour and a half from Boca Raton, FL called Naples, where we stay at the Ritz Carlton and since the moment we arrive we <strong>forget about any type of stress.</strong> It is a place where the plan is to <strong>lay on the beach all day with excellent attention</strong> (there are bungalows at the beach, and you drink mojitos and piña colada all day long), sunset falls on the sea and it is amazing, and the city is very pretty to go out for a walk or go out to eat.” Annabella (<a title="http://www.ci.boca-raton.fl.us/" href="http://www.ci.boca-raton.fl.us/">Boca Ratón</a>, FL, EEUU / <a title="http://www.venezuelatuya.com/caracas/indexeng.htm" href="http://www.venezuelatuya.com/caracas/indexeng.htm">Caracas</a>, Venezuela).</div><br /><div><br />“I remember two years ago, I arrived from work and found Bernie at my place: <strong>he had lighted candles all over the house and he was cooking for me!</strong> He really showed himself off: spaghetti with prawns and everything! Isabel (<a title="http://www.municipio.gob.pa/" href="http://www.municipio.gob.pa/">Cuidad de Panamá</a>, Panamá).</div><br /><div><br /><br />“When John and I dated in college, we celebrated <strong>our first valentine's day very low key</strong> because we spent a lot of money on a ski trip in January. I asked John to pick me up at my dorm room and to be hungry. ;) When he picked me up he gave me a rose with a card. Inside the card there was a <strong>Starbuck's gift card.</strong> He knew how much I loved it. He used to always surprise me at the reading room with a caramel latte. Then he handed me my favorite chocolate in the whole world, Ferro Rocher. So, I got a bag ready and when we got in the car I told him to take me to his place cuz I was going to cook for him an authentic <strong>Puerto Rican dinner.</strong> I was so nervous. Not only was this the first time I was cooking for my boyfriend, it was the first time I was cooking Puerto Rican food by myself. I made him <strong>arroz con habichuelas rojas y bistec encebollado.</strong> So I served him a plate and for like the <strong>longest five minutes of my life</strong>, he didn't say a word. Until finally he said, <strong>"wow baby, I'm gonna get seconds"</strong> lol It made my night. For dessert I got him his favorite ice cream, mint chocolate chip. That night we stayed up talking and when we looked out the window it began to snow. It was a perfect ending to our date. The TCU campus was gorgeous. I know it’s not a glamorous story but it's my favorite valentine's day ever. <strong>Simple but thoughtful.”</strong> Karlene (<a title="http://www.municipio.gob.pa/" href="http://www.municipio.gob.pa/">Washington DC</a>, EEUU / <a title="http://welcome.topuertorico.org/index.shtml" href="http://welcome.topuertorico.org/index.shtml">San Juan</a>, Puerto Rico).<br /><br />“I have a friend who once did a <strong>treasure hung</strong>. In the morning she prepared breakfast for him, and in the afternoon she was not with him, instead, she would leave him clues where he could find the next clue. <strong>Each place had a special significance for them</strong> (favorite restaurant, place where they met, the house of the friends that introduced them). There was a clue and a present in each place. At the end she was waiting for him at the house as she cooked dinner and a present.” Annabella (Boca Ratón, FL, EEUU/ Caracas, Venezuela). </div><br /><div><br />“<strong>If there's one thing I've learned about relationships and being romantic is this: sometimes the simpler the more satisfying.</strong> Chris and I have lived so far away from each other most of our relationship that to be honest we n<strong>ever made a big deal about valentines day or anything like that.</strong> Last year was our first year together and i think he forgot it was valentines days. I bought him a cheesy heart balloon and he made a nice spaghetti dinner, we drank some wine and we watched a movie. <strong>Sometimes simple is better...”