Colored houses in Valparaiso...check out the spooky black cat in the windowsill
Street artwork in Valparaiso. Is that another cat I see?
Clock made of flowers in Viña del Mar.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Foto Foto Foto Foto
Colored houses in Valparaiso...check out the spooky black cat in the windowsill
Street artwork in Valparaiso. Is that another cat I see?Clock made of flowers in Viña del Mar.
Na Na Na Na...goodybe...Na Na Na Na
Like a good book that ends too soon, my time in Argentina is coming to a close. After weeks of diligent job hunting, Matthew and I decided to cut our losses and change our tickets to return. If there was more time on the clock or money in the bank, a more thorough job search might have been possible. We were also thoroughly disappointed to discover that the private English schools take a break from Christmas until March. Banging my head against a wall for not realizing this before, I’ve accepted the fact that if I want to save money and then come back, the schools will still be there.
We’ve also come to understand a few more things about working in Argentina. The first is that to work in many places, you do need a work permit for the government. Many people here work “en negro,” which is basically working under the table. We have met many people working at hostels that work “en negro.” We looked all over for hostel jobs for this reason, to no avail. We walked out of interviews feeling shiny and new and hopeful, and then we wouldn’t get a callback. The one restaurant that called me back wanted me to have a work permit.
It wouldn’t be impossible to get a work permit, and I think it would require traveling to Buenos Aires and paying some money. However, due to the lack of response we got from our job search, we decided against it. The Argentine economy isn’t doing any better than the American economy, and the fish simply weren’t biting. Many hostel owners we talked to told us that the Bariloche economy is still recovering from the drop in tourism, due to last year’s H1N1 virus outbreak in Argentina. Many said they would like to have us, but simply couldn’t put a pretty peso in our pockets.
Of course, I have mixed feelings about coming home. On one hand, I’ve had some pretty incredible experiences over the past three months. Working at the Zuccardi family vineyard was absolutely amazing. I learned so much about wine, practiced my Spanish, and had a million laughs with the wonderful people there. I can check a few places off my “Places I Must See Before I Die” list (Santiago, Valparaiso, and Viña del Mar, Chile!)
I can’t forget about the winner of a hike that Mathew and I did today. There is a gondola that takes visitors to the top of Cerro Ott, a mountain overlooking the lakes in Bariloche. Did we take that gondola? No! We’re too hardcore! Not being able to find the easier path to the top, we instead hiked under the gondola, at a very steep incline.
After about two hours, we finally reached the summit, where we gulped down Coca Colas in a 360 degree spinning restaurant. Yes, it’s true, a rotating restaurant. The views are spectacular, and we got to watch three paragliders as they twirled around like dandelion seeds in the wind. We met a nice couple from Buenos Aires on their “luna de miel,” literally “moon of honey” (honeymoon, you silly ducks), and they offered us a ride down in their car. I was so grateful, being so tired that the only other option that made sense was rolling down the side of the cliff.
In conclusion, I will be seeing all of you sooner rather than later! It’s hard to be sad when I know that I will soon be reunited with many of my most precious homegirls and homeboys. Will phone when home! xoxoxo
We’ve also come to understand a few more things about working in Argentina. The first is that to work in many places, you do need a work permit for the government. Many people here work “en negro,” which is basically working under the table. We have met many people working at hostels that work “en negro.” We looked all over for hostel jobs for this reason, to no avail. We walked out of interviews feeling shiny and new and hopeful, and then we wouldn’t get a callback. The one restaurant that called me back wanted me to have a work permit.
It wouldn’t be impossible to get a work permit, and I think it would require traveling to Buenos Aires and paying some money. However, due to the lack of response we got from our job search, we decided against it. The Argentine economy isn’t doing any better than the American economy, and the fish simply weren’t biting. Many hostel owners we talked to told us that the Bariloche economy is still recovering from the drop in tourism, due to last year’s H1N1 virus outbreak in Argentina. Many said they would like to have us, but simply couldn’t put a pretty peso in our pockets.
Of course, I have mixed feelings about coming home. On one hand, I’ve had some pretty incredible experiences over the past three months. Working at the Zuccardi family vineyard was absolutely amazing. I learned so much about wine, practiced my Spanish, and had a million laughs with the wonderful people there. I can check a few places off my “Places I Must See Before I Die” list (Santiago, Valparaiso, and Viña del Mar, Chile!)
I can’t forget about the winner of a hike that Mathew and I did today. There is a gondola that takes visitors to the top of Cerro Ott, a mountain overlooking the lakes in Bariloche. Did we take that gondola? No! We’re too hardcore! Not being able to find the easier path to the top, we instead hiked under the gondola, at a very steep incline.
After about two hours, we finally reached the summit, where we gulped down Coca Colas in a 360 degree spinning restaurant. Yes, it’s true, a rotating restaurant. The views are spectacular, and we got to watch three paragliders as they twirled around like dandelion seeds in the wind. We met a nice couple from Buenos Aires on their “luna de miel,” literally “moon of honey” (honeymoon, you silly ducks), and they offered us a ride down in their car. I was so grateful, being so tired that the only other option that made sense was rolling down the side of the cliff.
In conclusion, I will be seeing all of you sooner rather than later! It’s hard to be sad when I know that I will soon be reunited with many of my most precious homegirls and homeboys. Will phone when home! xoxoxo
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Bariloche (The Other Windy City)
Hey folks!
We've been in Bariloche now for about 10 days now. Time is flying! We found an apartment. It's about 30 minutes walking from the city center, so I think we'll be whipped into shape in no time. The only bad part is that we don't have internet up there, so it's not as easy for me to keep in touch. Please forgive.
