I found out that they sell the Salamandra Dulce de Leche at the grocery store. So, of course I bought it. Now I sit in the apartment eating it straight out of the jar. I think I'm like one of those alcoholics who first start their addiction by drinking socially. Then they buy a bottle and go home and drink alone.
I'm to that point.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Monday, October 12, 2009
Death, By Dulce de Leche
Because we were cash poor, we stumbled into this little cafe which takes credit cards called "La Salamandra". They serve 2 things: buffalo mozzarella and dulce de leche. Um, why didn't they just call this place "Sandy, Eat Here" because I LOVE both.Dulce de Leche has always been my favorite Haagen Dazs flavor, but I had no idea what the real thing was. Oh my...it's good. We ordered a crossiant (also very good) and a serving of dulce de leche. It's pure heaven. I don't know if I'll be able to go back to that stuff they call "caramel" in the States.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Cash Poor
It seems that every trip, we somehow wind up with no cash. Well, this trip is no different. We exchanged $200US when we arrived, and we've burned through that. Yesterday, we stop by the ATM to withdraw some much needed pesos. All the instructions for the ATM are in Spanish, and no matter what we do, the machine refuses to spit out any pesos.
We resort to looking over some lady's shoulder to see what she is doing. (Yes, we've turned into those creepy people I try to avoid while withdrawing money.) She's pushing exactly the same buttons we tried, and somehow the machine spit out cash for her! WTH...are these ATMs racist?
The hubby calls BofA this morning and the lady tells us that we were trying to withdraw money from the wrong account. What?!?
Well, we've been going around with only about 50 pesos in our pockets (about $13US). So we've been super frugal the past couple of days. Like we wanted to leave a 5 peso tip this morning, but decided not to splurge and just left a 4 peso tip. I also wouldn't let the hubby have a Havanna alfajor for 3 pesos. Yes, we're talking about being cheap on like $0.50 items. Gosh!
Well, this morning, we find a HSBC, and the hubby tries a series of different buttons on the ATM, and the sweet sound of money being counted hums and money comes out. Yeah, we're in business!
We immediately go to Havanna and enjoy ourselves a te con leche and alfajor...Oh wait, they take credit cards! JAH!
We resort to looking over some lady's shoulder to see what she is doing. (Yes, we've turned into those creepy people I try to avoid while withdrawing money.) She's pushing exactly the same buttons we tried, and somehow the machine spit out cash for her! WTH...are these ATMs racist?
The hubby calls BofA this morning and the lady tells us that we were trying to withdraw money from the wrong account. What?!?
Well, we've been going around with only about 50 pesos in our pockets (about $13US). So we've been super frugal the past couple of days. Like we wanted to leave a 5 peso tip this morning, but decided not to splurge and just left a 4 peso tip. I also wouldn't let the hubby have a Havanna alfajor for 3 pesos. Yes, we're talking about being cheap on like $0.50 items. Gosh!Well, this morning, we find a HSBC, and the hubby tries a series of different buttons on the ATM, and the sweet sound of money being counted hums and money comes out. Yeah, we're in business!
We immediately go to Havanna and enjoy ourselves a te con leche and alfajor...Oh wait, they take credit cards! JAH!
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Hippie Food
After a week of insanely delicious meat, the hubby decides that he needs a break from it all and suggests that we try the local organic vegetarian restaurant. The name of the place is Bio and it's pronounced B-O. Wait, isn't B.O. a bad thing? And why would I want to eat somewhere that's named B.O.? Well, I guess I really love my hippie hubby because I play along.
As we stroll there, there is a light rain which adds to the ambience. The restaurant itself is very quaint and romantic. There are pretty flowers on the table as well as a nice soundtrack of Coldplay in the background. We order a couple of dishes and some jugo (juice) and a milkshake. Hey, maybe I was wrong about this place...it's actually really cool!
Just as things seem to be going well, the rain turns into a torriential downpour. The entire corner where the restaurant is located is turned into a miniture lake. A leak springs above us and water comes pouring in next to the hubby. We have to move tables just to avoid the drips. Just as this is happening, Coldplay finishes up and some freaky loud chanting music comes on. Then they bring out our dishes and if it were on the floor, I'd be doing the Palermo hop. And, to top off my dish, there are some flower petals...hey, aren't these the same flowers that are on the table as decoration? Well, we eat the organic vegetarian meal and the hubby complains that he's not full. I suggest he eat the flowers in the vase as well. Oh, did I mention my milkshake was sesame ginger? Um, not a good combo.
We get the check, and it costs about twice as much as our insane 10 pounds of meat parrilla completo meal.
Oh, and the fun doesn't stop there. The next morning, both of us have the emergencia numero dos that we've been trying so hard to avoid. Greeeeeeat.