</strong> Alexa (<a title="http://www.ca.gov/" href="http://www.ca.gov/">California</a>, EEUU / <a title="http://www.braziltour.com/site/es/home/index.php" href="http://www.braziltour.com/site/es/home/index.php">Brasil</a>)<br /><br /><strong>And for those who do not really relieve in San Valentine’s Day, I have a store for you:</strong><br /><br />“Last year, I <strong>assumed Chelsea was not going to mind if I did not buy her a Valentine’s present</strong>, but of course, it ended up being one of the most stupid decisions and a clear boundary of my understanding of women. <strong>I had to go out at 9 p.m. to buy her a pair of earrings</strong> that ended up being really expensive. Another bad story, but anyhow, <strong>it shows how ridiculous some of us can be if we think San Valentine’s Day is not important enough to celebrate.”</strong> Arturo (<a title="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/guatemala/" href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/guatemala/">Ciudad de Guatemala</a>, Guatemala)<br /><br />Wish you had a great San Valentine’s day! How did you celebrate it this year?<br /><br /><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35324929.post-57718083437447120792008-02-08T09:50:00.000-02:002008-02-08T10:00:56.363-02:00Salvadorean Pupusas: Strange Name for a Unique Taste<div><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/R6xDTm96y4I/AAAAAAAAAdo/a20UUb0LM14/s1600-h/popusa.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5164576876843944834" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/R6xDTm96y4I/AAAAAAAAAdo/a20UUb0LM14/s320/popusa.jpg" border="0" /></a><a name="OLE_LINK1">People from </a><a title="http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0107489.html" href="http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0107489.html">El Salvador</a> have their own typical dish: <a title="http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pupusa" href="http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pupusa">Pupusas</a>. These round plums are particular because of their name and also because they <strong>have their own national celebration</strong>: According to Legislative Decree 655 of El Salvador, the second Sunday of November is considered the “<a title="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gE6iE-hLycs">National Day of Pupusas</a>”.<br /><br /><strong>Nelson Sosa</strong>, from El Salvador, explains that the “National Day of Pupusas is very well known. He says the <a title="http://www.elsalvador.com/hablemos/2005/061105/061105-4.htm" href="http://www.elsalvador.com/hablemos/2005/061105/061105-4.htm">decree was created </a>because <strong>Honduras</strong> <strong>or Nicaragua were saying that pupusas had originated in those countries</strong> and not in El Savador, while the dish, is indisputably, from El Salvador (they <strong>took the case to court and used historians, documents, etc to determine they originated in El Salvaor).</strong><br /><div><br /><strong>The word “pupusa”</strong> comes from the combination of the word <strong>“púpu”</strong> (scramble) and <strong>“tsa”</strong> (bulge), which would translate to <strong>“stuffed bulge”,</strong> according to <strong>José Manuel Bonilla</strong>, specialist in the <a title="Idioma pipil" href="http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idioma_pipil">nahuat</a> language and national director of cultural development of Concultura. </div><div></div><br /><div><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/R6xD0296y5I/AAAAAAAAAdw/3UwiJSn5EIA/s1600-h/popusas.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5164577448074595218" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/R6xD0296y5I/AAAAAAAAAdw/3UwiJSn5EIA/s320/popusas.jpg" border="0" /></a>There are <strong>two types of pupusas</strong>: corn and rice. “<strong>Rice pupusas</strong> are typical of a town called "<a title="http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olocuilta" href="http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olocuilta">Olocuilta</a>", localed near the airport (San Salvador). For that reason, all Salvadorians that travel stop by to buy pupusas on the way to the airport”, says Daniel Rivera from El Salvador.