California!!

First of all... can I just say, I LOVE CALIFORNIA.

Notes

- If you're going to do a road trip, get yourself a nice convertible, put some sunscreen on, good music, sunglasses, and enjoy the landscapes and beauty on your way to each place. Lift your hands up in the air (like a child on a roller coaster) when you're feeling really happy, which will be most of the time.

- Be receptive and embrace the California kindness. I cannot tell you how many amazing people we met during our adventure. I'm so thankful to them.

- Do at least one tour. You'll appreciate getting some local insight. It's a great thing to learn when you travel. If you're curious and love connection with a place, do more than one tour. It's a rewarding experience.

- Early morning wine tastings, driving, flying, going out a lot, the sun... you could get a headache or two, body pain, etc. So go to a nice spa.

- Stay at good hotels or apartments- even if you spend little time in them, it makes all the difference in the world to arrive at a nice and comfy place. That doesn't mean expensive. To travel should be a pleasure, not a torture. A good view and nice pool are a +.

- Surfing: leave that for the Southern California part of your trip, or take the next flight to Hawaii. Conditions in Northern California are not the best.

- Missing your love? soon you'll be together again and it will be magical.

HAPPY DAY, FRIENDS

This freezing weekend, I read this interview to Le Breton (French sociologist and anthropologist) - Le BRETON

Although I don't agree with several points, his swift thoughts on friendship are insightful. If you speak Spanish, I would highly recommend that you read it and I would love to know your opinion.

Among other things, Le Breton implies that once we look closely, we come to realize that we have very few good friends. How true. He also talks about a "bodily experience" and "real encounters" as a vital part of genuine and lasting contact.

This current social networking thing is wonderful but it can sometimes make us think that we have hundreds of friends. Truth is, we all know that good friends are few, and that "when you see the number 300 on your friends list, that's just people" as he puts it. In my opinion, these are all people likely to become friends, why not? with time, conversations, moments... one never knows.

I also caught on TV what may seem like a stupid movie (which I thought was quite good!) called "Marley and I", that talks mostly about a dog, but it does have some interesting points, which I think apply to friendship. At the end of the movie, they mention what makes a dog such a good friend:

He does not care if you are young or old
He does not care if you are rich or poor
He does not care if you are having a good day or bad
He always loves you, no matter what

All these points apply to a person-friend too, right? and the good moments you've shared and will continue to share... and that he or she listens when you need to be heard...

Lastly, some time ago, I saw someone interview a successful entrepreneur from Buenos Aires living in Tokyo:

Q. "What do you miss most from Argentina?"
A. "My friends. Argentina is the only place in the world where you can call a friend at 4:00am cause you broke up with your girlfriend and want to kill yourself, and he'll come and stop you."

I would have to agree. I've been lucky to live in several countries, and I have yet to find people with such a profound sense of friendship as we do here.

HAPPY DAY, FRIENDS!

RAIN

Electri city

Travel & Art

Hotels all over the world are incorporating Art into the hotel experience, and Argentina is no exception. Some time ago I posted about James Turrell and the Hess family collection at Estancia Colomé, in Argentina's North West. Today, I invite you to see another beautiful property: El Casco Art Hotel in Patagonia. A place where art and nature meet design and comfort creating a unique setting for an extraordinary experience.

From the moment you walk into El Casco, you are inspired and stunned by gorgeous views and magnificent paintings from outstanding, Argentinian artists like Soldi, Quniquela, Campos, etc.

One could say El Casco is a classic. Although little remains from the original building, the hotel has been around since the 70's. It was then that an aristocratic German couple built the lake-side property which soon became the IT spot for well-healed South Americans and international travelers with a special love and interest for the far lands of Patagonia.

The hotel was eventually closed for many years, until Ignacio Gutiérrez Zaldívar - art collector and world promoter of Argentinian art, bought the property and turned it into what is undoubtedly, one of South America's most beautiful art hotels. El Casco Art hotel was reborn in 2006.

Each suite homes art works from a different artist bearing his or her name. Surrounding gardens are decorated with sculptures, and public spaces are filled with splendid paintings and books. Even the restaurant, with it's majestic views serves dishes worth a frame!

For more information, get in touch with one of our luxury travel experts.

Colon Theater to reopen

Last night, construction workers, arquitects, artisans and other people who
worked in the restoring of the theater, participated in a special function. It
was the first concert there since restoration began. According to the experts,
the superb quality of acoustics of the theater remains as always.

Restoration of the stunning theater began just before 2002. A little over
$25 million USD and almost 8 years later the Colon theater - considered
one of the best five opera houses in the world, is about to officially reopen.

Argentina's Colon Theater, which rivals Old World opera houses in splendor
and sound quality, has hosted international legends such as Maria Callas,
Richard Strauss and Mikhail Baryshnikov.

The 2,487-seat Colon is located in the heart of Buenos Aires and it
is central to Argentina's European cultural identity.

Mountain Hideaway

The Mapuche word "Araucana" in local native language stands for
"woman of the earth". La Araucana lies in the solitude of
Patagonia's rolling hills, next to the sweeping melody of a
stream and amid the silence of the trees, only 7 km away from the
Andean town of San Martín de los Andes.










































































For more information on luxury vacation rentals in Argentina and Uruguay, visit: Curiocity Villas

Futuristas in La Boca

Proa presents the Futurist Universe. 1909 - 1936, a historic exhibition with more than 240 works from the Modern Art Museum of Trento and Rovereto (MART) curated by MART'S Director, Gabriella Belli.

