bags to bureaus

We made it. Just a few weeks back Col and I were layin' low on the beaches of Brazil, and here we are now in the hip and happening Buenos Aires, settling into new accents, a new apartment, and a new pace of life.

Our entrance into life in Buenos Aires was made especially comfortable by the fabulous Becca and Durban, two gals our age who are old college roommates/good friends of one of my bffs from back home, Phoebe. They graciously let us crash at their apartment while we hunted for a place of our own, while also giving us the inside skinny on the city (which they continue to do today). Thankfully the exhausting apartment searching days were few, and soon thereafter we were moving into our new abode, unloading heaps of stale clothing and thanking the good Lord for a place to settle for a while. Alas, space of our own! Such a wonderful feeling. Our apartment is located in Las Cañitas, considered one of BsAs' more chic neighborhoods ...tree-lined streets, stylin' restaurants, trendy boutiques...a really cute area. And although foreigners (by which I mostly mean Americans) mix and mingle in the streets at night, I haven't found it to be teaming with tourists which is great. And the apartment itself? Wowsa. It's pretty slick, clean and simple, a bit bachelor-esque. You want to talk about change of pace, going from the humbling ways of the favela to this washer/dryer business, internet at home, clothes in closets, toilet paper down the pipes...??? Such luxury! I definitely feel spoiled. It's fun though, that this new "home" of ours matches the ambiance of the city outside our door. Cheers to a new city to discover...

Thank the good Lord this city has lots of green refuge...

The language switcharoo threw me for a loop, not gonna lie. While in Brazil I was so focused on getting Portuguese down, that when all of a sudden I found myself in Spanishlandia, I was struggling...throwing Portuguese in left and right, mixing the lingos like a wild woman. Super frustrating. Little by little though, the Spanish is rekindling and I am doing my best to adapt to the Argentinean accent...which I find incredibly elegant and beautiful! Finally I get to pronounce my last name (double L's) with the sexy "shah"...Me llamo (also with the sexy "shah") Linnea Visheygas...love it.

Another "must be told" is that my dear Jodie Mori was here visiting us for a whopping two and a half weeks. She arrived only a few days after we did and just actually left us the night before last...Oh it was such a treat having her here! Our days were full of exploration. We put many a mile on our kickers, meandering throughout this grandeur city and her neighborhoods, each with their own attitude and flavor.

Jodes and Coller spreading their wings in front of BsAs' Floralis Generica- its metallic petals opening every a.m. and closing up at dusk.

Speaking of flavors...the ice cream here in Buenos Aires? Not sure if you have heard much about this culturally rooted craze, but let me tell you one thing- never before have I tasted such delight. Ice cream is taken seriously here, nothing to be fooled around with. It's treated with much respect (as it should be) and these ice cream "shops" (highly competitive) look more like five star restaurants. My fav flav thus far is dulce de leche con brownie, though mint chip (intensely minty) is pulling in at a close second. We'll have to see if this all sways with time...

A night out with the ladies. Jodie, Durban, and Becca.

Please take note of that heap of grilled goodness before us!

Oh, and must I not forget to mention the steak!!! Now, I am not the biggest lover of red meat, but I think it almost impossible for one not to be swooned by the beef here in BsAs. We did quite the dining out while Jodes was here and I have to say that her bife de lomo (tenderloin) from the well-known Campo Bravo Steakhouse right in our hood ("Las Cañits") was by far the best steak I've ever had. Delish.

Beef consumption at Campo Bravo.

A few noteworthy memories from our time with Jodie ("...like Jodie Foster" we'd have to tell people upon introducing ourselves, the Spanish accent transforming her name into "Yodie".)
...Hittin' up hip hop night Thursdays with our sneakers on. We don't mess around.
...Cozying up late night watching "The Hills" (sad but true).
...Ice cream parlor hopping...Persicco's and Volta are our top picks. Freddo's didn't do much for us.
...Making our way around this ceaseless city. So much to do!
...Our lavish escape from the city to the Four Seasons in Carmelo, Uruguay.

Such a blessing having my Yodie here with me!!!