Matthew and I are looking for jobs. It's not an easy process, but we do have a few leads. We are mainly looking for work in hostels or restaurants. I'm also going to look into writing for some of the publications I've seen around here, like traveler's magazines.
It's nearly summer here, but sometimes the wind is so extreme, I feel like I'm in a Colorado winter. How is the Colorado Winter, by the way? I hope you kittens are all bundled up in your mittens.
Abrazos y besos (Hugs and kisses!)
We've been in Bariloche now for about 10 days now. Time is flying! We found an apartment. It's about 30 minutes walking from the city center, so I think we'll be whipped into shape in no time. The only bad part is that we don't have internet up there, so it's not as easy for me to keep in touch. Please forgive.
Matthew and I are looking for jobs. It's not an easy process, but we do have a few leads. We are mainly looking for work in hostels or restaurants. I'm also going to look into writing for some of the publications I've seen around here, like traveler's magazines.
It's nearly summer here, but sometimes the wind is so extreme, I feel like I'm in a Colorado winter. How is the Colorado Winter, by the way? I hope you kittens are all bundled up in your mittens.
Abrazos y besos (Hugs and kisses!)
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
The road to Bariloche
Hello! I've been on the road awhile. Matthew and I went to Chile, because neither of us had ever been to Chile, and we were intrigued by the foreignness of it. We couch surfed in Santiago. For those of you that don't know what CouchSurfing is, it's a network of people who offer their homes to travelers. It is safe and reliable because people vouch for each other and write comments after staying in someone's home. We stayed with a lovely couple, who made us fruit salad every night and told us all about the interesting things to do in Santiago.
After a few days in Santiago, we traveled north to Valparaiso. It is a city built on a hill. There are many elevators that take you from the center up to the hill. When I say elevator, I mean a lift, an archaic lift that allows you to avoid climbing steep hills to get to other neighborhoods higher up in the city. We visited Paulo Nerudo's (a famous poet) house, which was very interesting. He wrote such beautiful words. I will post one of his poems soon. Vina del Mar was very touristic and sort of boring. They do have a clock made of flores, which was Alice and Wonderland-esque.
Right now we are in Bariloche, Argentina. We spend over 24 hours traveling on the bus and finally arrived here. I was here two years ago when I studied in Buenos Aires, for Easter break. It is just as magnificent as I remembered. We have been looking for job with fervor since we arrived, and hopefully we will be able to secure something. I'm watching the sun set over the lake here, and it's absolutely gorgeous. I would be willing to sing for my supper in order to stay here.
You're in my thoughts, friends and family. I hope that everyone is well. We're together in spirit!
After a few days in Santiago, we traveled north to Valparaiso. It is a city built on a hill. There are many elevators that take you from the center up to the hill. When I say elevator, I mean a lift, an archaic lift that allows you to avoid climbing steep hills to get to other neighborhoods higher up in the city. We visited Paulo Nerudo's (a famous poet) house, which was very interesting. He wrote such beautiful words. I will post one of his poems soon. Vina del Mar was very touristic and sort of boring. They do have a clock made of flores, which was Alice and Wonderland-esque.
Right now we are in Bariloche, Argentina. We spend over 24 hours traveling on the bus and finally arrived here. I was here two years ago when I studied in Buenos Aires, for Easter break. It is just as magnificent as I remembered. We have been looking for job with fervor since we arrived, and hopefully we will be able to secure something. I'm watching the sun set over the lake here, and it's absolutely gorgeous. I would be willing to sing for my supper in order to stay here.
You're in my thoughts, friends and family. I hope that everyone is well. We're together in spirit!
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Huevito (little egg)
Sunday was our last day working at Bodega Familia Zuccardi. It was a little sad to leave, especially after meeting and making friends with such wonderful people there. I was able to take off the early afternoon at the restaurant to see Matthew guide a tour.
Armed with my camera, I snapped a bunch of en vivo shots of him explaining the wine-making process. One lady actually told me after the tour, "He seems like he's been doing this for years!"
At the end of the day, my coworkers shooed me into the kitchen, where there a chocolate mousse cakewas waiting for me. I told them how grateful I was for the experience and how glad I was to have met great new friends. Then these so-called friends led me into vineyard to "take photos," and promptly poured a foul mixture of raw eggs, cream, flour, herbs and whatever else was leftover from the kitchen, on my head. Supposedly it is tradition here. At first I screamed, but as they cracked eggs on my head, I surrendered to it all, delighted that my newfound friends thought me worthy of such special treatment. See video and photos below.
I only wish I had been able to say goodbye in person to Julia Zuccardi, who invited us to work there in the first place. Hopefully we will reunite one day.
We’re in Santiago, Chile, right now. We are couchsurfing with a fabulous couple and seeing the city. I’m honestly not crazy about Santiago, but I’m looking forward to heading south. Peace out!
Armed with my camera, I snapped a bunch of en vivo shots of him explaining the wine-making process. One lady actually told me after the tour, "He seems like he's been doing this for years!"
At the end of the day, my coworkers shooed me into the kitchen, where there a chocolate mousse cakewas waiting for me. I told them how grateful I was for the experience and how glad I was to have met great new friends. Then these so-called friends led me into vineyard to "take photos," and promptly poured a foul mixture of raw eggs, cream, flour, herbs and whatever else was leftover from the kitchen, on my head. Supposedly it is tradition here. At first I screamed, but as they cracked eggs on my head, I surrendered to it all, delighted that my newfound friends thought me worthy of such special treatment. See video and photos below.
I only wish I had been able to say goodbye in person to Julia Zuccardi, who invited us to work there in the first place. Hopefully we will reunite one day.
We’re in Santiago, Chile, right now. We are couchsurfing with a fabulous couple and seeing the city. I’m honestly not crazy about Santiago, but I’m looking forward to heading south. Peace out!
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