Around Chile

Thanks W hotel for your hospitality!
Photo #4 kindly provided by W Hotel, Santiago. Thanks!

tree

Spring Break

This classic estancia near the city of Cordoba, Argentina is the ideal place to rest, enjoy goregous sunsets, charming mountain views, good meals, and horseback riding.

Green Scene. Punta del Este, Uruguay

Calmness and pure bliss. Just minutes away from the chaotic city of Buenos Aires, a short flight from the local airport gets us to this beautiful villa in Punta del Este. Set on the quiet countryside, just a short walk from the beach.
The exterior beauty blends in with the refined interiors decorated with a love for simplicity and functionality. Hand-picked furnishings, unique details - such as a vintage, hair parlour bathroom chair, and warm colors combine magically to provide a peaceful setting with gorgeous views of the vast, green lands where the property sits.
The large swimming pool looks across the green fields and is a mirror to whispering trees.

For when you decide to take a well-deserved break. 

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.

- Don't waste your time shopping if you're in the US at the end of August. At least not if you're from Argentina (or any South American country) All you'll see is winter clothes and there's so much to do and see. 

- 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.