Tomorrow night: meat for dinner.
As we stroll there, there is a light rain which adds to the ambience. The restaurant itself is very quaint and romantic. There are pretty flowers on the table as well as a nice soundtrack of Coldplay in the background. We order a couple of dishes and some jugo (juice) and a milkshake. Hey, maybe I was wrong about this place...it's actually really cool!
Just as things seem to be going well, the rain turns into a torriential downpour. The entire corner where the restaurant is located is turned into a miniture lake. A leak springs above us and water comes pouring in next to the hubby. We have to move tables just to avoid the drips. Just as this is happening, Coldplay finishes up and some freaky loud chanting music comes on. Then they bring out our dishes and if it were on the floor, I'd be doing the Palermo hop. And, to top off my dish, there are some flower petals...hey, aren't these the same flowers that are on the table as decoration? Well, we eat the organic vegetarian meal and the hubby complains that he's not full. I suggest he eat the flowers in the vase as well. Oh, did I mention my milkshake was sesame ginger? Um, not a good combo.
We get the check, and it costs about twice as much as our insane 10 pounds of meat parrilla completo meal.
Oh, and the fun doesn't stop there. The next morning, both of us have the emergencia numero dos that we've been trying so hard to avoid. Greeeeeeat.
Tomorrow night: meat for dinner.
Friday, October 9, 2009
I Can Eat Dairy!
Hmmm, I wonder if it's all in my mind, but I've been eating a ton of dairy, and you know, no emergencia numero dos! Whoa, I wonder if I'm lactose tolerant again or maybe I can eat dairy in the Southern Hemisphere cuz everything is turned upside down here.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Numero 30 Stocktono
Everywhere we travel in the world, we find ourselves heading towards Chinatowns for a visit. I don't think it's a need to be with other Chinese people, but more of a curiosity of what other Chinese people around the world are like. Buenos Aires' Chinatown is pretty surreal. Everything is just like the rest of Buenos Aires in the barrio of Belgrano. Actually, it's a really nice residential area. But, once you cross a set of train tracks, BAM, there's ah moos shopping with little pink plastic bags. It's just like at home, but not. Things are all written in Chinese and Spanish (great, we can't read either). And shopowners speak Spanish with a Chinese accent. When people speak Chinese, we're not quite sure what they are speaking. It's not really Mandarin, and it's not Cantonese either. Maybe they have their own form of Chinese here.
They have a bunch of kitschy tourist shops with the same crap that the stores on Grant Avenue sell at home. Damn, do Chinese people push the same slippers, fake toys, and snap bombs things all over the world? Apparently, we do in Buenos Aires.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Night at the Museum
Being the cheap basterds that we are, we decide to visit the Museo de Arte Lationamericano de Buenos Aires (MALBA) on Wednesday when entry is 5 pesos ($1.60) instead of 15 pesos ($4). We go for a nice stroll to the museum passing through Buenos Aires' version of Central Park. When we arrive at the museum, we take in the beauty of the outside of the building. After a couple of photos, we enter the building and are awed by the entry foyer. It's airy and filled with natural light. But wait...something is "off". I can't quite put my finger on it, but then the hubby says "I think they don't have electricity".
Ok, is it just me or do we seem to curse everyone in Buenos Aires? First, we totally screw the internet, electricity, and phone at the old apartment. Then we made our favorite waiter at our favorite restaurant drop a big plate of salad. And, now we managed to suck the electricity out of a whole museum? Wow, that's strong voodoo.
Well, we're all the way here...electricity or not, we're going in when it's 10 pesos less! This is the first time that we've ever gone through a museum in the dark. Some of the pieces like Antonio Berni's "Manifestacion" is haunting and devastatingly beautiful in the dark. Others, we just couldn't see. After we went through the museum once, the lights finally flicker back on. We go through the museum again with the lights on and we find that they have a pretty nice collection. Wow, we went through the museum twice...that's like only paying 2.5pesos for each trip. Whoo hoo, even better.
Ok, is it just me or do we seem to curse everyone in Buenos Aires? First, we totally screw the internet, electricity, and phone at the old apartment. Then we made our favorite waiter at our favorite restaurant drop a big plate of salad. And, now we managed to suck the electricity out of a whole museum? Wow, that's strong voodoo.Well, we're all the way here...electricity or not, we're going in when it's 10 pesos less! This is the first time that we've ever gone through a museum in the dark. Some of the pieces like Antonio Berni's "Manifestacion" is haunting and devastatingly beautiful in the dark. Others, we just couldn't see. After we went through the museum once, the lights finally flicker back on. We go through the museum again with the lights on and we find that they have a pretty nice collection. Wow, we went through the museum twice...that's like only paying 2.5pesos for each trip. Whoo hoo, even better.
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