Map of World - Click a place Brad's been

February 2014 - Let's keep it Short and Sick

February 2014 went fast and likely do to the fact that I got some sort of food poisoning that rocked me for about half a month. In the spirit of short and sweet enjoy some more Latin randomness and this month's bonus look-a-like section at the bottom of the page.  Congratulations to team Canada at the Olympics, especially the Men and Women's hockey teams.  Oh yeah, and there was a Super Bowl, kind of.

Finally found the perfect stunt double! Photo from Brent D
Beginning of the month and there was a Super Bowl between my Denver Broncos and the Seattle Seahawks. We all gather at a newer bar, The Garage, in San Telmo for a big Super Bowl party.  The crowd was a little more towards the Broncos even though they were not the favourites.  I think people like offence more than defense, unfortunately that doesn't win championship.  And you know why...

Side Rant: Watch the next championship game and tell me the refs call it like they do in the regular season.  That's why Defense wins championships.  The game gets tighter with more holding, etc which is not called near as much as the regular season because honestly who wants to be that ref that made a huge call costing the game for one team or the other.  This is seen in the NBA, NFL, NHL and any other sport that has interference between the two teams, even soccer.  Too be fair offence is harder to produce when you are nervous for the big game as it requires that extra bit of skill to make the play as opposed to breaking up a play.  Put your money on Defense.

The game began with much excitement and that was it.  Denver fumbled the ball in to their own end zone and continued to get dominated after that.  I tuned out by half time and went in search of a beer pong game or what ever to numb the pain.  43 - 8 final score!!!  I was a fool to think it could be any different considering how Denver likes to lose the big game holding the record for worst loss ever and 3 of the 5 worst losses in Super Bowl history.  Incredibly they have 2 Super Bowl victories, by narrow margins of course.

Fantastic artwork, hand drawn too

Here we go!


Boring Super Bowl, but not boring
drinking games!



















All the drinking and heavy eating over the last weeks of January coupled with a a dodgey lunch special was enough to crush half of February for me.  Although I should have gone to the doctor, as a Canadian I struggled to crack open my wallet to pay for an appointment.  Oh well, it's just food poisoning and it did pass.  Always nice to lose a few kilos too.

Tips to prevent a bad stomach
1) Stop eating Blood Sausage every day!
2) Stop smoking furniture.
3) Stop chasing beer with shots of Fernet (yuck!)
4) Stop trying to understand Argentinian women.
5) Don't take antacid drugs recommended by a Heart Surgeon that cause diarrhea.
6) Balance your meats, not all pork at a BBQ.
7) Avoid getting computer viruses when streaming the Olympics from Russia.
8) Don't bother trying to order something with out cheese if you are lactose intolerant.


On my death bed...

As boring as it looks I actually
love this type of food which I find
the best for a bad stomach.















In need of good healthy food I discovered a great lunch place thanks to my friend Luli.  Martin Cocina is perfect with a nice variety and Martin himself, a high level chef, is not afraid to have an in-depth chat about his daily preparations and pretty much everything else.


Martin, as Italian an Argies as
you will find.
















Working People in Buenos Aires.  A couple photos depicting some of the work in BA and the conditions that probably wouldn't be allowed in other countries.

Yes Superman you have to fly upside down in the South

I see this cop standing smoking
most days

Business idea, Pool Cleaners

Argentina Postman

Pizza Delivery guy in the rain

Club Dancer

Health and safety violation?

24 hour reception/security means
you may have to wake someone if
you forget your keys.

"No problem, I can walk your dog, I only have 1 or 2 at
that time of day"

Very safe work site!!!
























































Congrats to Canada in the Olympics.  As I was getting over my stomach illness I once again got addicted to Olympic coverage which I didn't expect to find on Argentina TV considering they had only 7 Athletes representing the country.  I believe Canada had approximately 240 athletes.
Special congrats to the Men and Women Curling and Hockey teams for 4 Gold medals!

9am, 2 litres of beer, 3 screens, not missing Hockey Gold!

No matter where I am!
















Look-a-Likes
Andy Kaufman

Larry David, Carlos Bianchi

Russian Figure Skater, Adrien Brody
Mexican dude, Joe Rogan























Other Stuff

The apartment garage two tier space saving door opener system.  Cool!


