February 14th = Free Pass Day

I can't remember when J and I ever observed Valentine's Day. I don't think we ever did. However, I have gradually learned that he cuts me a lot of slack on this magical 14th day of February. I get to be a little less logical and a little less responsible.

For example, this year on Valentine's Day I got to the following in front of J without him shooting me dirty looks of disapproval:

- Buy and eat sour rope candy from The Rocks Weekend Market. In fact, once he saw that I was looking at the stand he started digging in his jeans for pocket change.
- Snack on french fries from the McDonalds at Circular Quay. 
- Eat Smith's Thinly Cut Sour Cream & Onion potato chips from the bag.
- Drink coke with the 2L bottle in front of me ready to re-fill my glass.

Yes, I got to do it all in the same day! =)

First things first...

We arrived in Sydney this past Sunday at 8 AM. After getting settled into our apartment (more on this later) we headed out to Chinatown and ate some above-average dim sum, and did some shopping at the Chinese supermarket. It's nice to be back in a city with ample Chinese resources!

Some amusing local novelties from Sydney

- Burger King is called Hungry Jacks.
- "Business hours" is know as "trading hours."
- There are on/off switches for every electrical outlet in our apartment.
- People don't just drive on the left side, but they walk on the left side. On the escalator you stand on the left side and pass on the right side.
- They sell 4-ply toilet paper. We had to try it.
- The pharmacist is known as the "chemist."

Day 98: Good-bye, South America, until we meet again!

Today concludes our month long stay in South America. We don't know when we'll be able to come back, but we leave with fond memories and a list of places to visit when we do have the opportunity to return.

These places includes:

1. Punta del Este, Uraguay
2. Iguazu Falls, Brazil
3. Ushuaia, Argentina to Antarctica
4. Machu Picchu
5. Amazon Forest
6. Galapagos Islands

I leave this continent with a photograph of the setting sun taken on the last day of our 14-night South America cruise.

Recommendations for Sydney

J and I will be in Sydney for 4 whole weeks starting this weekend!

Here are some activities we're thinking of doing while we're in Sydney (in no particular order).

1. Climb the Sydney Harbor Bridge
2. Learn to surf
3. Learn to sail
4. Go to the beach
5. Visit the Opera House
6. Eat good Chinese food.

If anyone has recommendations for things to do, places to eat or attractions to visit please let us know! Thanks! =)

RTW Lodging: A lovely apartment in Buenos Aires

Suipacha y Arroyo
Suipacha 1373 5D
Buenos Aires, Argentina

A nice place overall for a reasonable price
- studio loft with great layout: downstairs - kitchen, dining area and living room; upstairs: queen bed, sitting area and bathroom
- cleaning service once per week
- safe location in the Retiro neighborhood
- a real shower with elbow room and great water pressure!
- washing machine
- air-conditioning (really important when the outdoor temperature is like 95F
- two very small elevators servicing the entire apartment building
- broadband internet (1 wired, 2 wireless)
- $865 for 15 nights ($58 per night)

Nice owner who manages the property itself
- the owner lives in the building and is very responsive to concerns
- unfortunately, she doesn't speak much English

Mixed feelings on BAires Apartments Argentina (www.bairesapartments.com)
- booked apartment through them
- responsible soley for advertising the property and arranging check-in
- had an extremely hard time coordinating check-in (everyone seems to speak excellent English EXCEPT for the check-in coordinator, Lucas)
- they also sell tours and tickets to shows

Restaurant Alert! A break from steak in Buenos Aires

 

El Cuartito
Talcahuano 937
Buenos Aires, Argentina

Apparently, pizza is a local specialty in Buenos Aires. J and I did not know that until we started doing restaurant searches online.

When you enter El Cuartito don't let the interior intimidate you. We were so intimidated that we almost walked out. The restaurant is separated into three sections. The kitchen just happens to be the middle section, where customers walk in, with two rooms of tables on either side. There are no hosts or hostesses. Just grab a seat in either the left or right section and a waiter will be with you. During the lunch rush the waiters here work hard so it may be awhile before they get to you. However, J and I still found them polite and patient.

The first time we ate here we ate a notoriously memorable pizza - the anchovies were so salty that I could only stomach one slice. In the meanwhile, I was admiring the white fluffy pizza that everyone else seemed to be ordering. From a distance it seriously looked like banana cream or lemon meringue pie. On the way out, J asked the waiter what that pizza was. Fugazetta, we were told. We had to come back.

And, so we did go back when J's parents came to town. This was the 3rd and final restaurant we ate at a second time and we got straight to the point. A small fugazetta for 4 people was just enough and it was amazing! It's a white pizza of onions and three types of cheese - provolone, mozzarella and reggiano. This is something that I'll be trying to replicate when I get back to the States. 

Restaurant Alert! A cheap parilla in Buenos Aires

Desnivel
Defensa 858
Buenos Aires, Argentina

Desnivel was another restaurant we visited a second time with J's parents. It was already on our shortlist of restaurants to try based on favorable reviews online. Then it shot up to the top of that shortlist after our bike tour guide pointed it out during the tour as his favorite parilla in Buenos Aires. Needless to say, it did not disappoint. The atmosphere felt casual and down-to-earth. The food was delicious and cheap. However, the service was just OK. The first time we went, they forgot to bring the salad we ordered. The second time we went, they forgot to bring the beef tenderloin. *shrug* Good food is good food.

1. Beef tenderloin in garlic sauce - OMG, so tasty!
2. Beef milanesa - best breaded steak I've ever had. This dish was previously featured in a How Much?! post

Restaurant Alert! An "expensive" parilla in Buenos Aires

La Brigada
Estados Unidos 465 (San Telmo)
Buenos Aires, Argentina
(multiple locations)

J and I went here twice. Once by ourselves at the beginning of our two week stay in Buenos Aires and once at the end of our stay with J's parents. In between we sampled many of Buenos Aires most recommended and popular "parillas" including La Cabrera and El Mirasol, which we didn't think were as good. I'd have to say our first time was much better because during our second visit we made the mistake of ordering a variety of cuts, hence magnifying the fact that some cuts are inferior to others.

Here are two quotes from J during our first visit to La Brigada:

J after his first bite of Bife de Chorizo (Sirloin Steak): "We're screeewed!"
J after his last bite of Bife de Chorizo: "I feel like I should go lift weights now."

We are screwed. We'd might as well turn vegetarian because we'll never eat steaks as good as those in Argentina ever again!

1. La Brigada storefront - if we  weren't looking for it, we would've thought it looked too sketch to go in.
2. Inside the restaurant
3. Bife de Chorizo, a punto (medium)
4. The bill (top to bottom) - 2X table fee, 2X bottles of local beer, 1X bottle of water, 1X garlic fries, 2X best steaks we've ever had in our entire lives = 35 USD