Thursday, July 12, 2012

Just in ♥ with Amsterdam



I just spent 4 weeks in Buenos Aires last May, pretending being a local. Why? Because I had heard such magnificent stories about this city, I just had to experience it; the Paris of South America, the Latina Rome! And it is a beautiful city (http://joelleverkooijen.blogspot.nl/2012/04/bienvenidos-buenos-aires.html). 
But one thing I've never heard is the comparison with Good Old Amsterdam. Just because this comparison is not possible…

Yesterday evening I had a lovely diner in the East part of the city (Woo Bros is quite a new place with great service and incredible asian dishes). I live on the other part of the city center and because of the nice weather I decided to walk back home. It took me just 20 minutes to cross the center, over the canals, true small unexpected doors leading to alleys including taking shots of the lovely places I passed by. So Authentic - I just had to share these - isn't this a great city to live in!





Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Bienvenidos a Buenos Aires







Dutch Habits&Traditions meets Buenos Aires! I am in the lucky positions to have 4 weeks to experience the life in BA; to explore the city, the food and restaurants, the nightlife and the people - everything! Where to start? So much time and even more things to do. Just a grab of some cultural experiences
Arriving in BA with a warm welcome - Weather forecast is perfect for a big city: 20 degrees and sunny, joehoe!
But is it only me who feels this enjoyable sun? Everybody is wearing jackets, scarves and is looking weird at me walking around in shorts and t- shirt. With temperature that can rise to 40 degrees in this big city during summer, 20 degrees probably is cold and besides that, it is autumn. Well, to this Dutchy 20 degrees with sunshine is very summerish!
Apparently their perception of nice weather is bit different then mine....




So, I decided to buy an extra sweater, just in case. It is 5pm and shops should be open. First shop: door closed. Second: door closed..! Third: door closed!! But all looked open, What am I doing wrong? Push harder? Or Kick perhaps?
Hmmm, or just wait until they unlock the door for you and after you when you are in...?! Very save, but gives me a bit of an uncomfortable feeling and not stimulating to enter actually, since I'm used to wide open doors where you just can pop-in and leave whenever I want.




Pfff, shopping makes me hungry, What doesn't surprise me: 18h15 dinner time!! Let's find a nice little restaurant. I'm looking forward to my first 'bife de lomo y Malbec, here I come!!!! It's quite busy already in The many nicely decorated and colourful restaurants in the streets and on the (every) corner. Looking at the menu the waitress has probably made à mistake; I ask for the dinner menu instead of lunch. When the awnser was that it was not possible yet, I looked around me and saw the other guests all having coffee with croissants or quiches. Argentinians LOVE sweets: dulce de leche and pastry: medialunes, tartes and empeñadas. This 'Merienda' is just an extra 'afternoon snack' before dinner (22pm), coffee and sweets.



Ok, 22h and I'm starving! I find myself a nice parrilla (meet restaurant). It's packed with only locals - must be good! Waiter comes and I order the famous chorizo to start with and as main the 'Bife the lomo' I have been waiting for since I could shew!! "Chica?" he asks me. Chica? Chica? I'm starving!! I need a proper piece of meat instead of a small.
I can tell you, you do this once and the 3 days of stomach ache make you'll never forget the size (or better, the weight).