The exhibition reveals the creative passion of the futurism movement that originated in Italy in the early twentieth century. A movement that was founded by the poet Fillippo Tommaso Marinetti in 1909. A new vision of the world which serves novelty, ignores the past and admires technology, speed and industrial cities.

- What? Music, Photography, Paintings, Fashion, Objects, etc. from this revolutionary movement.
- Where? Fundacion PROA - Av. Pedro de Mendoza 1929. La Boca, Caminito
- When? April - July 2010

See more: Fundacion Proa
Photos borrowed from Proa.

Getaway

Buenos Aires is a beautiful city. With it's mad traffic, crowded streets, loudness, French-style cafés, parks filled with Jacarandá trees, exciting nightlife, art scene, architecture, grand avenues, city polo fields... there is everything to love about it.
What I also love is how easy it is to get away and enjoy some slow time. I usually go to Punta del Este or Patagonia, where I am a completely happy person. But, there are also beautiful hideaways within a close distance from the city that are ideal to go unwind, play polo and enjoy nature. Estancia El Rocio, owned by my friend Patricio is an example.

Fuerza Bruta

Fuerzabruta, an original production from the Argentinian creators of the hit De La Guarda, is back in Buenos Aires!
Breaking free from the convention of spoken language in theater, Fuerzabruta is an event where physical performances - some of which take place in waterly worlds just above us, speak a universal language. The language of emotions!!
A trip of exciting images and sounds.
Where? Centro Cultural Recoleta SALA VILLA VILLA - Junín 1930
When? April. Tuesdays through Saturdays at 9:00pm.

Photo from La Nacion

Friends

Saw this photo in a mag and it made me think of my close friends and I, so I drew it - making some changes, and adding one more to the group!! Guess which one I am?

Argentina helps Chile with a charity concert

This afternoon, some of the greatest Argentinian artists - including Gustavo Cerati, Los Fabulosos Cadillacs, Andres Calamaro, Luis Alberto Spinetta, etc. will offer a charity concert (ARGENTINA HUGS CHILE), to assist the victims of the earthquake in our neighbor country.
The concert is free, so everyone is asked to contribute with clothes, mineral water, UHT milk, and medicines, etc. Products will later be delivered to the victims, by Red Solidaria.

Where: at the intersection of Figueroa Alcorta y La Pampa
When: from 4:00pm to 8:00pm

Easter travel ideas

The Atacama desert in Chile (the driest desert in the world) is one of the most amazing places I've ever been in. It's not only the dramatic landscapes composed of sand dunes, caves, and salt flats, the beautiful towns and people, or the sky full of stars and sunsets which make it so special, but the energy there is truly hard to describe!! To stay: Tierra (photos) and Awasi. In Santiago, the W hotel.


















































The far-flung, romantic Lake District, has some of most stunning views of lakes, mountains and forests in the world!! it's also a paradise for people who love combining good rest and that special contact with nature: rafting, horseback riding, biking, sailing, etc. My favorite thing is to stay in place like Arroyo Verde, on the countryside and enjoy the beauty of nature and home comfort. Here's my second pick for Easter: Patagonia!! I love you!!!

Eyes wide open

iLOVE

The art of Tigre

Tigre is not only about blissful boat rides, kayaking, river-side markets and island retreats, there's also MAT - The Tigre Art Museum (ex-Tigre Club, built in 1912 and reopened as a museum in 2006). Displayed are figurative paintings from Argentinian artists that date from the late 19th century through the 20th century... check out Pellegrini, Spilimbergo, Butler, Castagnino and Roux.

Stay tuned for new and exciting temporary exhibitions.

GOTA have water!

Gota comes from Argentina's Esteros del Ibera, the second biggest wetland of the world, after the Brazilian Pantanal. The name Iberá comes from a Guaraní word that means "brilliant water". The Guaraní Aquifer is estimated to contain about 37,000 km³ of water, arguably the largest single body of groundwater in the world, with a total recharge rate of about 166 km³/year from precipitation.

Faithful to its motto, “Be true. Feel Beautiful. Do Good”, Gota intends to raise consciousness and contribute to the vision of a world where everyone has access to safe water and sanitation. The brand allocates part of its revenues to finance programs that facilitate access and potabilization for those who need it most in Argentina and other parts of the world.

Gota's packaging respects premises of environmental care and recycling. All the packaging components are 100% recyclable and come from the pharmaceutical industry.

And just a comment re water: with the significant water reserves in Argentina, one has to wonder how there are 297.232 people in Argentina's cuenca Matanza-Riachuelo who do not have access to drinking water.  I know, it doesn't make any sense. 

El Secreto de Sus Ojos - Film

El Secreto de sus Ojos (The secret of your Eyes) from Argentina, goes to the Oscars!! nominated as best foreign film!

I am so excited that this film did so well. Honestly, when I saw it I was quite surprised. The film is brilliant! it evokes all sorts of emotions from start to end, you feel sadness, love, fear, excitement, and curiosity. It's brave and mysterious, It's romantic... touching subjects like friendship, alcoholism and obsessions, with care and sensibility. Plays with your expectations. Truly a work of art.

Once again, Campanella's has done an amazing job! this is his second nomination for the Oscars. In 2001 he competed for the prize with “El hijo de la novia”

Regarding Argentine cinema this is the seventh film that has been nominated. The first was La Tregua in 1974, and the only winner was La historia oficial in 1985.

Bravo!!