It's good to be home. Jeff spent two weeks and Allison spent 8 days visiting various parts of South America as part of a Global Initiatives Management course at Kellogg. There is too much to tell, naturally, but here's some odds and ends of what we learned:
Sao Paulo, Brazil -
-You've never seen a city so big, and so jumbled (not even you New Yorkers, sorry)
-Urban planning is an undiscovered science here
-Brazilians like meat. If it oinks, moos, or clucks, they devour it
-Traffic is abysmal, hence the reason many folks (of means) take helicopters
-Rio seems to have soaked up the "hotness factor", contrary to some reports, not everyone in Sao Paulo is a supermodel
Overall, a gigantic economic epicenter for the continent, but not very beautiful and surprisingly expensive. We were glad to have seen it, but also glad to keep exploring the continent.
Buenos Aires, Argentina - -And we thought Brazilians like meat...
-Buenos Aires mixes that wonderful combination that speaks loudly to Jeff's heart: fun and cheap
-The official state religion is (sadly) soccer
-Dining out on a weekday can start at midnight, no joke
-Everyone seems to be waiting for the next big economic collapse
-Yes, they do dance some crazy tango down there
-A wonderful modern city that's absolutely worth a visit
We really enjoyed Buenos Aires, even if the economic picture leaves a cloud over the locals. If you're in the area we highly recommend stopping by.
Mendoza, Argentina -
-This is the main wine-producing region of the country, and also its largest city
-If you want a good picture of Mendoza in the winter, close your eyes and picture driving through a semi-deserted New Mexico town...only with vineyards
-The local market is a blast, Allison's penchant for cheese cost us a fraction of what it does back home (and their prices for skinned goats were reasonable too)
-Wine is still in many senses, a developing art in this region, but it's big business
-If you're ever in town, stay at the Park Hyatt, it's fantastic, and like much of Argentina, quite reasonable
We had differing opinions on Mendoza, but we both agreed that the food was fantastic, and that we really didn't get to see it at the optimal time of year. If/when we are back in Argentina in their spring or summer then we will venture another visit.
Santiago, Chile -
-Aside from the language and a few odds and ends, this modern city could easily fit in within the United States
-How do prices magically double once we cross the Chile/Argentina border? Hmm.
-They love their fish here, and it shows. I suggest eating ceviche every day like yours truly did
-Dulce de Tres Leches, if you're ever in town, find a little restaurant in Bella Vista called "Agua para chocolate" and order this dessert. It will blow your mind.
-You've never seen mountains so big, even if you live in Colorado (okay, maybe if you live in Bhutan)
-Two words: Chilean Karaoke
-The city is full of "community dogs", which most cities consider strays but here they feed them (very well) and they simply hang out in their respective territories to say hello to passers by.
Yeah this little recap here doesn't tell you much, but needless to say, it's a very beautiful and modern city set at the base of the Andes. The countryside surrounding it is picturesque, and we even got to wander down to the coast (Valparaiso) to see a wonderful old port-city. Chile is definitely worth the visit (you know, the next time you just happen to be wandering by southern South America).
What a great experience, but as always, there's no place like home.
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