OH NO SHE DIDN'T!!!

Oh yes she did! I (once again) dropped off the face of the earth.

I could blame my long absence on a multitude of things, among them a ski trip (see previous post), another half marathon (this one!), a ridiculous number of social and networking events (yes, it's a tough life I lead), the Texas Independence Relay, SXSW and a last minute trip to NY to see my brother Gil, who was home from Afghanistan. But I won't. Well, not really.

Fortunately, things are (sorta) calming down. I still don't have a free weekend until the middle of May, but the whirlwind weeks of running and catching planes and hopping between three events in one evening are on a hiatus for at least a month and a half. (The only exception to this is the MS 150, but after the last few crazy weeks, it sounds as relaxing as a spa weekend with girlfriends.)

So now I'm back to catching up on sleeping, cleaning out my inbox, and trying to save some moola, especially since my checking account currently resembles a big black hole. The other thing I'm doing? Revisiting my to do list, aka resolutions. (Remember those? No? That's ok. I didn't either.) Here's a recap on where I stand:

To-do number 1: update my blog more often. Ha. That's funny.

To-do number 2: stop reading crap. I did breakdown and read the last Larsson book (not worth your time, fyi) but right now I'm finishing this book, which is much more inline with what I should be reading. That said, I haven't cracked open even one book on my list. Oh dear.

To-do number 3: get more sleep. Yeah, right.

To-do number 4: do a triathalon. Not yet, but it will happen, although it might make it easier if I swim more than 1x per quarter. The spring sprint isn't happening, but hopefully I'll do one in the summer or early fall.

To-do number 5: rid my life of people and things that don't make me happy. I've been somewhat successful on this one, although I sorta think I may be a bit of a glutton for punishment. I'll analyze that with a shrink another time.

To-do number 6: be a grown up, get my own place. Too early to even comment on this one.

To-do number 7: um, oops. Never did a to-do number 7. Or 8. Or 9 or 10. And since my track record ain't so hot right now, I think I should just stick to trying to accomplish the first 6 I have for now. My list of 10 is now a list of 6. I'm changing the rules in the middle of the game 'cause that's how I roll.

And with that... I'm passing out. I have a post due for my company's blog tomorrow (it's a comparison of ereaders! exciting stuff!) and a newsletter article about my major SXSW takeaways. You best believe I'm re-purposing those for this blog, so get ready to read, folks.

XOXO

SKI!

Greetings form Colorado! I am attempting to write this post on my iPad, which is incredibly challenging for someone with fat fingers (me!). So, excuse any spelling and grammar issues. I am sure there will be plenty.

So, yeah, skiing. So far, it's been a great trip...fantastic snow, lots of sun and GREAT company who can challenge me on the blacks. That said, the trip started off with a bit of a hiccup.....

I got into Denver on Friday night. My dad and the rest of my family decided to fly in Saturday, so I spent Friday night with my friend Wynand Dempers, a cool South African dude who recently moved from Houston to Denver. On Saturday morning, we headed out to Vail with Ty, Demper's friend from college. So far, so good - we woke up early so we missed traffic, stopped for delish coffee and even got discount lift tickets through Demper's season pass. By 9 am I had my lift ticket, caffeine in my system and was about to hit the slopes. Then, I saw....

MY SKIS WERE GONE.

Yes, gone. I had left them out when I went inside to buy my ticket (a common practice...everyone does it despite the fact that skis cost more than most people's rent) and when I came out they we gone. I found a Vail ski guy and he told me not to worry, someone probably mistakenly swapped skis and would be back soon when his error was realized. "Just sit tight and wait here for a few minutes." Ok, cool. Easy enough.

30 min. later and still no skis. Now I began to freak. If someone had accidentally grabbed my skis, he or she would have to know by now that the skis were the wrong ones...the likelihood of our skis being set for the same size boot was pretty slim, so he or she wouldn't even be able wear them. However, if they were stolen....well, that would explain why they hadn't been returned.

So, I start to cry. (yeah, yeah, I'm a sensitive cry baby. Whatever.) Fortunately, the Vail ski guy was awesome, and he got me a pair of comped K2 Rictors (awesome skis!) for the day. So I wiped away my tears away, took the comped skis and tried to move on.

By lunch, still no word on the skis. It was looking more and more likely that they wouldn't come back. But by this point I didn't really care....instead I was wondering: "Is there anyway I can afford these Rictors I'm on?"

But alas, as many of you know, I'm a lucky mama and by the time I finish my last run of the day at 4pm, the skis have been uncovered. Apparently, someone accidentally swapped my skis with his, even though they were different brands AND colors AND proceeded not to notice ALL day. Hmmm, right. The whole thing is weird.

But who cares. I'm just glad to have my babies home!

Even the happiest place on earth is, well, unhappy

Apologies for the recent downer posts, but as an unemployed chica, I gotta keep my eyes out for all things related to the economy. Check this out...courtesy of the NYT:

The Walt Disney Company said on Wednesday that it would lay off an unspecified number of workers as it revamped its theme parks after declines in attendance and revenue. The latest job cuts follow Disney’s offer last month of voluntary buyout packages to about 600 executives in the parks division....Weeks earlier, the company reported a 32 percent decline in quarterly profit amid the recession.

