Resolutions.....

I am not a fan of New Year's resolutions. Why? Because I, like most people, can never seem to keep them. Don't believe me?

Resolution 1999: Get a boyfriend. And what better way to catch a cutie then to spend the next four years at an all-women's college in rural Massachusetts. Strike one.

Resolution 2004: Run a marathon. I'm not even going to comment on this one. Strike two.

Resolution 2006: Read a book a week. This one started off well...for two weeks. Then I realized that surfing the net for celeb gossip was more fun. Strike three.

I haven't decided if I am going to make any resolutions this year. If I do they'll be simple, no-fail ones, like "get a job" (because if I can't make this resolution work, then we have a major problem) and "be nice" (which I already am...sometimes.) I think I'll also try to be even more green. Indoor compost bin, anyone?

What about you? What is your New Year's resolution?

Missing in action

Sorry I have been missing for the last few days. I came down with an AWFUL cold on Saturday, so I have been living on the couch with Kleenex, Tylenol and Airborne. I am feeling better today, but I'm still pretty snotty and sneezy. Yeah, its gross. And I have to fly back to Houston today, which means I'll probably infect the plane with my cold.

Btw, the photo I posted is of my family on Christmas. I am also posting some of the glacier pics I promised I would post a while back. Aren't they great? I love my camera!

Tomorrow's post should be interesting...will be discussing new years resolutions!














And the trek begins!














Walking on water isn't that hard!














Love this pic. This was my guide leading the way as we trekked away.














Once again, it was windy....one of the Aussie girls took this shot. You can't tell but the glacier behind me is HUGE!

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree...

We have a fake tree at my house, and I LOVE it. First, as many of you know, I have HORRIBLE allergies. In fact, they are so bad that I have to shoot myself up with allergy drugs once a week. Even so, real Xmas trees + me = non-stop snot fest. It's gross. Second, it's so much easier to clean up once the holidays are over. No annoying bristles to contend with and no water spills that stain my parents' hardwood floors...and we can keep it up WAY past January 1st, which is perfect for a procrastinator like me. Third, I'm saving a tree...well, not really, given that the tree we didn't buy will probably end up in some NNY dumpster, but it makes me feel better imaging some little bird building a little nest for its little family in the little tree that I so kindly let live.

Btw, Christmas was great this year! Among my gifts: a digital photo key chain (very grandma, and VERY cool), a bunch of sweaters for the three cold weeks in Houston, and a new hiking backpack. My brother Robby came bearing a few Penn State tee-shirts and even a "Penn State Girl" bumper sticker. We didn't actually start opening presents until about 11, so I was also able to catch up on some much needed shut eye. On a more negative note...I'll be heading to the gym with my bros in a few minutes. For some reason, the gym on post is open on Christmas. Totally bummed since my entire "sit-on-my-butt-and-pig-out-since-the-gym-is-closed" argument is now moot. Bleh.

I hit the ski slopes tomorrow, so maybe I'll post some pics of me tackling the Double Black diamonds...most likely on my ass.

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah!!

P.S. A couple of people have asked about my NYE plans. I know, I am so popular. I am trying to get Christian to stay a couple days in H-town on his way back from the Garcia household in Laredo....so hopefully I'll be home in Texas. Yeehaw!

Facebook addiction

It is official. Signing up for a Facebook was a mistake, because I am now a full-fledged addict. It is seriously like crack (well, I assume...I'm not on crack, so I can't be sure. Anyone with any hardcore drug experiences is welcome to comment though.)

Anyway, just wanted to share my new obsession with you guys. I am sort of delirious today, so apologies for the lame post. I got back from BA today and am absolutely exhausted, but I am somehow going to wake up at 5:45 tomorrow AM and get my booty to a spinning class. Ugh...

I'll post more tomorrow or on Christmas...maybe even some photos of me opening up my new Rebecca Minkoff bag (hint, hint)

Not home yet, but...

I have some time now, so you guys are going to get an early update on my travels! But first, some bad news -- "THE" job didn't work out. They ended up offering it to someone with a more traditional background. They said it was a really hard decision, and they even tried to get additional budget money to hire both of us, but with the economy the way it is, well, the money wasn't there and the job didn't work out. I'll stay in touch with them, and who knows, maybe something else will come about. In the meantime, I am refocusing my search, so if you hear of anything, let me know. I'm also holding out for a lottery win...hey, you never know?

Now, on to the more fun stuff...

Patagonia was AWESOME! Loved, loved, loved it, and cannot wait to go back and hit Chile too. I basically just hiked my butt off with Alexis and her friends. The first day we tackled Laguna de los Tres. Was a great hike...'til the end. The last mile was basically straight up hill. I was sweating up a storm in the cold, cold weather....even the crazy wind couldn't keep my body temp from rising. But as my dad says, "no pain, no gain" and oh, was the pain worth it! We were rewarded with a fantastic view of two gorgeous glacier lakes, and we came thisclose to seeing Fitz Roy. (As a heads up -- the mountain was petty elusive the ENTIRE trip. Thank goodness I saw it the night I got in!)