<br /><br />But, <strong>what makes these pupusas so special</strong> that Salvadorians have even reserved a day in their honor?<br /><br />To answer this question <strong>I had to try them myself.</strong><br /></div><div><br />When I went to Washington DC, USA, a friend from El Salvador decided to introduce us to this delicious dish. We <strong>drove for about an hour</strong> to the place where they sold <strong>“the best pupusas in DC” to try them.<br /></strong><br /><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/R6xD_G96y6I/AAAAAAAAAd4/IwSP5BKsUIU/s1600-h/curtido.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5164577624168254370" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/R6xD_G96y6I/AAAAAAAAAd4/IwSP5BKsUIU/s320/curtido.jpg" border="0" /></a>On a <strong>first impression</strong>, they reminded me of <strong>Colombian arepas</strong>: rounded, crispy and fresh corn disks. Only arepas are eaten by themselves, while you place <a title="http://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/recs/495/Curtido_Salvadoreno_El_Salvador48777.shtml" href="http://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/recs/495/Curtido_Salvadoreno_El_Salvador48777.shtml">curtido</a> on top of the pupusas. Curtido is a mixture of cabbage, carrots, onions and green chilli soaked in vinegar.<br /><br />Since we were a large group <strong>we ordered pupusas with different suffing </strong>so we could try a large variety: cheese, cheese and beans, “revueltas” (fried crackling (chicharrón), beans and cheese), beef and cheese with “loroco”. That time we did not try pupusas filled with “ayote” (a type of cabbage), and fish, among others.<br /><br />My<strong> favorite ones</strong> were filled with <strong>cheese</strong>; they were not as heavy as the other ones, which allowed me to eat more. At the same time “<strong>revueltas</strong>” have a particularly explosive taste.</div><div><br />Even though it was a fun experience and I enjoyed this centroamerican dish, I doubt my love for food would ever take me to compete in the <strong>“pupusas eating” contest</strong>, where according to Daniel, “one time a guy ate 42 pupusas (when a regulas woman usually does not eat more than 3, and a average male usually eats 4 or 5!!!”).<br /><br />If you ever get the chance, I would recommend to try pupusas, <strong>it is the entrance to El Salvador</strong>.<br /><br />Welcome! </div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35324929.post-60366410138460280412008-02-06T22:53:00.000-02:002008-02-07T09:14:20.759-02:00A Day in a Japanese Diaper<div align="center">By Carlo Capua (USA/Toluca, Mexico)<br /><br /><em>Standing in the midst of 24 sweaty almost-naked men.<br />Wearing nothing more than a firehose-esque piece of cloth.<br />Ready to subject myself to full embarrassment.</em></div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left"><br /><br />No, I wasn’t a contestant on a Japanese game show. Last weekend I experienced the <strong>glory of Japanese culture to its fullest.</strong> Hands-on. Last Sunday I participated in my first <a href="http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2080.html">sumo tournament</a> (Japanese national sport).</div><br /><div align="left"><br /><br />Now this wasn’t the huge, stuffed costume sumo match that you do for laughs at a carnival. <strong>This was the real deal - bare butt and all.</strong></div><br /><div align="left"><br /><br />Doug, the resident Sado ALT, convinced me to venture up to Sado Island and be a part of the 3-man gaijin team that would take the other Japanese teams by storm. Add Lance, and you’ve got 3<strong> really white, hairy </strong><a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=gaijin"><strong>gaijin </strong></a>(word used by Japanese people to refer to foreigners). </div><br /><div align="left"><br /><br />Problem: I<strong> don’t have a proper Japanese sumo name. </strong></div><strong><br /><div align="left"><br /></strong><br />It was fun thinking of a name that would ring fear into the hearts of the other Japanese competitors. <strong>My options were:</strong><br /><br />1) <u>Bakana Amerikajin</u> - “Stupid American”<br />2) <u>Takahashi </u>- those of you who read my marathon story would understand<br />3) <u>Tenkomori</u> - literally, “Mountain of Food”<br />4) <u>Kenshoen</u> – loosely translated, “Carpal Tunnel Syndrome”<br />5) <u>Sanadamushi</u> – “Tapeworm”<br /></div><br /><div align="left"><br />I<strong> opted for #3 – Tenkomorikun</strong>. Lance chose “Taishokukan” (Massive Appetite Boy) and Canadian-bred Doug was “Momijiyama” (Maple Leaf Mountain.) <strong>Together, we would be Team Takokusekikun (Army of Nations.)