South America

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Chile: A Tale of Two Cities

accidental goddess5 Comments

Chile was the second destination on my digital nomad tour, and Valparaíso (Valpo) was the intended city. Everything I read about it piqued my interest—words like bohemian, artsy, colorful, and poetic appealed to me. I was looking forward to more street art, more museums, and the iconic elevators that you can ride up the hills.

But that’s not where we stayed. Our program had some housing issues that I never completely  understood and my roommate and I wound up about 6 miles away from the rest of our group in a small rustic cabin in a working-class neighborhood in Viña del Mar.

And, so starts the tale of two cities

Valpo ascensor
Viña flower clock

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Eating Out in Buenos Aires: Where’s the veggies?

accidental goddess7 Comments

In the 1980s, Wendy’s famous ad campaign asked “Where’s the beef?” In Argentina, they have plenty of beef, lots and lots of beef, as well as pork and lamb. The question to ask instead is “Where’s the veggies?”

Carnivore’s delight

When eating out in Buenos Aires, finding a vegetable other than salad (arugula, shredded carrots, avocado, and tomatoes) was a real challenge. A typical menu would have several types of grilled carne (beef): Bife de Chorizo, Ojo de Bife, Bife Angosto, Bife de Costilla. I never did get them straight. If you didn’t specify jugoso (juicy), it was always done medium-well. Most portions are generous, big enough to share. It’s a matter of national pride. You’d often see the big parrillas (grills) with men cooking large amounts of meat showcased on the street or in an open window. Their local rock stars!

Argentina grill
parilla chef
Parilla San Telmo

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Out and About in Buenos Aires

accidental goddess8 Comments

Buenos Aires skyline

Wow! This city is an assortment of wonders, full of green spaces and teeming with life. Whether on an official tour or just walking from one place to another, there is so much to discover. In my first two weeks with Pangea196, I found things can change quickly — from upscale, to funky, to  downright gritty.  Busy streets with police cars always flashing their blue lights, yellow and black Radio Taxis, motorcycles, cars, and huge buses.  Sidewalks crowded with businessmen in dress shirts, young mothers nursing babies without embarrassment, tattooed hipsters, older people using walkers or canes.  Everyone (even men) hugging and kissing when they meet. It plays like Argentinian cinéma vérité. Continue reading →