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!

Obey Cassette Tapes and Christmas Trees- In That Order.

[editors note: if you're waiting for the part two of yesterday's post, it will be posted later this afternoon. thanks!]

Last night our good pal Tom let us in a bit early for Obey's annual holiday sale. These things are normally packed like sardines, but luckily Tom was cool enough to give us a friends and family sneak peak.

This is probably the cleanest you'll see it; tomorrow it'll look like K-Mart on Black Friday.


$10 tees, price break when you hit 5 (5 for $40) and 10 (10 for $80). Pretty sweet deal, especially now during the holidays. Dolly, if you're reading this- you would have had a shopping meltdown. Couldn't remember the other prices, but I know jeans were $25 and most wovens were $30 and less. Fleece and jackets were pretty cheap too, compared to their $150+ regular retail price.


Tom directing traffic. Check out the overwhelmed look on Tones' face.


Can anyone say, "surplus?" Dolly, Courtney, Rachel- no worries. I bought one for each of you.


Sweet stuff at the sale, so I'll give it The Bear Den's stamp of approval. They're open from 8a-6p today, so don't forget. If you can, get there sooner than later, or all the stuff will be gone. Did I mention there were kids camping out front as we left? If only they knew Tom...



If you're not a regular reader of The Bear Den, you probably don't know that we have an affinity for cassette tapes. You see, back at our warehouse we have one of the last remaining tape decks still functioning this side of the Mississippi, so when we see an opportunity to but tapes, we do.

This whole box was [drum roll]......

ONLY A DOLLAR!!!!! BOO YEAH! DUDE! POISON!


Next it was off to find a Christmas tree, and who better to bring along than Jen With One N. If you don't know, Jen With One N is a nazi when it comes to shopping for trees. What should take 15, 20 minutes tops is an hour long escapade. If the lot only had two trees, she'd somehow make it on par with choosing which conjoined twin to save.



I looked far and wide, but did I ever find the right one?


You'll have to stay tuned to find out.

Until next time...

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!

I Miss Argentina

So I'm going to do my best to cheer me up.



It's pathetic, I know. I miss the kids. I miss the team.

Hell, I think I even miss the ham and cheese.

I'm Gonna Rest For Awhile

Wow. The TOMS trip to Argentina was amazing, but has left me exhausted. I'll try to get a post going later today, but for now I'll recuperate.

Rest assured, however, that during my stay in Argentina, I absolutely stayed true to my promise to wear some of the shortest shorts ever.

Expect something soon.