Cliff my traveling companion is keeping a blog about his experience on this trip...sometimes I am with him for the stuff he writes about and there are pictures too so if you want to know more about my sojourn to Argentina or get an idea about the place I am currently residing in, take a look here:
http://chico-norte.blogspot.com/
Nicole
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Travelin' Band
I am psyched to hear that so many of you are getting out of town!! It's great isn't it!!!
Argentina beat Mexico 3-0 in the Copa Americana!
Nicole
Argentina beat Mexico 3-0 in the Copa Americana!
Nicole
Betty Hollywood Says...
since it was a national holiday last week, what better way to celebrate then to head south of the border! me and S. made our way down into puerto neuvo mexico to a shitty little place called bobby's by the sea. at first it we saw it as a lovely room with fun mexican accoutromonts but then quickly discovered after having construction being done on all sides of our room and over my car, that the owner bobby was a mean mean drunk with a penchant for making his guests feel scared and shitty at the same time. F U BOBBY! we packed up and headed down into ensenada only to get lost by an enourmous mexican flag (really. its like the size of the empire state building). finally, we landed at poco cielo which was a lovely oasis right on the water. we had a patio and our own parking spot. for $80. we ate fresh tortillas, salsa and drank $1 margaritas. S. made a bonfire on the beach and we roasted marshmallows, drank tequila and played my guitar. dinner at la fonda followed and the following morning we woke to yoga and stretching on the beach and reading magazines over huevos and frozen orange juice. heads up, on a mission to relax on the beaches of san diego, we got caught at the mexican border for FIVE HOURS!?!?!?! ay carumba!
Kinkle (In Paris This Weekend) Says...
So last weekend we were in gay Paree... which is not as gay when you have a 2 year old believe me! After a really crazy episode in the Catacombs the day before (when I learned that my child's shrieks do NOT in fact raise the dead, contrary to popular opinion) we decided to take it easy and shop a bit. July is famous for the sales in Paris, but honestly there was waaay too much clothing that looked like it was designed by the French Ellen Tracy. The hubby tried on some really cool white leather pointy boots with red elastic insets, but felt guilty about spending the dough so he didn't. I have no such qualms, however, and I finally found a cool top by some French designer I've never heard of on sale at La Bon Marche (the more or less Saks Fifth Ave of Paris), so my quota of French fashion, though small, was somewhat quenched. We went to the Eiffel Tower and briefly considered eating at Jules Verne the restaurant there but apparently you have to have reservations a month in advance and it was 150 Euros PER PERSON not including wine. So, obviously that didn't happen. Also, pretty much anytime you get the kid near a monument it's a cue for him to have the terrible two meltdown which kicked in about a week or two ago. In the future, if any reader of this blog thinks they can travel around and sightsee with a two year old just remember my advice. NO, YOU CAN'T. Climbing the 8 million stairs in the tower was pretty much out of the question so we returned to the neighborhood we were staying in, Montparnasse and had a lovely meal at a restaurant that turned out to be a chain but was still good for Frenchy food. The kid even got a giant high chair carved to look like a throne.. how appropo! The next day we went to some flea market I had read about in Time Out's guide to Paris. I should know better, because I certainly take everything they say in NYC with a grain of salt but this purportedly "Mother of All Paris Flea Markets" or so it was touted was actually a piece of crap selling bad rip off hip hop clothes and a few junky ethnic trinkets. It was at the tail end of Monmarte, though which is an awesome charming neighborhood that hosted lots of artists in its day (like Montparnasse) and we made a quick visit to Sacre Coure where I picked up a bronze cross to add to my cross collection. (I'm not really religious per se but I am oddly drawn to religious artifacts, especially catholic ones. I was probably Catholic in another life). We picknicked on the steps and afterwards walked around, conveniently timing a visit to the Dali museum there around naptime for the kid. Then we took a quick stroll through Pigalle (where the Moulin Rouge is and they have lots of sex shops) before the gourmand hubby drove me absolutely nuts walking UP and DOWN the hills looking for the absolutely perfect restaurant which of course we would need a reservation for. We finally ate at a totally servicable bar/restaurant before heading home. Sunday we had plans to go to Versailles, which I have been dreaming about for decades. The time right before the French Revolution is my absolute fave for decor, clothing and well, everything except smallpox and personal hygiene. Provided I could be a member of the upper classes I would go back to that time (at least for a week) in a heartbeat. Well the line was long and the tantrums were in full effect, so much so the hubby left me somewhere before the king's apartments so I could at least see the place in peace. Did i mention he's a gem? He caught up with me again with a subdued child in the Hall of Mirrors and we managed to take a more peaceful tour of the last part of the museum. I was dying to see the gardens but, like the rest of our European soujourn, it started pissing down rain and we had to leave. We grabbed some fries for the kid at the local McDonald's (where yes, they DO sell a Royal with cheese) before taking the train back and eating at another bistro (beef for him, escargot and French onion soup pour moi) before taking our tired, wet bones home. Ah Paree... I want to return again and again!