That night I gorged on an awesome pizza dinner, complete with three (yes, count 'em!) THREE bottles of wine, shared between a few of us (although Alexis and I definitely enjoyed the majority of the glasses. Love the Malbec!)

It was early to rise for our Saturday hikes. My butt was killing me but my feet somehow kept moving, and before I knew it we were back on the trails. The plan was to do this very long and arduous hike (Laguna Toro), but our plans were thwarted by a swampy trail about half way in. I was bummed but also relieved....I sort of wanted to retire to my hotel's wine bar. But Alexis is a trooper, and she insisted we find another hike. We ended up tackling Loma del Pliegue Tumbado, and we were again greeted with amazing views -- AND SNOW!

By this point my legs were seriously hurting, but Alexis and I are psycho. Instead of taking a siesta, we decided to go and hike to Laguana Capri. We followed much of the same trail for Laguna de los Tres but eventually broke off...before that final mile of hell, thank god! Laguana Capri was stunning and reminded me a lot of the lakes in Adirondacks...save for the snow capped mountains in the background. When we crawled back to town that evening, we realized we had hiked close to 24 MILES. Yes, this is totally insane. I sort of felt like a super hero 'til I realized I could barely walk....

That night we chowed down on sandwiches, pizza and gelato before hitting the hay. I went back to El Calafate on Sunday. I was flying Aerolineas Argentinas back to BA, so OF COURSE my flight was delayed. While waiting, I met a woman named Terri. Turns out she works at the embassy with Lena, the woman I met in Mendoza! Lena was kind enough to say I could crash at her place on Sunday night, but since it was so late by the time we finally took off, I ended up staying at Terri's, even though she wasn't there! (She was going to Bariloche.) Anyway, long story short, I have another friend. I feel so blessed to have encountered so much kindness from strangers on this trip. I have made so many new friends...

So that's it for now. I got the email about "THE" job early in the afternoon today, so my inspiration to get out and do some last minute exploring was pretty much shot. This is probably a good thing given that I'm ready to collapse. Let's hope I can pass out on the plane...

Lots of love,
Jen

PS Even though the trip is over, my blog is not. So keep checking it for random updates on random things...just what you would expect from moi.

PPS Doesn't the photo on top look like it came from the Land Before Time? LOVED THAT MOVIE.














Felt like Hurricane Ike at Laguna de los Tres. I thought the wind would blow me over, but apparently the extra steak and ice cream I have been consuming helped me stay put. Thank goodness for weight gain!














Summer snow. An oxymoron that should never be repeated.















Alexis and Jen at Laguna de los Tres. And yes, we are wearing WINTER jackets.














Laguna Capri. Ignore the snow and see what I mean about it looking like a lake in the Adirondacks. Reminds me of my summers at Camp Whippoorwill...

Don´t cry for me Argentina...

Hey ya´ll...

I head home tonight/tomorrow (flight is at midnight, so...). My trip has been AWESOME! I have lots to update you on regarding the last fews days, and I will when I get home. In the meantime, hope all is well!

Jen

Patagonia....

(NOTE: This blog is for yesterday night in my hotel, but with slow internet access, everything will have to be a day behind. Patagonia is AMAZING!!)

No pics today since internet access is both difficult to find AND extremely expensive, even for US standards. But trust me when I say that Patagonia – deep in Patagonia, as I am now -- is one of the most beautiful places in the world. As soon as I get real internet access back, I’ll post a bunch of pics for you to see. It is amazing.

Yesterday I ventured out for a Glacier Trekking adventure at Perito Moreno, near El Calafate. Was a total blast! I had an adorable guide (is it a requirement that all Argentine guides be hot or what??) and met a group of cool Aussie gals. I thought I was a bit glaciered out from Alaska, but Perito Moreno is simply stunning – just wait ‘til you see the pics. Alaskan glaciers are like ice cubes next to this Argentine baby.

Here are some facts on Moreno for those of you not in the know: Moreno is enormous (30 km long, 5 km wide, and 60 meters high) and it continues to advance, or grow, every day. This is a huge rarity in the glacier world, where global warming is eating away at most ice fields. Moreno’s stabilization and growth is largely due to its “funnel” shape; the accumulation area of the glacier (where the snow falls and compacts to ice) is considerably larger than the ice portion (or bottom portion) of the glacier. So the glacier is able to make up for its losses more easily – the large accumulation area “flows” into a smaller area.. Also interesting: this glacier is at the same latitude as the US/Canadian border. Fortunately for us tourists, wind patterns produced by the Chilean fjords and the Andes allow for the formation of glaciers.

