TheGspotUruguay: Old City Of Colonia
Welcome!
I passed by this city information center & grabbed a map and started my way out to the old city.
Since the city is not really that big, it's easy to sorta find your way around.
Just follow where most of the people are heading.
Maybe it was about 20 minutes walk from the ferry station
more walking.....
then one big right turn and there it was, the entrance to the old city of Colonia!
The drawbridge still actually works.
Quote: The Portuguese founded Colonia in 1680 to smuggle goods across the Río de la Plata into Buenos Aires. The Spanish captured it in 1762 and held it until 1777, when tax reforms finally permitted foreign goods to proceed directly to Buenos Aires.
As soon I walked across the bridge and further inside, it seemed like I was immediately transported back in time. What a special feeling. Gosh!
I got so excited that I didn't know where to start. My head just kept turning and wanted to see everything in every split second. I had to contain myself. I kept walking to so many directions.
Every time I'd see a street, I'd turn into that and have a look. As if I didn't wanna miss a thing. Seriously!
Vintage cars too for that old world charm. So cute!
And this is my vintage car. =)
Now that this old city has been busy with tourism,
Restaurants are in abundance and inexpensive too. Cheap food. Good food.
The old city is small and it's truly a perfect day trip. And if you wanna stay for the night, they have hostels, b&b and hotels too!
0-sha!
Tired Of Argentina?
Then let's go to Uruguay! Haha!
This side trip came about while doing my research about things to do in and around Argentina. With its proximity and location just across the Rio De La Plata,
a visit to this ancient city in Uruguay is worthy of a day trip.
This was a gift from Uruguay to Argentina. Since they didn't have to fight over the ownership of the river. Sharing is caring. LOL!
So I made sure that I am gonna finish what I have planned to do in Buenos Aires then visit Uruguay.
The day before, my tour guide Glen and I went to the ferry station to buy tickets. He suggested to do that to make it more easier the day of my departure.
And it was such a great idea, the next morning, I took my sweet time to the station and as soon I got there, it was time to board.
Since I was headed to another country, we had to clear immigration and customs as well. It was a breeze tho.
So cool, that my passport got stamped too. Yay!
After all that fun stuff, "Primera Clase" were escorted to a different boarding zone. No cattle call here. =)
I thought, for an hour's worth of ferry ride, this was an awesome "Primera Clase". Ha!
For more special effect, a glass of champagne too?! Oh! Stop!
All aboard!
In case one day, you find yourself inside a Buquebus, watch this video now. Ha!
Destination.
0-sha!
Luncheon @ Crosby St. Hotel
After skinspa, it was a beautiful lunch down the same street. Such a convenience!
@ The Crosby Street Hotel.
Quick and easy lunch,
Laughing bird shrimp, saffron, aleppo pepper and golden raisins. Spaghetti is love! (another favorite, tied with fried chicken),
Followed by a petite serving of very tasty concord grape ice cream.
After lunch, I went around the hotel to see what they've got.
Just across from the restaurant is this beautiful, comfy and elegant reading room.
And just pass the reading room are gigantuan windows and doors that will lead you to a courtyard gorgeously set with nature arts, wood furnitures, eclectic lamps & candles. I soooo cannot wait to hang out here when winter is soooo over!
0-sha!
Skinspa
Eventho I was very very good and followed my aesthetician's advice not to go under direct sun when she knew I was headed to South America for some summer gallivanting,
Upon my return, I was immediately booked @ the Skinspa
for some post travel consultation and treatment.
A pat on my back, Donna (my aesthetician) actually said that my skin looks great even after my trip.
Gosh, it was a lesson learned. First time I didn't follow her advice before my trip a few years back in Spain. I spoiled myself and tanned in Barcelona. A few days later, my skin looked so bad. It really looked like I was rotting & decaying.
Yikes! Never again.
I am also glad that I am back in my Skinspa scheduling because I've missed a few sessions and was so hard to get back on the schedule. But once you're able to book a treatment, follow up schedule is pretty much automatic in their calendar.
Did you see this week's issue of TONY?
I long for this....
In fact, tomorrow is a day off. It will be spent @ The Skinspa.
0-sha!
TheGspotArgentina: Thank You!
What can I say?! Argentina, you made my trip so wonderful. It's for keeps.
Amazing city, beautiful, delicious, warm, exciting and just welcoming. Did I say delicious? Delicious.
One day, while riding M57 crosstown, this cab passed by and there it was.... Argentina. What happened after that, was me clicking online for flight tickets.
And I'm super glad I came to visit you, finally. I knew one day that I would.
"I ´ve been wasting my time....Makes me glad I found you.... It´s the way that I can feel it, the way that I can feel it..."
You are one of those, that I would wanna see again.
Therefore, I shall see you soon.
Muchas gracias desde mi corazon!
Where to next?!
Then there was this shuttle bus that passed by me while waiting for my car service in LGA. LOL! Hmmmmm....
0-sha!