Joe Namath wearing a ridiculous
fur coat at the Super Bowl


January 2014 - Food, Fun and TA in BA

January 2014 - Good times and lots of good food to get in to 2014.  The second half of the month was spent hanging with my first visitor to South America, Tom A, who decided to take a break from the cold, dark Calgary winter and join me for a few weeks.  As well, more random oddities in Buenos Aires.  Enjoy.



The very beginning of the month God (and the baby living next door) had to cry a little, Holy Crap!  Check out this downpour.  

Drops or Splashes?  Would you prefer to have drops of water from the overhangs of building above hit you in the head or would you rather step on a loose "floating tile" on the side walk that will splash you with what ever water has settled under it?



Out to Pilar and Sole's mother's house for her birthday.  Nice day for an asado and the pool! Sole's father Jorge is the master of asados/ BBQs.  Typically cooked over wood or coal for about 1 hour with a good amount of salt on the meat.  The cuts of meat used are not the types you would cook rare so asados are mostly fully cooked, but still tender and delicious.


Cooked over a wood fire

Salting the meat is key

Nice group of friends

Why not bring out the guitar

Dinner time!


























Check out these views from Sole's apartment building on a windy day.  Spectacular! You can see all of the city.


Facing South away from the river




Listen to her!  A friend of mine who's friend is a lovely singer, Lucia doing a cover of Elvis' "Can't Help Falling in Love with You" 


Lucia accompanied by a
great sounding guitar


Some other moments in BA before the arrival of TA.

Writing my 1st movie script

That just doesn't seem safe

MRI for my busted knee only
$150 here vs $800 in Canada
or you can wait 1 year for $0.
Last class party for my spanish class.  Getting there.

tight parking

Passing 60,000km at Plaza Italia

Won't make 65,000 km if I keep
leaving the
keys in it for someone to take!

Professional rider

Manuel installing chain kit
for a grand total of $200


TA IN BA.  Tom Anderson arrives in Buenos Aires for a 2 week vacation.  Welcome.
My life is never certain enough for people to pin me down and come for a visit, but Tom figured it out.  Let's have a look at his two weeks that began mid January.  First week - Buenos Aires.


Put to work for a welcoming Asado.  Good fire buddy.

Day 2 - Buying Allergy meds
already!

Ice skating in BA?  Wow!
Tom and I did not partake.

Paella negra - Black from the squid's ink.  Tasty!!!

Teeth tinting like red wine

Awesome guitar, great sound too!

Las Cabras

Tom driving in BA!  Not easy.

Another asado, this one cooked by Junior
and enjoyed by lots of apartment people.


After a week hanging in BA we rented a car and hit the road for the beach or at least hoped to hit the beach.  First stop was Mar del Plata about 400 km southeast of BA.  Unfortunately the good weather did not want to join us for the trip.  Not sure how two engineers got so focused on the details of the trip rather than the actual destination and weather never bothering to look outside to see a storm coming.  Ok, I can see how that would happen.  But hey in bad weather you can always go eat something right?

Tonnes of Rain!



Not a pretty night

Inside one of the bars at Samsara Beach

Main beach close to city centre

Lots of daily cabanas to rent

Main plaza up from the beach

Nice Ceviche at
La Antigua Rambla

Beautiful Standing Asado

Tommy likes it

Taking in a great beach area in Pinamar (100 km North of Mar del Plata) - UFO beach.  Unfortunately we were unable to get a place to stay in this lovely area so we headed back to Baires to give Tom a day break before he was off to the Northeast and the Iguazu Falls.  Definitely a spot I will come back to someday soon.  




Last days in BA for TA.  The very lively and early evening Rose Bar on Thursdays for so called "after works drinks" which begins at 8pm and has a minimum age of 25.  I love it because on the inside you can dance like a night club, and on the outside you can take a drink and chit chat which is more my speed.  

Me, Nati, Tom, David, Fede
Great outdoor area

Other friends
Julie, Mario, Yanine

Hawks watching bait

Success!

Thanks for stopping by Tommy, I hope you enjoyed your trip to Argentina.  Be sure to tell all your friends.  See you in Venezuela in a year or two!  Oh, yeah and don't bring your huge radio then either!

Chau amigo!

Irony - Having a tiny nano with
100's of songs only to lose the
compaction of the system with
a giant set of speakers.


Other Stuff/Food


Striploin steak and salad delivered for $9.

Matambre from Martin Cocina









Make shift egg carton
Medialunes Francesa - BAC creation

$5!!