Anyway, your glacier lesson is now over. After the trekking I took the bus to El Chalten, and I already love it! The town is TINY – it was developed as a true border town in 1985 (had to beat Chile to the land claim!) and the year round population is only 600 people. Its entire economy is built around hikers and trekkers like me. Best of all, I actually know someone here! My friend Alexis is coincidentally in town at the same time I am, so we’re going to become hiking buddies. Let’s hope I can keep up. This butt hasn’t been to the gym in three weeks, and my belly is definitely holding a few extra pounds….

Oh yeah, and good news – I already saw Cerro Chalten! In fact, I have a view from my room! (As some of you know, I “splurged” on these final accommodations….I am paying less than 80 USD a night for AMAZING room. I have a king size bed, marble bathroom, and view. Um, can I move here?)

El Calafate

Hey folks,

After a pretty rough plane ride today, I landed (safely) in El Calafate, the central "terminal" you can say for anyone heading to Patagonia. I had low expectations -- I heard El Calafate sucked, with the exception of the amazing glacier up the road (Perito Moreno, which you can check it out here). I, however, love the town. It has something very wild and organic about it. It isn't completely built up yet, so you sort of feel like you're at the edge of civilization (which, for all intents and purposes, you are sort of are). The town is definitely geared toward tourists, but the unpaved roads, roaming dogs, and relaxed attitudes of the locals serve as reminders you that you're not in Disney World (or Bariloche, for that matter....). I suspect the town will have a very different feel in a few years, so get your butt down here soon!

Anyway, tomorrow I am off to a Glacier tour. I am not only seeing the Glacier, but I'll actually be trekking on it! Then it is off to El Chalten for two full days of pure hiking. I am keeping my fingers crossed that the weather cooperates and I have the opportunity to see Mt. Fitz Roy, or Cerro Chalten. See the pic below. This is the view I want. I suspect that I'll get it too, since I am usually pretty lucky when it comes to views. After all, I did see Denali in all of her glory not once, not twice, but three times. And besides, I lost my camera -- God has to have SOME sympathy for me. Not letting me see Cerro Chalten would just be cruel. (Btw, just in case there is any confusion, I am NOT planning on climbing Cerro Chalten. I am not ready to die just yet....)














I am about to pass out, so I'll have to say Adios for now. El Chalten is REALLY in the middle of nowhere, so I am not sure what my internet access will be for the next few days. However, keep checking the blog, and I will post if I can.

Love,
Jen

PS - KUDOS TO ALEXIS for rescuing my camera! I have it back! Yay!

Rafting in Argentina

First, good news -- I have some pics to share with you guys today! I'll explain how I got them in a sec.

Now, onto the more interesting stuff: what has your non-Spanish speaking Argentine traveler been up to? RAFTING! Today I decided to throw on my swimsuit, lather on the sunscreen and hit the rapids. It was AWESOME! I went with a group of about 15. The group was very international -- it included another American, an English couple, two guys from Luxembourg, a French woman, a few Mexicans and a couple of Argentines. We split into two boats -- an English boat and a Spanish boat. Needless to say I was in the English boat...

The river we were rafting down was the Manso River. It is fed by various Patagonian glaciers, and there are even a couple of waterfalls that run into it (although we're NOT talking Iguazu here...). It flows toward Chile and the Pacific ocean, and the closer you get to the border, the more difficult it gets. We were rafting over Class IV rapids at one point, which was a bit scary I must admit!

The scenery, by the way, was INCREDIBLE. This was the Andes I was waiting for. Think beautiful mountains covered with luscious green trees and brush, and bright blue streams cutting through the landscape. It is like a story book.

Anyway, after rafting to Chile (yes, I stepped foot -- illegally I think -- into Chile!) we ate a very Atkins-friendly lunch of steak and sausage. I am still stuffed from it! We also got to see some of the photos that the professional photographer took while we were rafting. He put all of the images and movies onto a disk, and we could buy one for $160 pesos or two for $75 pesos each. Huh? Yeah, we were confused too. Anyway, my group (the English boat) bought two and we're meeting tonight at a bar to copy the CDs. I already put them on my computer, so I'm just handing the disk off to someone else. I would have been fine paying the $75 for myself only, but everyone else wanted to share (and save moola). Illegal, I am sure, but I'm ignorant to Argentine copywriting laws, so....

In the meantime, here are some of the images from today. Enjoy! Tomorrow I head off to El Calafate and then to El Chalten. I can't believe my trip is almost over! It is so depressing, especially when I meet Europeans who are traveling for 6 or 7 months straight. And we Americans get excited when we're given three weeks vacation?!?!

PS - Here is a video of me rafting. Notice how someone fell out -- and no, it was not me! (It was Will, the other American -- and military brat! -- from San Diego.) More videos to come soon at www.youtube.com/jenpearsall. (And some of them are a lot scarier.... :))















More gorgeous scenery. Incredible.