Matt from the Upper East Side Says...
Headed down to Atlantic City with my friend Dave W. on 7-7-07, hoping for a little luck (as well as a little beach time in the 85 degree heat). Had no luck with the traffic, getting stuck in 4 hours of stop-and-go on the way down there, but we finally rolled into town at about 2pm, leaving a few hours of beach time ahead of us. We had booked a room at the Holiday Inn on the Boardwalk. Great location, but the place was a dump, and horribly overpriced. On 24 hours notice, it was the best we could do.
However, once we settled in and made our way to the beach, things were definitely looking up. AC has done much to improve its beach in the past several years, and we spent the afternoon swimming, tanning, and listening to the bands at the beach bar they've set up near the boardwalk.
We finally returned to the hotel, showered and changed, and the evening began. The atmosphere in AC was lively, with lots of 7-7-07 promotions and general good cheer. Dave and I started by playing craps at the Tropicana, and after an hour, I was up $250 and he was up $150. Nice! A good start.
We then cabbed our way to the Borgata, where we had made dinner reservations at Seablue. We had a little time to kill before the reservation, so Dave and I took a little stroll around the casino. We passed a bank of slot machines called "Blazing Sevens." Now, I never play slots. Never. I find them boring, and they just suck your money. I'm much more into table games. However....
I couldn't resist. "Blazing Sevens" on 7-7-7? I had to do one spin. So I did: One spin, on a lark, for the humor value if nothing else. One $3 spin, just to say that I had done it.
And the wheels spun. The first wheel... 7. The second wheel... 7. The third wheel... which seemed to turn in slow motion........
7!!!
Time seemed to stand still for a moment. The machine started ringing and whooping, and I stared at it dumbfounded. Yes indeed, with one spin only, I had hit 7-7-7 on "Blazing Sevens" on 7-7-07. Incredible.
Ok, ok, before anyone gets too excited, the jackpot wasn't anything earth-shattering. The payout was $300, which is terrific but I'm not quitting my day job. Still, I had been kissed by Lady Luck, and I was swooning.
Afterward, I floated with Dave toward dinner, and we did dine well, oh yes. Rounded out the evening with some light $1-$2 poker (which gained me another whopping $8) and a few stupid hands at blackjack (lost $50) before calling it a night. We headed back to NYC the next morning, me with a $500 profit in my pocket, and more importantly, a great 7-7-7 story. Dave also posted a $100 gain. Definitely, a good time had by all.
Matt (a/k/a "Lucky Sevens")
However, once we settled in and made our way to the beach, things were definitely looking up. AC has done much to improve its beach in the past several years, and we spent the afternoon swimming, tanning, and listening to the bands at the beach bar they've set up near the boardwalk.
We finally returned to the hotel, showered and changed, and the evening began. The atmosphere in AC was lively, with lots of 7-7-07 promotions and general good cheer. Dave and I started by playing craps at the Tropicana, and after an hour, I was up $250 and he was up $150. Nice! A good start.
We then cabbed our way to the Borgata, where we had made dinner reservations at Seablue. We had a little time to kill before the reservation, so Dave and I took a little stroll around the casino. We passed a bank of slot machines called "Blazing Sevens." Now, I never play slots. Never. I find them boring, and they just suck your money. I'm much more into table games. However....
I couldn't resist. "Blazing Sevens" on 7-7-7? I had to do one spin. So I did: One spin, on a lark, for the humor value if nothing else. One $3 spin, just to say that I had done it.
