Monday, February 9, 2009
Argentina: Bariloche
9:57 AM | 
Posted by
Lynn Dao Photography
Bariloche is located near the Andes in the Lake District of Argentina. And they call it the Lake district for a very good reason. The scenery here is one of the best in the world. You can't beat mountains, lakes, green grass, and blue sky all in one viewing.
We found this little guy on our hike. If that thing were in my house, I'd scream my head off, but it looked so cute hanging out on the dried grass.
Arraynes trees are popular in this forest we hiked.
Sometimes we like to get down on our hikes.
Bariloche has a great little downtown that was packed with chocolate shops and tourists from all over the world.
Their civic center area was awesome. There was always something going on every evening.
Our first day, some drums...
and some capoeira to go along with it.
We could not resist the St.Bernard and this supercute little puppy!!!!!
The town cathedral.
A house I liked.
There was much talk about moving to Bariloche for retirement when we first got there. Then we realized there wasn't much Asian food around, and we scratched that idea completely. =)
Their phone booths are awesome.
Since they live near the mountains, a lot of crafts were of elves and gnomes, who they "believe" live in the forests and protect the people in the area.
My name is Lynn and I'm a palmitoholic.
For some reason, I just could not get enough of this stuff!
I really like the next two.
On our last day, we left on a coche cama (bed bus) for a 21 hour bus ride to Mendoza. Yeah, that's right. I said twenty-one hours!!! It was very memorable, and we'll never do it again.
Next post: Mendoza- wine country!
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| From Argentina |
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| From Argentina |
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| From Argentina |
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| From Argentina |
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| From Argentina |
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| From Argentina |
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| From Argentina |
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| From Argentina |
We found this little guy on our hike. If that thing were in my house, I'd scream my head off, but it looked so cute hanging out on the dried grass.
 |
| From Argentina |
Arraynes trees are popular in this forest we hiked.
 |
| From Argentina |
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| From Argentina |
Sometimes we like to get down on our hikes.
 |
| From Argentina |
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| From Argentina |
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| From Argentina |
Bariloche has a great little downtown that was packed with chocolate shops and tourists from all over the world.
 |
| From Argentina |
Their civic center area was awesome. There was always something going on every evening.
 |
| From Argentina |
Our first day, some drums...
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| From Argentina |
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| From Argentina |
and some capoeira to go along with it.
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| From Argentina |
We could not resist the St.Bernard and this supercute little puppy!!!!!
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| From Argentina |
The town cathedral.
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| From Argentina |
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| From Argentina |
A house I liked.
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| From Argentina |
There was much talk about moving to Bariloche for retirement when we first got there. Then we realized there wasn't much Asian food around, and we scratched that idea completely. =)
Their phone booths are awesome.
 |
| From Argentina |
 |
| From Argentina |
Since they live near the mountains, a lot of crafts were of elves and gnomes, who they "believe" live in the forests and protect the people in the area.
 |
| From Argentina |
 |
| From Argentina |
My name is Lynn and I'm a palmitoholic.
 |
| From Argentina |
For some reason, I just could not get enough of this stuff!
 |
| From Argentina |
I really like the next two.
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| From Argentina |
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| From Argentina |
On our last day, we left on a coche cama (bed bus) for a 21 hour bus ride to Mendoza. Yeah, that's right. I said twenty-one hours!!! It was very memorable, and we'll never do it again.
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| From Argentina |
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| From Argentina |
Next post: Mendoza- wine country!
Labels:
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Iguazu Falls!
1:35 PM |
Posted by
Lynn Dao Photography
Nature puts me in awe often, but Iguazu Falls is on another level of awe-dom. I have never seen waterfalls so expansive and powerful before in my life. Iguazu Falls consists of 275 waterfalls that span over 1 1/2 miles! It's at the border of Brazil and Argentina, and since we were in Argentina, we stayed on the Argentine side where you get closer to the falls, but you miss out on the panoramic views. One day, I'll go over to the Brazil side, but I was more than happy seeing & hearing massive amounts of water pounding away up close.
They did a great job building walkways that cross the river to the falls.
Our first peek at it!
Then bam -it's right in your face!
BTW, these are the falls that were in the latest Indiana Jones movie!
A video clip:
Drew, super happy to see the falls.