Rafting and getting completely soaked. Our guide was this guy Juan, or "John Smith." He was a total dead ringer for House. He also thought the word "funny" meant "fun" (i.e. "It is very funny when you fall in the water.") We thought he was totally demented until we realized his confusion.













The English-speaking crew, pre-rafting.














At the Chilean border. I am next to Lucy and Rusty, the English couple. Rusty is also one of the funniest people I have every met.

Words cannot describe how awesome it is.....

...but they will have to do for now.

I accidentally left my camera in BA. I know, it TOTALLY sucks. Fortunately, my friend Alexis is going to try to pick it up and leave it for me in El Calafate, so I'll have it back in about 2 days. But in the meantime, I'm stuck using disposable Kodak cameras. Once I get back to the states I'll develop the film and transfer them to digital images, so you will see them eventually. But in the meantime, my outstanding writing skills will have to do for y'all :)

But enough about that. Here is what I have been up to!

Got into Mendoza late on Friday.....and promptly crashed! I didn't even eat dinner!! The next day it was off for a full day wine tour. 'Twas splendid! Our wine tour leader was this awesome American guy named Adam (he's a huge ski bum, so I liked him right away!), and I met two super nice women who work at the US Embassy in BA. They have very sweet jobs -- both Adam and I were like "we want to join the Foreign Service!" Anyway, I ate and drank way too much during the tour, so I headed back to my hotel and just chilled for a while -- needed to digest! Then I hit an outdoor concert and a late dinner with an English couple staying in my bed and breakfast. I tried to get in touch with my new friend Cristian (from my flight to Iguazu...), but we missed each other! I guess we'll just have to meet up in Miami...

I went to bed early on Saturday (early by Argentine standards -- 1 AM!) in order to be up at 7:30 for a high mountain tour of the Andes. It was AWESOME but very strange scenery. This part of the Andes is very desert-like, even when you reach high altitude. But it was gorgeous! We got to the Chile border and even saw Mount Aconcagua, the tallest mountain in South America. (And since I saw Denali/Mt. McKinley in July, I have seen the tallest mountains in both North AND South America in one year!) The tour itself sucked -- our guide's English was, well, non-existent, but I was so lucky to be sitting next to an Argentine woman with PERFECT English! She basically translated everything for me. After the tour, I used a coupon to grab a free glass of wine at the Vines of Mendoza tasting room. While there, I met a nice French guy from DC. He had just come from El Calafate, so he gave me lots of advice that will be useful when I get there.

Sunday night I took the bus to Bariloche, arriving around 1 pm today. It was surprisingly nice -- big leather seats that fully reclined! I actually slept pretty well, and met a nice American woman from California. We're going to try to meet up tonight for dinner.

Bariloche is a very cute little mountain town. Sort of like a little Swiss village, except everyone speaks Spanish! It is also a HUGE backpackers town -- everywhere you look you see people with sacs on their backs! The scenery is gorgeous too, but (to be honest) not nearly as amazing as Switzerland, Banff, Alaska or even Lake Placid. That is one thing about Argentina that has been a little disappointing -- I was expecting scenery that just blows you away, but I haven't really seen it yet (Iguazu excluded, of course!) That said, I have not REALLY reached Patagonia yet, so hopefully I'll be awestruck when I get there on Wednesday (and -- fingers crossed -- hopefully my camera will be waiting for me!)

Lots of love to you all!

No more vino!

I went out last night...my first Argentine night out! It was a lot of fun but I am SOOOO tired and SOOO exhausted. While the falls of Iguazu are awesome, the town itself if pretty lame. My drinking partner and I downed a couple of 3 dollar cosmos and diet coke and shared traveling stories...and before I knew it it was 2 AM! And drinking diet coke was not a good idea since I couldn´t get to sleep until about 3:30.

No more to post today since I am just traveling from Iguazu to Mendoza. My flight connected in BA, but the trip to Mendoza is delayed, so I ventured into BA for a late lunch and hot chocolate at Cafe Tretoni, a very famous Argentine cafe. Yum!

Heading back to the airport soon. Will get in to Mendoza at about 10 and will probably crash.....

Day 2 in Iguazu....

Hola, Day 2 in Iguazu!

And oh, what a CRAZY day!

I woke up very early for vaca – 6:30 AM! – and after showering and such, headed down breakfast. The buffet, which was included with the room, was awesome: all the basic breakfast foods, plus loads of meat, bread and cheese. Being the cheapskate that I am (see previous post about FREE hotel room) I loaded up on all the protein and carbs that I could. And it paid off – with the exception of a little ice cream (of course!), I didn’t need anything to eat until 4 pm!