And the wheels spun. The first wheel... 7. The second wheel... 7. The third wheel... which seemed to turn in slow motion........
7!!!
Time seemed to stand still for a moment. The machine started ringing and whooping, and I stared at it dumbfounded. Yes indeed, with one spin only, I had hit 7-7-7 on "Blazing Sevens" on 7-7-07. Incredible.
Ok, ok, before anyone gets too excited, the jackpot wasn't anything earth-shattering. The payout was $300, which is terrific but I'm not quitting my day job. Still, I had been kissed by Lady Luck, and I was swooning.
Afterward, I floated with Dave toward dinner, and we did dine well, oh yes. Rounded out the evening with some light $1-$2 poker (which gained me another whopping $8) and a few stupid hands at blackjack (lost $50) before calling it a night. We headed back to NYC the next morning, me with a $500 profit in my pocket, and more importantly, a great 7-7-7 story. Dave also posted a $100 gain. Definitely, a good time had by all.
Matt (a/k/a "Lucky Sevens")
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
Nicole Says...
Very good Kinkle!! Kinkle's husband is a dedicated foodie and a wizard in the kitchen but Kinkle is not known for an adventurous appetite. I am very impressed and pleased that she is stretching her repertoire when faced with atypical, European menus. Hopefully what happens in Hamburg doesn't stay in Hamburg and she retains this exploratory gustatory spirit. Also I am glad you were nowhere near the Glasgow airport incident.
I myself am about to head out for a traditional Argentinian dinner of lorco, which is a stew of pork and beans and something else, that costs somewhere between ninety cents and four dollars. Delicioso!!
Nicole
I myself am about to head out for a traditional Argentinian dinner of lorco, which is a stew of pork and beans and something else, that costs somewhere between ninety cents and four dollars. Delicioso!!
Nicole
Kinkle In Europe Says...
Last weekend! I spent most of Thursday going from Glasgow to Amsterdam with a three hour layover then from Amsterdam to Hamburg. Trying to kill that much time with a toddler is tough, even if the Amsterdam airport has the single best gift type shops I have seen. I love my local tchotchkes and they've got some of the best but I didn't feel as though I could truly buy any because I didn't see the city. Weird, I know. Anyway Thursday has bearing on my weekend for two reason: One, I didn't leave the apartment on Friday because it was schmuddlevedder (rainy drizzly grey weather) AGAIN and also because after all that hauling the baby & luggage around I was perfectly happy to sit on my ass. Two, how lucky was I to get the f out of Glasgow before they rammed a car into the airport? I briefly considered extending my stay and going to London for a few days and my friend offered to watch the baby but then all flights in/out of Glasgow were cancelled. I would have been in London, my kid in Scotland and my husband in Germany! (Not to mention the dog in New York). It's too much apartness for moi.
ANYWAY so yes Friday was chill. Saturday when the hubby got done we went down to the Reeperbahn which is where the Beatles got their start. In 2007 it's a giant mess of trash boutiques, beer gardens, dive bars, slot machine halls, strip clubs and sex stores. It kind of reminds me of Bourbon Street with more of the sex element thrown, and is filled with everyone from people with kids to old people to tourists to lots and lots of cheesy bachelor and bachelorette parties dressed in goofy costumes which I guess is a tradition here.
We wandered around and it wasn't really jamming yet because it's a late night neighborhood, obviously. I wanted to go into one Sex Superstore but my husband said it would be inappropriate with the baby. Which, I guess it would but how did he get here in the first place? It was like outfits and dildos, not hardcore porn but whatever. We ended up on some little side street (but couldn't find the street that supposedly just allows men) looking for the Beatles venue which we didn't find. I noticed some kinda rockabilly sailor girl looking at me VERY frankly and finally figured out she was a working girl. That's when I noticed them: All around me, vacant-eyed chicks with badly dyed blonde or black hair, wearing short parkas, distressed jeans and fanny packs (presumably to hold condoms). Whatever happened to hot pants and go-go boots? They all had major caked-on makeup, too and none of them look too happy. It must suck laboring in the world's oldest profession in that particular neighborhood.