</strong></div><strong><br /><div align="left"><br /></strong><br />The rules of sumo are actually easy. <strong>There are two ways to lose a match:<br /></strong>1) Any part of your body touches outside the ring before your opponent, or<br />2) Any part of your body other than your feet touch the ground.</div><br /><div align="left"><br /><br /><strong>The hardest part was actually getting (un)dressed. The infamous “diaper”, called a </strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mawashi"><strong>mawashi</strong></a><strong>,</strong> is impossible to put on alone. It’s basically a long, thick piece of rough cloth that’s worn like a G-string in the back, and wraps around your waist 4 times. Attractive.</div><br /><div align="left"><br /><br />Our first match would be against the defending champion team; actually, i<strong>t was the first match of the entire tournament. </strong>Doug treated his first opponent like a ningyo (doll), and I stepped into the ring to face mystery man #2. </div><br /><div align="left"><br /><br />“Do I bow first, or squat? What’s the word for GO? Can I throw salt in the ring, at my opponent, etc?” We had already been explained <strong>proper sumo etiquette</strong>, but as I stood in the ring I felt all confidence slowly melting away. I looked across the ring and sized up the competition. <strong>My opponent wasn’t exactly in world-class shape</strong>. He was:<br /><br />1) Fat. Really fat.<br />2) Balding.<br />3) Probably in his forties.<br />4) Sweaty.<br /></div><br /><div align="left"><br />I squatted with both fists firmly planted on the ground. Butterflies were swarming in my stomach. <strong>The referee gave me a pitiful look, and gave the Japanese word for “GO!”</strong></div><strong><br /><div align="left"><br /></strong><br />I charged directly in to the sweaty mass of flesh in front of me. This guy wasn’t strong – he was just really fat. As I tried to get a firm grip on his mawashi, he backed me to the edge of the ring. <strong>“Uh-oh”, I thought. “The fat guy is going to beat me, and it’s going to be broadcast all over the island on Sado TV.”</strong></div><br /><div align="left"><br /><br /><strong>Fearful of the pending embarrassment,</strong> I managed to grab his diaper and spin him out of the ring. To this day I still can’t figure out how <strong>I did it</strong>. I guess anything can happen when you’re half-naked.</div><br /><div align="left"><br /><br /><strong>We beat last year’s champion team!</strong> With our first victory under our extremely tight belts, Maple Leaf Mountain, Mountain of Food, and Massive Appetite Boy marched their way to a 3rd place finish overall, the best a gaijin team has ever finished in the tournament. And yes, there were more than 3 teams. There were 8 teams, to be exact. Our team and the other gaijin team “dobutsuen” (zoo) all had fun as the day’s “entertainment.”</div><br /><div align="left"><br /><br /><strong>The most touching part of the day was during the opening ceremony.</strong> Since there were Americans in the tournament, they dedicated <strong>1 minute of silence to the nationally tragedy at the World Trade Center and Pentagon. </strong></div><br /><div align="left"><br /><br />This culture continues to amaze me.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35324929.post-38824966486864128922008-01-24T10:46:00.000-02:002008-01-24T10:47:10.840-02:00Happy Birthday! Vida Surrealista Turns Two<a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/R5OP9yMpHdI/AAAAAAAAAdM/7D1Q3Fp1N-s/s1600-h/Congratulations+cake.