And then the day started! First stop – Devil’s Throat. Words cannot describe how magnificent it is. It is incredible. I actually had to go 2x (camera battery died the first time, ugh!) so I have photos from both the AM and the afternoon. Some of the images are below, and you need to check out the video here. Wow.

Then, it was off to under the waterfalls – literally! I forked over 75 pesos to take a rafting trip that went under some of the falls. It was awesome – sort of like being doused by a fire hydrant, as my new American friends (two very cool guys from UCLA biz school) said. Speaking of my new friends, I am so stoked -we’re going to be in BA at the same time, so we’re going to try to meet up again. Yay!

So by this point of the day I was totally exhausted, so I ate a couple of empanadas and chilled before a jungle tour. The tour was a blast – think Tarzan without the sexy shirtless dude. Lots of photos below! (Btw, super cool monkey photos to come -- my camera died on me, AGAIN, but a super sweet gal from Missouri is emailing me her photos!) The jungle tour was also a little embarrassing – a lot of my photos included the tour guide (who, btw, was totally adorable, although not nearly as cute, smart, or amazingly perfect as my boyfriend, Christian…love ya babe!) and he thought I was taking photos of him! Um, no.

Tomorrow I head to Mendoza. AKA Argentine wine country. Oh baby, bring it on.

Lots of love and hugs (and kisses for the boyfriend!) from South America!

PS The music playing right now in the Sheraton is "These Dreams." I mean, I love Heart, but come on... Gotta love Argetine music taste. (Speaking of which, funny story -- I was in a super trendy BA store -- think coed BCBG -- and they played Celine Dion not once, not twice, but THREE times. Daddy, you would LOVE it here!)

PPS Just got an email informing me of my ELITE status for Continental! Yay!

PPPS Heard it snowed in Houston. Um, CRAZY! But loved the pics from the real Jenny P.! Thanks girl!

Me, in front of Devil's Throat. It was amazing.

Devil's Throat. Don't go here if you have to pee.

Jungle boogie, get down with the boogie!

My tour guide! He kind of reminded me of Christian, actually -- they have the same facial expressions!

One BIG ASS bug. Ick!

In the Jungle, the Mighty Jungle...see, the Argentine's music taste is wearing off on me! Help me Pandora!

Niagara? What's that?

I am in Iguazu and....WOW! As Eleanor Roosevelt put it when she first saw Iguazu -- "Poor Niagara." For those of you unfamiliar with Iguazu, here are the facts:

- 2.5 miles long
- 275 (yes, 275!!) individual waterfalls
- the falls plummet almost 300 feet into the gorge below

The falls are SO huge and SO impressive that you can hear them from miles away. It. Is. AWESOME.

I'll let the photos do most the explaining. Seriously INCREDIBLE. Tomorrow I'll be heading to Garganta del Diablo (Devil's Throat) and doing a boat tour under a waterfall. I may even venture to the Brazilian side of the falls....I don't have a Visa but for $150 USD, that doesn't matter... :) (Btw, $150 is LESS than it costs to get a Brazilian visa! Good deal, as long as I don't end up in Brazilian jail.)

Also, I made an Argentine friend today! His name is Cristian and I met him at the airport in BA. He lives in Miami now and will be going to fashion school soon -- he wants to design couture gowns. Um, AWESOME! He is in Argentina visiting family in Mendoza. He was super sweet and we're going to meet up this weekend in Mendoza!














View from my *free* Sheraton hotel room. Thank God for Starwood points!














Yours truly, in front of a bunch of waterfalls. And you can't even see the HUGE (and super famous!) Devil's Throat from here....














Some cute monkey thing. I have no idea what it was, but it was cute! Probably had rabies though. Yuck.


















Another waterfall (and me!). I am so sorry, but I really have no idea which waterfall this is. There are too many! (I forgot my map in my room, but I'll update the name when I find it!)

Leaving BA....heading to Iguazu!

I am leaving BA and heading to Iguazu today. It will be sad to leave my little apartment and the excitement of BA, but I am excited to explore a new place!

Yesterday was both very relaxing and very social. Since I had already done most of the "must-sees" in BA, I simply walked around and took in the city one last time. I went to this adorable cafe and had a sandwich before stopping by Freddo for (what else!) Dolce de Leche ice cream. (SIDE NOTE: I need to watch the amount of ice cream I am consuming. I haven't noticed my pants getting tighter just yet, but it is bound to happen if I keep eating and drinking the way I am!) I also did some shopping, which was AWESOME. There is this cute little store here called Rhapsodie -- think Anthropologie back home -- and I picked up the cutest skirt there. It wasn't insanely cheap, but it is not going to break the bank either.

So even though the morning was spent alone, the afternoon was crazy busy meeting up with three people! First, I had a mate (a famous Argentine tea, sort of like Green Tea) with a Mount Holyoke alum (Karina). Then I saw Alexandra again (friend of a friend in Houston who lives in Buenos Aires with her porteno boyfriend) before meeting David, another friend of a friend! Whew! It is so nice to meet new people -- definitely makes traveling alone more fun and exciting!