Anyway, we left that little side street and had a drink in some slightly upscale bar connected to a theater (they show things like Mamma Mia in this area too, it's not all booze n' porn) and then wandered a flea market where some girl sang bad Alanis covers and I ate some random sausage off a grill. My eating is definitely more adventurous over here. We got home about the time the baby crashed so it was an interesting evening, even if I didn't hit any dodgy clubs.
The next night (I chilled at home again) I took my husband to a belated Dad day dinner at this crazy restaurant called The Old Commercial Room in our neighborhood where everyone from Tom Jones to George Clooney and Jackie Chan has dined. It's been around since the late 1600s SUPPOSEDLY but in that space since the late 1700s (Supposedly. It looked fairly new to me) and since the current owner is in his 60s it may not be there forever. It's kinda nautical on the inside, which lots of plaques and pictures and flags and whatnot everywhere and they were nice enough to give the baby coloring materials and a puzzle when we arrived. You can also smoke at all the tables which is cool I guess since there are few places you can do that anymore. The hubby made me try this weird Hamburg appetizer that was like pureed meat with two fried eggs on top, pickles and beets. You mix it all up & eat it and I KNOW it sounded disgusting but it actually was ok. I tried some on bread and as long as it was piping hot, I could totally deal with it.
Then we had a bottle of wine and some fish/potato/spinach/heavy sauce thing for me and roasted fish/potato thing for him. He ordered a strawberry shortcakeesque thing for dessert (something I typically avoid) and then we rolled on home. I heart the Old Commercial Room!
ANYWAY so yes Friday was chill. Saturday when the hubby got done we went down to the Reeperbahn which is where the Beatles got their start. In 2007 it's a giant mess of trash boutiques, beer gardens, dive bars, slot machine halls, strip clubs and sex stores. It kind of reminds me of Bourbon Street with more of the sex element thrown, and is filled with everyone from people with kids to old people to tourists to lots and lots of cheesy bachelor and bachelorette parties dressed in goofy costumes which I guess is a tradition here.
We wandered around and it wasn't really jamming yet because it's a late night neighborhood, obviously. I wanted to go into one Sex Superstore but my husband said it would be inappropriate with the baby. Which, I guess it would but how did he get here in the first place? It was like outfits and dildos, not hardcore porn but whatever. We ended up on some little side street (but couldn't find the street that supposedly just allows men) looking for the Beatles venue which we didn't find. I noticed some kinda rockabilly sailor girl looking at me VERY frankly and finally figured out she was a working girl. That's when I noticed them: All around me, vacant-eyed chicks with badly dyed blonde or black hair, wearing short parkas, distressed jeans and fanny packs (presumably to hold condoms). Whatever happened to hot pants and go-go boots? They all had major caked-on makeup, too and none of them look too happy. It must suck laboring in the world's oldest profession in that particular neighborhood.
Anyway, we left that little side street and had a drink in some slightly upscale bar connected to a theater (they show things like Mamma Mia in this area too, it's not all booze n' porn) and then wandered a flea market where some girl sang bad Alanis covers and I ate some random sausage off a grill. My eating is definitely more adventurous over here. We got home about the time the baby crashed so it was an interesting evening, even if I didn't hit any dodgy clubs.
The next night (I chilled at home again) I took my husband to a belated Dad day dinner at this crazy restaurant called The Old Commercial Room in our neighborhood where everyone from Tom Jones to George Clooney and Jackie Chan has dined. It's been around since the late 1600s SUPPOSEDLY but in that space since the late 1700s (Supposedly. It looked fairly new to me) and since the current owner is in his 60s it may not be there forever. It's kinda nautical on the inside, which lots of plaques and pictures and flags and whatnot everywhere and they were nice enough to give the baby coloring materials and a puzzle when we arrived. You can also smoke at all the tables which is cool I guess since there are few places you can do that anymore. The hubby made me try this weird Hamburg appetizer that was like pureed meat with two fried eggs on top, pickles and beets. You mix it all up & eat it and I KNOW it sounded disgusting but it actually was ok. I tried some on bread and as long as it was piping hot, I could totally deal with it.
Then we had a bottle of wine and some fish/potato/spinach/heavy sauce thing for me and roasted fish/potato thing for him. He ordered a strawberry shortcakeesque thing for dessert (something I typically avoid) and then we rolled on home. I heart the Old Commercial Room!
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