Drew, showing the world how much he loves me. (haha! I love having my own blog & being able to write what I want!!!)
Double rainbow!
The black specks are not from a dirty lens, but are actually either condors or vultures (as I overheard one tour guide saying).
The falls they call "Dos Hermanas" or "Two Sisters" for those of you who studied French in school.
We took a boat ride right up to the bottom of the falls and got completely soaked. I couldn't even look up at the falls because the two times I tried I got buckets of water dumped on my face and in my eyes!
After the falls, we went back to Puerto Iguazu, the town where most visitors to the falls stay at. I had to go to the hospital because, for some reason still unbeknownst to me, I had hives. It started before the trip, but got so bad I had to see a doctor.
It was interesting trying to communicate my problemas in espanol. There was a point when I was freaking out and reconsidering the treatment though because the first needle I saw was 3 inches long and pretty damn thick. But then they took out a smaller one and my chicken butt was ok. A while later, all I could say was, Hallelujah!!!! That night was the best I had had in days! (I love the English language with it's "had had's").
So when Drew & I travel, we like to do as the locals do. I always like to say, "When in Rome!" So we took their local bus.
And found out where the locals go for happy hour - out on this one street at the edge of their downtown. Here, they served beer and wine. We ordered Quilmes, the Argentine beer.
And what has come to be one of my favorite snack dishes: a plate of salami, olives, palm hearts, and cheese.
It was so good, we ate there 2 days in a row. Then I developed this weird craving for palm hearts throughout the whole trip.
One of my favorite things about Puerto Iguazu was their 7 way street intersections. How in the world do you give directions to people in this town?
Here's the market area where every vendor sells olives, salami, cheese, and palm hearts. =)
Our last night, we had lomo and coffee and watched an impromptu tango dance between two strangers just because there was a live band playing tango music.
And for anyone's who's interested: video footage of the couple dancing. =)
Next post: Bariloche!
They did a great job building walkways that cross the river to the falls.
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| From Argentina |
Our first peek at it!
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| From Argentina |
Then bam -it's right in your face!
 |
| From Argentina |
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| From Argentina |
BTW, these are the falls that were in the latest Indiana Jones movie!
A video clip:
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| From Argentina |
Drew, super happy to see the falls.
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| From Argentina |
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| From Argentina |
Drew, showing the world how much he loves me. (haha! I love having my own blog & being able to write what I want!!!)
 |
| From Argentina |
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| From Argentina |
Double rainbow!
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| From Argentina |
The black specks are not from a dirty lens, but are actually either condors or vultures (as I overheard one tour guide saying).
 |
| From Argentina |
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| From Argentina |
The falls they call "Dos Hermanas" or "Two Sisters" for those of you who studied French in school.
 |
| From Argentina |
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| From Argentina |
We took a boat ride right up to the bottom of the falls and got completely soaked. I couldn't even look up at the falls because the two times I tried I got buckets of water dumped on my face and in my eyes!
 |
| From Argentina |
After the falls, we went back to Puerto Iguazu, the town where most visitors to the falls stay at. I had to go to the hospital because, for some reason still unbeknownst to me, I had hives. It started before the trip, but got so bad I had to see a doctor.
 |
| From Argentina |
It was interesting trying to communicate my problemas in espanol. There was a point when I was freaking out and reconsidering the treatment though because the first needle I saw was 3 inches long and pretty damn thick. But then they took out a smaller one and my chicken butt was ok. A while later, all I could say was, Hallelujah!!!! That night was the best I had had in days! (I love the English language with it's "had had's").
So when Drew & I travel, we like to do as the locals do. I always like to say, "When in Rome!" So we took their local bus.
 |
| From Argentina |
And found out where the locals go for happy hour - out on this one street at the edge of their downtown. Here, they served beer and wine. We ordered Quilmes, the Argentine beer.
 |
| From Argentina |
And what has come to be one of my favorite snack dishes: a plate of salami, olives, palm hearts, and cheese.
 |
| From Argentina |
It was so good, we ate there 2 days in a row. Then I developed this weird craving for palm hearts throughout the whole trip.