More pics from my trip are below! Some of these are from my Monday tour.....but they give you a better sense of what the city is like.

Chau Chau for now....

P.S. The image above is from La Boca, a very cool (but VERY dangerous) part of BA. It was originally home to many of city's Italian immigrants, and today it is famous for its football team (Boca Juniors) and multi-colored homes, which were painted with leftover paint from the shipping docks (hence the crazy colors -- they could only use whatever paint was free!)














Some Colonial architecture in BA. This is near the Recoleta Cemetery. In BA, there is very little Colonial architecture for two reasons -- first, it rains a fair amount, so the adobe doesn't last, and second, once Argentina gained independence, they tore down a lot of the "colonial memories." A shame, for sure, since it is beautiful!














Me in front of the tomb of Evita, the most beloved and despised woman in Argentine history. I know, it is sort of disturbing to take a pic in front a dead woman's grave (and smiling no less!). The story about how her body got here is pretty interesting...read about it here. It's also the only tomb in the cemetery that ALWAYS has flowers on it.


















Plaza de Mayo....and me! This was taken on Monday. It was GORGEOUS (but VERY hot!), and I am so glad I was sporting SPF 50! Even with that on I got a little burned... And the shirt I am wearing is not very flattering, I admit....see, you can tell I am getting a little bit of a belly. No more ice cream!!


















Here I am in front of the Casa Rosada, or the "Pink House." This is where the president works. There is a story that it was painted pink to represent the colors of two opposing political parties (one color was red, one was white!) but this isn't true....per my tour guide, pink was simply a fashionable color when the building was erected. I want a pink house too!!!

When Branding Doesn't Work

Short post but important.

I was in Boca, Buenos Aires on Monday. Great little part of town with colorful homes and a very exciting working class culture. Also one of the most dangerous parts of BA (don't worry, I was on a tour during broad daylight!) and home to one of BA's most famous football teams -- Boca Junior. Here is a pic of the stadium:














Notice anything funny? How about the black and white Coca-Cola ad? That's right -- Coca Cola ONLY advertises in Black and White at the Boca Junior stadium. Why? Quite simple -- Boca's main competitor, River Plate, boasts the colors Red and White, and there is NO WAY that the "Bosteros" would allow the colors of "Los Millonarios" in their stadium. So....Coca Cola has to advertise in Black and White. It is the only place in the world where Coca-Cola does not have red and white ads.

Crazy right? Can you imagine Coke making the same advertising sacrifice in the states? But football is such a religion here in Argentina, that they really had no choice. Sometimes you have to go with the flow!

Thoughts on BA, Part 2

Wow, what to say other than I LOVE IT HERE! It is probably a good thing that I don't speak Spanish, because if I did I would seriously consider quitting my job search and moving here permanently.

There are two aspects about BA that appeal to me so much: the culture and the prices. Culturally, BA is like a South American Paris -- gorgeous surroundings, beautiful people, and amazing food and wine....but even though it is one of the vainest countries the world (this coming from natives, NOT me) it doesn't take itself too seriously. Maybe its because the country has been to hell and back about half dozen times in the last 100 years...I don't know. But there is a chillness in attitude that you would never find in ANY European country. Second, and I don't mean to beat a dead horse, but.... the place is insanely cheap. My steak dinner last night was incredible and I paid a mere $23 for it (including 2, count 'em, 2 bottles of wine!!). I don't think I could have MADE it for that cheap. Did I die and go to heaven or what??? (Btw the image above is a random street fair that I ran across in Palermo....I have no idea what they were celebrating, but it was pretty cool!)

There are some pics below that illustrate what I have been up to for the last couple of days. All photos will (at some point) be posted online at jenpearsall.shutterfly.com but for now, this will give you a taste of BA from my viewpoint!

Love you all!

XOXO
Jen

PS - Still no word from "THE" job. Will keep you posted...

PPS - Saw some AWESOME Tango today! Check out the videos on YouTube here:

http://www.youtube.com/user/jenpearsall














MALBA, Contemporary Art Museum. The one and only museum I plan on visiting. I am trying to make this a more chill and relaxed vacation where I spend more time in cafes than staring at art work....














Parks of Palermo....green and gorgeous. Oddly enough, none of the trees or flowers that populate BA are natural. BA is naturally pretty treeless, so these were all planted once the city grew.














San Telmo flea market. The girl next to me is Kate, who took my apartment in Beantown when I moved to Houston. Totally weird coincidence that we were in BA at the same time...and we took the same flight down!!














AMAZING steak dinner. YUM!