Ick. This comes just a couple of weeks after Obama's negative comments about Vegas (and subsequent conference cancellations -- "In the last month, 30,000 hotel room nights booked for conferences have been canceled at an estimated loss of $20 million to the city, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.")

You know things are really bad when even Mickey Mouse is getting fired....

Rich people are still, well, rich

Interesting post that came in through one of my LinkedIn groups. Not the most statistically sound study, I am sure (agh! My days at MaPS won't stop haunting me!) but it is interesting nonetheless.

http://tinyurl.com/cmq7xy

According to Peter Yesawich, chief executive officer of Ypartnership, "Although affluent travelers have also been adversely affected by the financial turmoil that has emerged in recent months, particularly as it relates to the degradation of the value of their investment portfolios, they remain rather optimistic about their intentions for both leisure and business travel."

Yesawich concluded, "While affluent travelers intend to spend more on travel services in the year ahead, other insights revealed in the survey suggest they will still demand far more for their travel dollar."

Side note: affluent is described as an annual income of $150K or more, which isn't actually that much money. (OK, it's a hell of a lot more than what I make, but these are not the Trumps we're talking about....)

What do you think? Are you cutting back on your travels -- or are you still enjoying lavish voyages? I am cutting back. I may have spent a month in Argentina, but the $1 US = $3.5 Pesos made that possible. And as for my trip to Alaska in July -- I spent most nights camping or crashing on Gloria's floors. (HI GLORIA!) But I'm not technically affluent, so I don't really count anyways.

I do, however, get the very affluent Travel and Leisure magazine, courtesy of my lil' bro. Too bad I can't afford anything in the mag other than the mag itself.....

I'll win the lottery one day, right?

Writing samples galore!

Yesterday, I had an interview at an oil and gas company. At the end of the interview, I was asked to produce a few writing samples. One question the company wanted me to answer was:

Write 500 words on something that you’re passionate about. Objective is to grab readers’ attention, as well as demonstrate your writing skills.

Wow. 500 words, 24 hours, and an infinite number of subject possibilities.

After about 12 hours of procastination, I settled on traveling as my subject. It makes sense given my upbringing, and heaven knows I have done a lot of it lately. So I'm posting what I wrote below - my brain is too shot to write about anything else (like how my PARKED CAR was hit and severely damaged. Yeah, we'll discuss that another day...)

So enjoy the little essay below! It's definitely not my finest work, but I don't think it is half bad. And if you see any mistakes, DO NOT let me know. 'Tis too late to make any changes, and ignorance is bliss for chica.

XXOO,
Me

They say people travel for a variety of reasons. Some travel to see their families. Others travel to learn new things. A few travel for the simple pleasure of taking pictures.

I travel because it is my passion. I travel because it brings me home.

I come from a military family. My parents lived in Europe when I was born, and by the time I was one, I had visited more countries than most Americans see in a lifetime. My family moved back to the states when I was two years old, and my childhood was shaped by my father’s changing assignments. Every two years, like clockwork, a moving van would appear at the house in which we lived, ready to pack up our belongings and take us somewhere new. I have called three countries, seven states, and thirteen cities home. I have visited much of the world and all but four states.

Some people might find this sort of upbringing unsettling, erratic and confusing. I loved it. I thrived on the novelty of every new location, embracing the distinctive cultures and new accents, the varying landscapes and disparate terrains. As a tow-headed child in the California desert, I climbed sand dunes and chased tumbleweeds. My pre-teen years were spent in southwest Louisiana, where I discovered gumbo and acquired a slight southern accent. In New York, I lived on the Adirondack Mountains, climbing them in the summer and skiing them in the winter. I felt like the luckiest girl alive, exploring the world and experiencing new locales, each one so different from the last, each one distinctly unique.

Eventually my father retired from the military and our constant relocations ceased. I began to appreciate the stability of living in one place, and I threw out my moving boxes once and for all. However, my thirst for traveling and exploration remained unquenchable. As a college junior studying in Paris, I re-experienced my first European travels. In between semesters at the Sorbonne, I danced flamenco in Seville, devoured Florentine gelato, and tasted Riesling in Berlin. College graduation only fueled the fire; funded by employment that paid more than $10 an hour, I hiked in Patagonia, snorkeled in Micronesia, and camped in Alaska. Every vacation day became sacred, each one providing me with another opportunity to explore and experience something new. Traveling became an integral part of who I was and what I did. Traveling became me.

If you met me today, I would tell you that my home is in Houston. It’s where I reside and work, where my friends live and where my parents come when they visit.

But traveling is my real home, the place I am most myself. Traveling has helped mold me into the woman I am today, and it will shape the woman I am to become. Traveling is who I am and what I need to be myself. It is my passion. It is my home.

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!

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!

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!

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?