One of my favorite things about Puerto Iguazu was their 7 way street intersections. How in the world do you give directions to people in this town?
 |
| From Argentina |
Here's the market area where every vendor sells olives, salami, cheese, and palm hearts. =)
 |
| From Argentina |
Our last night, we had lomo and coffee and watched an impromptu tango dance between two strangers just because there was a live band playing tango music.
 |
| From Argentina |
And for anyone's who's interested: video footage of the couple dancing. =)
Next post: Bariloche!
Monday, February 2, 2009
Argentina. Two.
3:35 PM |
Posted by
Lynn Dao Photography
Two weeks in Argentina wasn't enough for us to explore the whole country, but we had a totally fantabulous time while we were there! We visited four regions and learned a whole lot about the people, the landscape, the culture, and most importantly, the food!
We started off by staying a few nights in Buenos Aires, the capital. Huge is an understatement for how big this city is, but we were able to go explore a few of the different neighborhoods.
We started off in Palermo Soho, a district full of boutique shops filled with the latest designer's clothes.
They love their color here.
And I love graffiti art.
Our first order of business (after a long nap) was to do as the locals and go get some coffee with liquor in it. I love how things don't get started in this city until after 5pm, even on a Sunday. When we first arrived in BA, our neighborhood was completely dead. After our siesta, which everyone else seemed to have had as well, everything was alive and jumping.
One thing Argentines have in common with Americans is that they love their dogs. I couldn't resist this little booger.
Back at our boutique hotel's rooftop during sunset. We drank some vino and ate some empanadas.
I had to take a picture of our hotel key since we don't see keys like this back home. Amazingly, that's how all their keys look like in Argentina, old school. I like.
You can't come to Argentina and not eat their beef. These people are known for having the highest consumption of beef of any nation. I'm not usually a steak gal, but I've never eaten so much lomo in my life and loved it! If you're ever at an Argentine restaurant, I highly suggest the lomo. And I like mine, muy jugoso!
Later that night, we went out with some friends, met some new Argentine friends, and stayed up till some crazy time in the morning that we haven't seen in ages. But it's all normal in Argentina. Gotta love this country!
Day 2.
We went & explored San Telmo with a couple of friends, one who's an Argentine native so I got to practicar mi espanol at times. I have to say my spanish has improved tenfold since I first step foot in that country. I've had to dig up words buried in the depths of my mind sometimes in order to communicate with some of the natives. =)
So, we have the White House. They have the Pink House. This is where Argentina's president, Christina Kirchner, works. Yes, they have a female president. How awesome is that?
The white scarves painted on the ground here represents the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo, where we stopped at. This is an incredible group of mothers who fought to reunite with their children who had been abducted by the government during the Dirty War (1976-1983). Every Thursday afternoon, they gather at the plaza and walk for half an hour to let their cause be known. (The Argentine government had declared about 11,000 missing, but the Mothers deem the number to be closer to 30,000.) After these sobering facts, we had to go sit down somewhere.
The Tango. I had no idea that it originated in Argentina. Lucky for us that day, when we sat down at the park, there was a couple dancing the tango. It's the most sensual, romantic dance I've ever seen. I loved it so much, we went to get tango lessons later on that day!
Good times at the park with friends. Patricia, at the end there, is a local and knows how to dance the tango very, very well.
Me, on the other hand. I just smile nice. =)
Yup, I wasn't kidding! We did take a class, but there was no photos or videotaping allowed, so this is our final product. I have to say, Drew did a much better job remembering the steps than I did!
Day 3.
Drew & I went exploring on our own that day and did a so-so job of it. We went to the hood with a cemetery where Eva Peron was buried & didn't even know it! Oh well. At least Drew got to fulfill his Rocky dreams.
Che Guevara. Great man. Argentinian native. Learned something new that day!
Dinner later that night. It was an early dinner since we had a show to catch. Otherwise, we dined like the locals at about 10 or 11pm. Have I mentioned how much I love this culture?
I think I'll end today with a little video of our first stop at a cafe in the Palermo district. Somewhere in the middle of the video, Drew had asked me to find some hot women with the camera. I did the best I could. =)
Next stop is Iguazu Falls. INCREDIBLE!!!!!