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157624289878941138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/R5OP9yMpHdI/AAAAAAAAAdM/7D1Q3Fp1N-s/s320/Congratulations+cake.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /><a title="http://happybirthdaygreetings.blogspot.com/2007/12/como-se-dice-feliz-cumpleaos-en.html)" href="http://happybirthdaygreetings.blogspot.com/2007/12/como-se-dice-feliz-cumpleaos-en.html)">Chestit rojden den</a>! ¡Feliz cumple! Selamat hari jadi! Buon Compleanno! Alles gute zum geburstag! Happy Birthday!</div><br /><br /><div><br />That’s right. <strong>Today we are celebrating the second year of Vida Surrealista.<br /></strong></div><br /><br /><div>A year filled with <strong>surprises and unexpected twists</strong> since I was not planning to return to live in the United States for a couple of months.<br /></div><br /><br /><div>A year filled with challenges and <strong>literary ups and downs</strong> since our inspiration is inevitably connected to our feelings.<br /></div><br /><br /><p>A year where <strong>Vida Surrealista was able to grow with the written contribution from friends</strong> around the world.Thank you very much for all your continuous support and especially to all those who collaborated throughout the year:<br /></p><br /><br /><ul><br /><br /><li>Susana Massaro (Rio de Janeiro, Brasil) - EDITOR</li><br /><br /><li><a title="http://www.lacoctelera.com/vidasurrealista/post/2007/12/19/un-almuerzo-bajo-mar-houston" href="http://www.lacoctelera.com/vidasurrealista/post/2007/12/19/un-almuerzo-bajo-mar-houston">Giorgina Di Rocco</a> (Buenos Aires, Argentina)</li><br /><br /><li><a title="http://www.lacoctelera.com/vidasurrealista/tags/sabrina-lenoir" href="http://www.lacoctelera.com/vidasurrealista/tags/sabrina-lenoir">Sabrina Lenoir</a> (Argentina)</li><br /><br /><li><a title="http://www.lacoctelera.com/vidasurrealista/tags/carlo-capua" href="http://www.lacoctelera.com/vidasurrealista/tags/carlo-capua">Carlo Capua</a> (Toluca, México / EEUU)</li><br /><br /><li>Lucia Tissone (Buenos Aires, Argentina)</li><br /><br /><li><a title="http://www.lacoctelera.com/vidasurrealista/post/2007/08/22/foto-del-ano-vida-surrealista-tango-vivo-yan-carriere" href="http://www.lacoctelera.com/vidasurrealista/post/2007/08/22/foto-del-ano-vida-surrealista-tango-vivo-yan-carriere">Yan Carrière-Swallow</a> (Toronto, Canadá)</li><br /><br /><li><a title="http://www.lacoctelera.com/vidasurrealista/post/2007/08/14/fernet-ex-remedio-conventido-bebida-popular-san-francisco-" href="http://www.lacoctelera.com/vidasurrealista/post/2007/08/14/fernet-ex-remedio-conventido-bebida-popular-san-francisco-">Aldana Gómez</a> (Buenos Aires, Argentina)</li><br /><br /><li><a title="http://www.lacoctelera.com/vidasurrealista/post/2007/08/14/fernet-ex-remedio-conventido-bebida-popular-san-francisco-" href="http://www.lacoctelera.com/vidasurrealista/post/2007/08/14/fernet-ex-remedio-conventido-bebida-popular-san-francisco-">Cecilia Tear </a>(Buenos Aires, Argentina)</li><br /><br /><li><a title="http://www.lacoctelera.com/vidasurrealista/post/2007/08/14/fernet-ex-remedio-conventido-bebida-popular-san-francisco-" href="http://www.lacoctelera.com/vidasurrealista/post/2007/08/14/fernet-ex-remedio-conventido-bebida-popular-san-francisco-">Leandro Vaillard</a> (Buenos Aires, Argentina)</li><br /><br /><li><a title="http://www.lacoctelera.com/vidasurrealista/post/2007/08/14/fernet-ex-remedio-conventido-bebida-popular-san-francisco-" href="http://www.lacoctelera.com/vidasurrealista/post/2007/08/14/fernet-ex-remedio-conventido-bebida-popular-san-francisco-">Pietro Toscano </a>(Bari, Italia)</li><br /><br /><li><a title="http://www.lacoctelera.com/vidasurrealista/post/2007/08/14/fernet-ex-remedio-conventido-bebida-popular-san-francisco-" href="http://www.lacoctelera.com/vidasurrealista/post/2007/08/14/fernet-ex-remedio-conventido-bebida-popular-san-francisco-">Johnny Ennis</a> (Buenos Aires, Argentina/Caracas, Venezuela)</li><br /><br /><li><a title="http://www.lacoctelera.com/vidasurrealista/post/2007/07/17/buenos-aires-nevada-con-esporas-neon" href="http://www.lacoctelera.com/vidasurrealista/post/2007/07/17/buenos-aires-nevada-con-esporas-neon">Joaquin Schvetz </a>(Buenos Aires, Argentina)</li><br /><br /><li>Federico Appiani (Buenos Aires, Argentina)</li><br /><br /><li><a title="http://www.lacoctelera.com/vidasurrealista/post/2007/06/04/higuerote-playas-venezuela-honor-mi-patria-adoptiva" href="http://www.lacoctelera.com/vidasurrealista/post/2007/06/04/higuerote-playas-venezuela-honor-mi-patria-adoptiva">Carlos Rodríguez</a> (Caracas, Venezuela)</li><br /><br /><li><a title="http://www.lacoctelera.com/vidasurrealista/post/2007/05/17/el-sombrero-poppa-viaja-el-mundo" href="http://www.lacoctelera.com/vidasurrealista/post/2007/05/17/el-sombrero-poppa-viaja-el-mundo">Porter Campbell</a> (St. Louis, Missouri, USA)</li><br /><br /><li><a title="http://www.lacoctelera.com/vidasurrealista/tags/maria-luisa-villegas" href="http://www.lacoctelera.com/vidasurrealista/tags/maria-luisa-villegas">María Luisa Villegas</a> (Veracruz, México)</li><br /><br /><li><a title="http://www.lacoctelera.com/vidasurrealista/post/2007/03/08/las-polleras-protagonizan-carnavales-penonome-panama" href="http://www.lacoctelera.com/vidasurrealista/post/2007/03/08/las-polleras-protagonizan-carnavales-penonome-panama">María Eugenia Grimaldo</a> (Ciudad de Panamá, Panamá)</li><br /><br /><li><a title="http://www.lacoctelera.com/vidasurrealista/post/2007/02/16/sahara-buenos-aires-la-mano-aysel" href="http://www.lacoctelera.com/vidasurrealista/post/2007/02/16/sahara-buenos-aires-la-mano-aysel">Analía Plamenatz</a> (Buenos Aires, Argentina)</li><br /><br /><li><a title="http://www.lacoctelera.com/vidasurrealista/post/2007/05/30/las-dos-romas-el-espejo-ciudades-gemelas" href="http://www.lacoctelera.com/vidasurrealista/post/2007/05/30/las-dos-romas-el-espejo-ciudades-gemelas">Griselda Vaillard</a> (Buenos Aires, Argentina)</li><br /><br /><li><a title="http://www.lacoctelera.com/vidasurrealista/post/2007/05/30/las-dos-romas-el-espejo-ciudades-gemelas" href="http://www.lacoctelera.com/vidasurrealista/post/2007/05/30/las-dos-romas-el-espejo-ciudades-gemelas">Jose Medvedovsky</a> (Buenos Aires, Argentina)</li><br /><br /><li><a title="http://www.lacoctelera.com/vidasurrealista/post/2007/05/30/las-dos-romas-el-espejo-ciudades-gemelas" href="http://www.lacoctelera.com/vidasurrealista/post/2007/05/30/las-dos-romas-el-espejo-ciudades-gemelas">Pablo Atencio</a> (Buenos Aires, Argentina) </li><br /><br /><li><a title="http://www.lacoctelera.com/vidasurrealista/post/2007/05/30/las-dos-romas-el-espejo-ciudades-gemelas" href="http://www.lacoctelera.com/vidasurrealista/post/2007/05/30/las-dos-romas-el-espejo-ciudades-gemelas">Jesica Jimenez Culjak</a> (Buenos Aires, Argentina)</li></ul>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35324929.post-72601947733721497832008-01-20T16:43:00.000-02:002008-01-20T16:53:21.360-02:00On Top of the Bar of Coyote Ugly in San Anotnio<a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/R5OXsSMpHeI/AAAAAAAAAdU/4-yjPlLWJ0E/s1600-h/Coyote+ugly+corpi%C3%B1os.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157632785324252642" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/R5OXsSMpHeI/AAAAAAAAAdU/4-yjPlLWJ0E/s320/Coyote+ugly+corpi%C3%B1os.jpg" border="0" /></a>Who hasn’t <strong>fantasized about dancing on top of the bar</strong> after watching Coyote Ugly?<br /><br />Come on! Be honest! <strong>Not even for a second?<br /></strong><br /><strong>And what would you do if you found yourself in that bar?</strong><br /><br />Surprisingly, <strong>I did not live my fantasy</strong> of dancing on the bar when I visited <a href="http://www.coyoteuglysaloon.com/sanantonio/">Coyote Ugly Saloon</a> in San Antonio, Texas, USA.<br /><br />The bar was <strong>very similar to the one in the movie</strong>, only a little bigger. It also had an arsenal of bras hanging from the top of the bar that screamed out: “Unleash yourself!”<br /><br /><strong>Why didn’t I dance?</strong><br /><br />Maybe, because I am <strong>no longer that careless teenager</strong> who loved to dance to call attention to herself.<br /><br />Or, because I was <strong>intimidated by the interesting bra-display</strong> that made the place look more like a strip bar than a bar of dancing Coyotes like in the movie.