Thoughts on BA, Part 1

Hey folks,

So here I am, wrapping up my third day in BA. The city is incredible -- the European influence is hard to miss, and you guys know how obsessed I am with Europe.

The last couple of days have been a whirlwind. I've taken a Spanish lesson (although you would never know it...), eaten 2 ice cream cones, bought some gifts at the San Telmo "feria." taken in an art museum (the MALBA), hung out in one of BA's most stylish eateries (Bar 6 in Palmero), drank about 2 bottles of wine, and walked 'til I wanted to collapse (which I promptly did on my apartment's couch!) I have been very fortunate to have some friends of friends in town, so I have been tagging along with various people over the last few days. Although I do travel well alone, it is nice to not have to eat alone EVERY night!

Definite plans for the next couple of days include a traditional steakhouse, a city tour, Recoleta cemetery and coffee with an MHC alum. (When you travel alone, you have to reach out to EVERY connection possible!) Potential plans include a quick trip to Colonia, lots of shopping and a tango show – the shopping and tango show depend on what happens with the job situation (fingers crossed I get it!).

Internet is acting up, but photos will come soon! I promise!

PS – I heard that BA was no longer the discount traveler’s paradise that it used to be. Um, maybe if you compare it so the middle of Africa! I have been THRILLED with the prices thus far. Case in point – a trip to the grocery store today put me back 40 pesos, or about $11.50. What did I get for this? Let’s see – a bottle of NICE wine, cookies, three yogurts, a bunch of fruit, AND a few diet cokes. Dinner last night at a fancy Palermo spot was 60 pesos – or about $17 – for a HUGE meal, bread, bubbly water, and two big glasses of wine. Houston guys and gals (I MISS Y'ALL!!!), can you imagine going to Dolce Vita and walking out of there with a $17 bill??? Um, yeah, I think not.

In Buenos Aires!

I have arrived!

My flight was uneventful -- just what you want when you are 35K feet above the earth. I watched a bit of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (will someone explain to me why Blake Lively is an actress -- she is AWFUL!) and slept some. A friend of mine was on the flight too, so once we landed I was able to hop a ride into town with her and her aunt.

And then things started going downhill....

How?

First, my backpack BROKE. Yeah, like broke. Strap not connected to bag. Are you kidding me? I think a seamstress will be able to fix it, but if not I am screwed.

Second, I had to take another cab with this total asshole driver who had no change. I mean, what cab driver has no change? After a bit of a fight that required a lot of hand waving and sad faces, I did get some change -- but my cab ride was 2x more expensive then it should have been.

Third, the apartment is kind of crummy. I mean, the actual apartment itself is fine, but the furniture and linens and stuff are a bit worn around the edges. And who rents out an apartment with entirely white furniture? Needless to say, it's not sparkling white after a year or so of travelers crashing on it.

Fourth, the internet wasn't working.

I was exhausted and annoyed and just plain frustrated. So I did what any reasonable woman would do -- I took a nap.

The internet is working now (yay!) and I'm feeling more rested, so I'm going to head outside and go for a walk. Descriptions of BA and such will come tomorrow (if the internet is still working) as will photos!

Feeling Lucky?

A friend kindly sent me this email today:

Hey Ladies-

Not sure if any of you wear Lucky Jeans like me but I just received a stack of Friends and Family Coupons in the mail today for 40% off your entire purchase. The online code is 8DFFTS in case any of you are interested in buying online. The offer is valid Dec. 7th-14th.

Merry Christmas Shopping!

I can't hook you up with the coupons, but I hope the online code works for y'all. Lucky Jeans are a bit too baggy for me (I don't own jeans, I own an extra layer of skin, as my dad once kindly put it)... but my boyfriend (hey Christian, love ya!) is a fan. So go stimulate the economy and shop!

Argentina Schedule

Here is all the info ya need!

[IMPORTANT ADDITION -- YOU MUST DIAL 011 BEFORE ALL NUMBERS LISTED BELOW!]

4 Dec, 2008: Fly from Houston to Buenos Aires (Continental Flight 51, leave at 9:00 pm)

5 Dec, 2008: Arrive in BA at 11:20 AM. Staying at a rented apartment here:
Paraguay 4419, 1st Floor Apartment A, Palermo Viejo
Phone number is (+54-11) 4833-3765

10 Dec, 2008: Fly from BA to Iguazu (LAN flight 4026, leave at 1:20 pm and get in around 3 pm). Staying here:

Sheraton Iguazú Resort & Spa
Parque Nacional Iguazú, Iguazú 3370 Argentina
Phone: (54) (3757) 491800

12 Dec, 2008: Fly from Iguazu to Mendoza w/ connection in BA (LAN flights 4025 and 4228, leave at 1:50 and arrive at 6:30 -- assuming no delays when I connect!)