We started off by staying a few nights in Buenos Aires, the capital. Huge is an understatement for how big this city is, but we were able to go explore a few of the different neighborhoods.
 |
| From Argentina |
We started off in Palermo Soho, a district full of boutique shops filled with the latest designer's clothes.
 |
| From Argentina |
They love their color here.
 |
| From Argentina |
And I love graffiti art.
 |
| From Argentina |
Our first order of business (after a long nap) was to do as the locals and go get some coffee with liquor in it. I love how things don't get started in this city until after 5pm, even on a Sunday. When we first arrived in BA, our neighborhood was completely dead. After our siesta, which everyone else seemed to have had as well, everything was alive and jumping.
 |
| From Argentina |
 |
| From Argentina |
One thing Argentines have in common with Americans is that they love their dogs. I couldn't resist this little booger.
 |
| From Argentina |
Back at our boutique hotel's rooftop during sunset. We drank some vino and ate some empanadas.
 |
| From Argentina |
I had to take a picture of our hotel key since we don't see keys like this back home. Amazingly, that's how all their keys look like in Argentina, old school. I like.
 |
| From Argentina |
You can't come to Argentina and not eat their beef. These people are known for having the highest consumption of beef of any nation. I'm not usually a steak gal, but I've never eaten so much lomo in my life and loved it! If you're ever at an Argentine restaurant, I highly suggest the lomo. And I like mine, muy jugoso!
 |
| From Argentina |
Later that night, we went out with some friends, met some new Argentine friends, and stayed up till some crazy time in the morning that we haven't seen in ages. But it's all normal in Argentina. Gotta love this country!
Day 2.
We went & explored San Telmo with a couple of friends, one who's an Argentine native so I got to practicar mi espanol at times. I have to say my spanish has improved tenfold since I first step foot in that country. I've had to dig up words buried in the depths of my mind sometimes in order to communicate with some of the natives. =)
 |
| From Argentina |
So, we have the White House. They have the Pink House. This is where Argentina's president, Christina Kirchner, works. Yes, they have a female president. How awesome is that?
 |
| From Argentina |
 |
| From Argentina |
 |
| From Argentina |
 |
| From Argentina |
 |
| From Argentina |
 |
| From Argentina |
The white scarves painted on the ground here represents the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo, where we stopped at. This is an incredible group of mothers who fought to reunite with their children who had been abducted by the government during the Dirty War (1976-1983). Every Thursday afternoon, they gather at the plaza and walk for half an hour to let their cause be known. (The Argentine government had declared about 11,000 missing, but the Mothers deem the number to be closer to 30,000.) After these sobering facts, we had to go sit down somewhere.
The Tango. I had no idea that it originated in Argentina. Lucky for us that day, when we sat down at the park, there was a couple dancing the tango. It's the most sensual, romantic dance I've ever seen. I loved it so much, we went to get tango lessons later on that day!
 |
| From Argentina |
Good times at the park with friends. Patricia, at the end there, is a local and knows how to dance the tango very, very well.
 |
| From Argentina |
Me, on the other hand. I just smile nice. =)
 |
| From Argentina |
Yup, I wasn't kidding! We did take a class, but there was no photos or videotaping allowed, so this is our final product. I have to say, Drew did a much better job remembering the steps than I did!
 |
| From Argentina |
Day 3.
Drew & I went exploring on our own that day and did a so-so job of it. We went to the hood with a cemetery where Eva Peron was buried & didn't even know it! Oh well. At least Drew got to fulfill his Rocky dreams.
 |
| From Argentina 1 |
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| From Argentina |
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| From Argentina |
Che Guevara. Great man. Argentinian native. Learned something new that day!
 |
| From Argentina |
Dinner later that night. It was an early dinner since we had a show to catch. Otherwise, we dined like the locals at about 10 or 11pm. Have I mentioned how much I love this culture?
 |
| From Argentina |
I think I'll end today with a little video of our first stop at a cafe in the Palermo district. Somewhere in the middle of the video, Drew had asked me to find some hot women with the camera. I did the best I could. =)
Next stop is Iguazu Falls. INCREDIBLE!!!!!
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Argentina. One.
5:35 AM |
Posted by
Lynn Dao Photography
I'm home & it's always good to be back! Sorry for two straight weeks of not posting, but I allowed myself a real vacation this time & didn't want to pack my laptop on this trip, and it was great! I have tons of pics and some video to share - once I sort thru them all, but here's one for now of some lavenders at a winery we tasted at in the Mendoza wine country region of Argentina. Love Malbecs!
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| From Argentina |
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