<br /><br /><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/R5OX0yMpHfI/AAAAAAAAAdc/JHC5AilAKEs/s1600-h/Coyote+Ugly+cartel.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157632931353140722" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/R5OX0yMpHfI/AAAAAAAAAdc/JHC5AilAKEs/s320/Coyote+Ugly+cartel.jpg" border="0" /></a>Or maybe, because as soon as we entered the place, <strong>one of the girls</strong> that was dancing on the bar <strong>fell to the floor in the middle of her dance</strong> because she was too drunk to keep her balance.<br /><br />Or simply because our fantasies rarely come true.<br /><br />As of today, the story ends here. However, I leave you the address in case you want to go and <strong>write a different story</strong>. If I ever return, I’ll let you know if my story changes.<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>How to get there</strong>:<br />Coyote Ugly Saloon San Antonio<br />409 East Commerce Street<br />San Antonio, TX 78205<br />Close to Rivercenter Mall and Hemisfair Park<br /><br /><br /><strong>Times</strong>:<br />Monday to Sunday 11 a.m. – 2 a.m.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.coyoteuglysaloon.com/home.html)">Other Cities:</a><br />New York (original – 1993)<br /><br /><p>Las Vegas (November 2001)<br /></p><br /><br /><p>New Orleans (February 2002)<br /></p><br /><br /><p>Chicago (March 2003)<br /></p><br /><br /><p>Tampa (April 2003)<br /></p><br /><br /><p>Austin (January 2004)<br /></p><br /><br /><p>Panama City Beach (April 2004)<br /></p><br /><br /><p>San Antonio (July 2004)<br /></p><br /><br /><p>Charlotte (August 2004)<br /></p><br /><br /><p>Nashville (December 2004)<br /></p><br /><br /><p>Denver (Mach 2005)<br /></p><br /><br /><p>Ft. Lauderdale (January 2006)<br /></p><br /><br /><p>Memphis (May 2006)<br /><br /><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35324929.post-12184293528661546872008-01-20T14:26:00.000-02:002008-01-20T14:39:52.114-02:00Start 2008 with a Noisy Toast<a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/R5N48SMpHcI/AAAAAAAAAdE/I4bTXm56dzs/s1600-h/brindis.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157598975341698498" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/R5N48SMpHcI/AAAAAAAAAdE/I4bTXm56dzs/s320/brindis.jpg" border="0" /></a><strong>Cheers!</strong> I raise the glass with joy and good company.<br /><br />Even though <strong>books of etiquette</strong> indicate that one should look at the other person’s eyes when they toast and tilt the glass towards the other person without touching, I prefer noisy toasts.<br /><br />While I was doing research to write this blog, I ran across an excellent article written by <a title="Entradas de Yabebiry" href="http://www.elgranchef.com/author/paula-labella/">Yabebiry</a> that talked about the <a href="http://www.elgranchef.com/2007/04/27/el-origen-del-brindis/">origins of the brindis</a>.<br /><br />Some people say the word “<strong>brindis” came about</strong> when <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_V%2C_Holy_Roman_Emperor">Charles V’s </a>troops were celebrating their victory over Rome on May 6, 1527. During that celebration, members of Chales’ V troop raised their glasses saying: <strong>“bring dir’s”, which means “I offer thee” in German.</strong><br /><br />Other versions of the origin of toasting indicate that during banquets, <strong>Ancient Greeks</strong> used to have the host raise his/her wine glass and take a <strong>long sip to demonstrate the drink had not been poisoned.</strong> Then, all the invitees would clash their glasses against one another to splash and mix the contents; that way, if one of the glasses had been poisoned, everyone ran the same risk.<br /><br />Even though hosts seldom try to poison their guests nowadays, <strong>I prefer to continue toasting with that noisy</strong> tradition despite what books of etiquette say. For me, <strong>a noisy toast represents happiness, good fortune and joy.<br /></strong><br />Cheers! Hope you <strong>have a good 2008! </strong>Best wishes to all of you!