Argentina in Film- Concluded?

I'm going to have to admit, this post has been sitting as draft for the past week. Somehow, I combined my memories of Thursday and Friday together and when I realized what I had done it was a giant mess. I've been trying to figure out what pictures go where, so if it's not exactly perfect you'll have to excuse me.

But hey, most of you wouldn't know the difference anyway, right?

When I last left you, we had just spent our second night in San Antonio de las Nowhere. After a cigar smoke filled discussion the night before, we ventured our way back into civilization- but not before visiting the Tren de las Nubes.

Here's how we spent our Thanksgiving Day.

Prior to leaving for The Train to the Clouds, we made a stop at the special education school that we visited the day before to purchase some arts and crafts made by the students.



View from the top (via Kevin's disposable).


My view from the bottom.


Wasn't feeling too well, so I decided to sit on a swing with Court.


On the long ride (4+ hours) back to Salta, I had about 22 minutes of America.


Then it was a mini pit stop to pick up a milanesa sandwich. While we were waiting, the llama lady and llama daughter came by and we bought up all of her goods.


Here's where I stray off course and use digital pictures for story continuity. But hey, I'm sure you don't care, do you?

After the freakishly long and nauseous ride home, all I was craving was a hamburger. To my surprise, Pepe had our driver pull over at a stand.

These are all the sauces they had.


And poor Kevin thought that "todos," meant only mustard and ketchup. Sadly, it was all of the aforementioned condiments.


Luckily mine only had chimichurri.


After a re-check-in at the hotel we stayed at a few days ago (you should have seen the look on some of the hotel guest faces when we dropped our bags off)...


..it was time to see the town.


As European looking as it was in Argentina...


...yeah, I didn't get it either.


They really, really love the 80's here.


Are we in a freaking Coldplay video?


OK, in addition to Thanksgiving, it was also Dolly's birthday. After Lauren and I picked up a birthday cake, Pepe and I fashioned a birthday crown out of a box of wine and some tinsel I bought at the store.

All hail King Pepe.


The coronation ceremony.


Queen Dolly reading a note that Pepe handed to her. Unfortunately, we couldn't read or write so whatever is in the message is forever lost in translation.


Pepe: Moveable printed type, we must keep this from the serfs lest they gain literacy and threaten the Landed Gentry.
Us:What do u have there me lord?
Pepe: Nothing! Back to your turnips.

Our turnips.


Cake blowing ceremony.


Although I would have preferred a turkey over filet mignon, having some choice meat with some choice people made it a Thanksgiving to never forget.


After dinner, we did what everyone does after Thanksgiving dinner...

We went back up to the room and watched 80's music videos over glasses of delicious, delicious wine.


Now I know I said I'd wrap it up in this post, but there are waaaaay too many pictures to leave out. So, it looks like there will indeed be the conclusion to the conclusion posted sometime later this week. Trust me, you're not going to want to miss it. What's it like when you're giving away shoes and a mob of people surround you? You'll see.

So again, I'm sorry it's taken so long to finish this- you've got my sincerest apologies. But hey, then again, you probably don't mind.

Do you?

Argentina in Film, Part Deux

As promised, here is part two of yesterday's post which showcased the film I took in Argentina. If you're looking for part one, click here. And if you're looking for what I did last evening, clicketh here.

The day after Buenos Aires, we took a plane to northwest Argentina and arrived in Salta.

What's out my window, you ask?


Boo yeah! Reminds me of Noah Georgeson's album cover for Find Shelter.


Aside from the disgusting looking sheets, the hotel was awesome. But man, it was really hard to get over those sheets.


Rach showing Pepe some piano trickery.



This lobby is increasingly becoming more Arizonian.


Remember that thing I said about the Argentine's and their 80's? Well this hotel played nothing but 80's music- even the VH1 in the rooms were programmed to play random 80's music, but carefully mixed a random 90's hit in their for good taste. Can't go all 80's.

Unfortunately, the elevator wasn't a safe haven away from the tunes. In fact, I think they played louder in here.


First shoe drop of the day, where we were apparently filmed by a certain music television network.




These kids were awesome; they loved to hug! Nothing's better than that!



Off to the next drop, where the weather started to gust up. Didn't stop us from helping these children out though...


These quick little guys were testing their new TOMS out.




This school was gracious enough to let us participate in their flag ceremony.


Even the Mayor of Salta's secretary came down!


After the two drops (and losing one box on the highway), we were spent. Big Kev and I decided to relax in the jacuzzi, but not before we had to walk down this airport-like ramp to get into the pool area.


After play time, it was time for another dinner full of meat and wine.


We're not quite sure who was singing, but whatever he was doing was making the crowd go NUTS!


This lady should be in bed at this hour!


And so should her friend!


Did I mention the poetic and political graffiti they have out in Argentina? Not just simple, fast tags like here in the States, but actual meaningful words and sayings.


Pretty much.


Part Three, tomorrow!

It's Nearly Impossible

...to try and sift through a couple thousand pictures and pick your favorites. Doing a traditional Bear Den recap is kinda out of question also; it's just too hard to leave certain pictures out.

Choosing too many will make the site slow, and I know some of you guys don't like that. I don't like that. Nobody likes that.

So for now, let me just focus on some of the pictures I took with good, old fashioned film.

Matching shirts so that the kids would know who was who (as if the color of our skin wasn't enough).


My roomie, Big Kev, taking a picture of our wonderful view of downtown Buenos Aires, aka the wall.


Rach, guarding the computer room from sketchy foreigners.


JC Penney's Argentine branch.


Our first dinner. You can almost see Courtney picking through her caprese salad. Readers, if you must know- Courtney LOVES tomatoes. She's practically head over heels about them.


The next day in Buenos Aires brought us to the La Recoleta; cemetary of the rich and famous. Forest Lawn has nothing on Recoleta.


Dead in my eyes here in Orange County, dead in my eyes in Argentina as well.


Don't cry for me Argentina...


...just build creepy, marble angels to lean up against my mausoleum.


Creeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeps.



Yep.


Our fearless leader, Pepe.


At our first shoe drop, the kids came out and played music for us...


...and we played for them.


One for one.



Rachel, ever the huggable one...


...getting all National Geographic, like.


Ray-Ban club, back row.


Alejo's barn, where TOMS was born.


Second dinner, where we found out that pumpkin and squash are things that Argentinians love. What better place to have a Belgian beer, right?




As you can tell from the outside decor of the restaurant, the Argentines love their 80's and 80's motifs, but more on that later.


Part two, tomorrow!

I also want to remind everyone that we're trying to move 30,000 pairs of TOMS for this holiday season so we can give shoes to the children of beautiful Ethiopia.



Click on the above picture to help TOMS reach that goal! Let's make it happen!

Boo yeah!