Staying here in Mendoza:

B&B Plaza Italia
www.plazaitalia.net

14 Dec, 2008: Overnight bus from Mendoza to Bariloche. Details TBD, but I look to leave at about 9 pm and arrive in Bariloche at around 1 on the 15th

Staying here in Bariloche:

www.hosterialasmarianas.com.ar

18 Dec, 2008: Flight from Bariloche to El Calafate. Aerolineas flight 2694. Leave at 1:20 and arrive shortly after 3.

Plans are to go to Chalten that evening either via bus or rental car. Rental car may be the preferred method given that the flight to El Calafate is almost always delayed and I don't want to miss the bus!

Staying in Chalten from the 18-21 here:

Senderos Hosteria
www.senderoshosteria.com.ar

21 Dec, 2008: Drive back to El Calafate. Fly back to BA on Aerolineas flight 2899 (leave at 7:30 and arrive at 11:30 pm)

22 Dec, 2008: Go home :( Fly from BA to Houston (Continental Flight 50, leave at 11:50 pm)

23 Dec, 2008: Back in Houston around 6 AM

Plans on getting home are TBD...but it will probably be on miles since I am so late to book anything!

Miller High Life

So my interviewer asked me today -- "what is a campaign or marketing initiative out right now that you think is really great?" Um, where to start? There are so many! But one came to mind right away...Miller High Life. Random, I know, especially since I am NOT the target audience. You'll see why when you check out a commercial here:



(To be honest, the radio spots are better, but I couldn't find one online. Ok, not entirely true, but I am too lazy to figure out how to post it.)

So why do I like this campaign? Well, the writing is brilliant, the main character is absolutely hilarious and...

The timing is ABSOLUTELY perfect.

The entire campaign is built around the idea of "Living Well By Living Smart." In other words, screw the flat screen TVs and the label-heavy clothing and the fancy new clubs. Miller High Life is about enjoying the little things in life -- like a nice cold beer -- and not spending a fortune doing it. Um, I don't know who Miller's fortune teller is, but she's a freaking genius. Given that everyone and their uncle has gone from riches to rags in less than two months, the entire premise of the campaign is spot on. It is totally in tune with today's disastrous economy.

So it's funny, entertaining AND relevant? That's advertising perfection.

Oh yeah, and one more thing: the ads work. EDUCATED, INTELLIGENT, AND EMPLOYED GUYS ARE DRINKING IT. Seriously. I've been to two parties in the last month and BOTH were stocked with Miller High Life. Are you kidding me? You mean the cheap, watery beer people used to chug at underage frat bashes is now being served at sophisticated house parties? I kept waiting for the Miller High Life Delivery man to storm in and take the beer away, but he never came. Maybe next time....

Texas Merry Xmas!

You guys need to check this out! Merry Christmas!

Argentina countdown

A few days ago I said Argentina was a definite, but I lied. You see, I was offered a contract position with an ad agency here in H-town. It was a cool opportunity but something wasn't right -- it didn't feel like a place where I would be happy. So 30 minutes ago I turned it down, which means up until that point, my trip to Argentina was (potentially) on the chopping block.

Some people suggested I take the position and postpone or cancel the trip. And I seriously considered this option. But at the end of the day, if I don't want to work somewhere, I shouldn't. It is not fair to the company or myself. If my heart is not in something 100% then I won't produce work that I am proud of, and I can't live with that.

I am fortunate that I have some money saved up, as well as some freelance work coming in. I am not desperate for the first position that comes my way. But it was really hard to convince myself that this was the right decision. It is difficult to take a step back and say "I can do better for myself" especially with all the scary recession headlines...

Anyway, I cease my ramblings here.

Btw, today is World AIDS Day. Consider making a donation here:



And read this editorial. What do you think?

At the airport...

Hey all.

I am at the Syracuse Airport right now and yes, it is snowing. Are you surprised? It is always snowing in upstate NY.

In some respects, I absolutely love snow (skiing anyone?) but the shoveling, salt-stained shoes, and inevitable airplane delays are a bit tiresome. Plus, my poor blood has become incredibly thin, thanks in no small part to the Houston heat. Thus, I am freezing 24/7.

But enough complaining. This Thanksgiving was absolutely awesome. I loved spending time with my folks and brothers -- after all, I don't get to see them that much. Although I love Houston, I am finding that the older I get, the closer I want to be to my family. Who would have thought that Jen Pearsall would want to return to Carthage, NY?

Anyway, I better get going -- the plane will hopefully begin boarding soon. Oh wait, maybe not -- there is a freaking blizzard outside now.....

Welcome!

Hey folks! Welcome to my blog! I'll be writing about whatever comes to mind -- most likely completely random and pointless tidbits related to, well, whatever. But what else would you expect from me. XOXO.

PS - Argentina is a go. Which means that the contract job is out. Can you believe I am turning down employment? I'm trying this new thing -- trusting my gut and letting fate take over.