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35324929.post-80309094977998638122008-01-07T22:26:00.000-02:002008-01-07T22:36:40.235-02:00Christmas Around the World: Macarroni Angels, Olentzeros Instead of Noel and Presents inside Trees<div><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/R4LEWCMpHaI/AAAAAAAAAc0/fDowD-9DTD4/s1600-h/angelito.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152896806491332002" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" height="270" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/R4LEWCMpHaI/AAAAAAAAAc0/fDowD-9DTD4/s320/angelito.JPG" width="220" border="0" /></a> <a title="http://www.comune.napoli.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeBLOB.php/L/IT/IDPagina/1" href="http://www.comune.napoli.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeBLOB.php/L/IT/IDPagina/1"><strong>Naples</strong></a><strong>, Italy<br /></strong>Napolitani say that <strong>during harsh times</strong>, they traditionally made angels out of different types of pasta found around the house. Then, they offered these <a href="http://lamagiaescrita.bitacoras.com/archivos/2005/02/07/angelito-de-los-deseos">pasta angels</a> to their friends during Christmas time.<br /><br /><div><br />Those who received the pasta angels <strong>wrote a wish in a piece of paper</strong>, which they placed <strong>inside the body of the angel so it could “fly away” and make the wish come true.</strong> Afterwards many people used these cute presents to decorate their Christmas tree.<br /></div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><strong>Vasque Region, Spain</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/R4LFXSMpHbI/AAAAAAAAAc8/00izeZdAU1Q/s1600-h/olentzero2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152897927477796274" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_F_7Cr8kH_pM/R4LFXSMpHbI/AAAAAAAAAc8/00izeZdAU1Q/s320/olentzero2.JPG" border="0" /></a>In the Vasque region, <strong>Christmas’ symbol</strong> is not Santa Claus as in most Christian cities, but the <a title="http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olentzero" href="http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olentzero">Olentzero</a>, a <strong>chimney-sweeper with beret, overalls,</strong> crossed sandals and a chequered hankerchief tied in his neck.<br /><a href="http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olentzero"></a><br /><br /><br /><strong>Catalunya, Spain</strong><br /><br />On the other hand, catalans place their C<strong>hristmas presents inside a tree trunk with a painted face</strong> (also known as “<a href="http://www.pandeblog.net/espana/2007/12/a-los-ninos-catalanes-no-les-traen-los-regalos-se-los-cagan/#more-3864">tronc</a>”, “soca”, and “tió”).</div><br /><br /><div><br />On <strong>Christmas Eve</strong>, each <strong>child rinses a stick with “magic water”</strong> in a room, and after adults give them permission, they enter the room where the tree trunk is placed and hit it as they sing a song in catalan to free the presents hidden inside the tree.</div><br /><br /><div><br />According to <a title="http://www.pandeblog.net/search/tronco+de+navidad" href="http://www.pandeblog.net/search/tronco+de+navidad">Pamela from pandeblog.net</a> the translated version of the <strong>song</strong> reads something like (the translation puzzles me, so if someone can/may, please verify the translation is correct):</div><br /><br /><div><br /><em>“Tree trunk, Christmas tree trunk</em></div><br /><br /><div><em>Shit culin</em></div><br /><br /><div><em>And pee white wine.</em></div><br /><br /><div><em>Don’t shit zool herring, that is salty</em></div><br /><br /><div><em>Shit culins that are really good.”</em></div><br /><br /><div><br />Interestingly, the <strong>tree only liberates one present at the time</strong>. So the children run back and forth from one room to the other to rinse their stick with “magic water” so they can hit the tree with it until it delivers <strong>an onion or a potato as an indication it will not deliver any more presents until the following year.<br /></strong></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0