TheGspotArgentina: Mott. From Market To Kitchen
I think it is always a bonus whenever I end up in a very good restaurant just before hitting the airport. I always encourage myself not to settle for a fast food meal before ending a trip.
To sit & eat @ a nice, local with good food restaurant is that final draw, to hold onto that trip experience that will last for a lifetime.
Who knows?! Maybe I won't be back there, at least I could say that I ended my trip there with such fond memories and a great meal.
Who knows?! Maybe I'll be back there, then at least I know now of a good joint to hit the next time.
After a brief shopping around Palermo, I stumbled upon this nice and inviting restaurant: Mott.
I told myself this will be the perfect meal to celebrate what a wonderful trip I just had.
And so I went inside.
The place was sleek, modern, high ceiling and uber bright. Open space and just fresh.
It was a delight to find out it was one of those, 'from market to kitchen' (in MY NEW YORK, it's farm-to-table) restaurant. Meaning, expect fresh, in season and only the best available ingredients on the menu.
(I really don't understand about half what's in this video but it makes it sound yummier. Ha!)
And you know what? After being spoiled in MY NEW YORK with such selections of these high quality, varied price range restaurants which are now just part of my daily eats, it is just a wonderful treat to have that same or better quality meal while I am outside my comfort zone and in a new and exciting place.
Good food should never be sacrificed while travelling. It should be a part of your delicious experience.
For starters: Degustación de entradas.(Tasting of several starters.) YUM # 1!
Then: Ribs en salsa Americana, croquetas de batatas y curry, manzanas asadas con manteca y canela. (Ribs in American sauce, sweet potato croquettes and curry and butter roasted apple with cinnamon) YUM #2!
I skipped on dessert because lack of time and I wasn't about to miss my flight back to MY NEW YORK.
But see what I mean of ending a trip in such deliciousness? As I savored every morsel, flashbacks began of my quick equatorial summer fling with Buenos Aires.
0-sha!
TheGspotArgentina: Recoleta Cemetery
I never thought in my life that one day, a trip agenda will be a visit to a cemetery.
The Recoleta cemetery is serene, eery
& famous for Eva Peron's gravesite.
Wow! Before watching the video, I didn't know that the funeral was at the Argentine Congress.
The movie version.
Tho, it wasn't just Eva Peron's grave that made my cemetery visit worthwhile.
I also found out that inside mausolems, it looked like these. I was quite shocked. Some are very well maintained.
Some are dusty, cracked and left for dead. (with pun)
And Evita Peron's mausoleum is locked at all times and can't see anything from the outside. Her coffin actually buried 8 ft. below the ground for security and so that no one can steal her.
But the entire cemetery was just beautiful. Somber & nostalgic.
It was like a walk in the park.
Instead of green grass, it's sprawling with intricate concrete mausoleums.
Drano
Sometimes in life, whatever it is, you just let things sink in then let go.
Because if you don't, it will just overflow and make your life clogged, stagnant and useless.
Just a thought while staring at it in the park before heading to work.
0-sha!
TheGspotArgentina: Walk The Walk
One day, while looking at the subway map, I noticed that stations aren't that far apart. Tho I know I am not built for MY NEW YORK'S ING marathon, I am soooo built for walking. May it be runway or plain walking. I am built for it. =)
So, instead of taking the subway, I decided to take a walk. A very long walk. 4 and half hours during the day time and an extra 2 and half at night.
It was sooooo fulfilling. As I get to see so much more. Locality. My G12 made my loooong walk unnoticeable since I got so busy snapping away!
It's just so much fun being in a new city. Everywhere I look is something different and new. Click there, click here.
As simple as appreciating the colors, shapes, sizes of just about anything. The key is to observe and not just blankly stare in awe.
How about Mother Nature's shade of sunset? Or a man's interesting shade of choice?
Saw all types of shapes and sizes. I like tall. Tall is beautiful. Really tall!
Saw some vintage too!
New year, new shoes.
Not to super exhaust myself, I would grab a seat anywhere and take a few.
Id feel extra lucky if there's an ice cream parlor around.
Back to the hotel and rest up a bit and do it all over again.
New side of town, new sights.
At the end of a great self guided walking tour, it's time for yumminess!
0-sha!
TheGspotArgentina: Puerto Madero
One of the places that's being redeveloped in Buenos Aires into something foo-foo is this town called Puerto Madero.
this was port city back in the days.
I enjoyed walking in this part of town. You can feel its luxurious renewal at the same time, get a sense of its past.
Plus, it is the site for starchitect, Santiago Calatrava's only creation in South America: Puente de la Mujer.
Amazing how they were able to keep the old docks and have converted it to magnificent and pricey restaurant and apartments. So, mix the old with the new buildings (I heard St. Regis will be coming here by next year or so. If there's a St. Regis in your part of town, it's something $pecial) and world class architecture and you got yourself a super town like Puerto Madero.
Simply fabulous!
I settled in this outdoor cafe (of course!) towards the end of my walk and got me something, something.
Fantastic day!
0-sha!
