From:<\/strong> Michael Addison Hey Ryan,<\/p>\n Empanadas are like turnovers with any kind of filling you want to add. Most though, here in Argentina, are either meat, vegetable, or cheese. I always ask for the meat (carne)…it\u2019s quite good.\u00a0<\/p>\n Here is a link with pics: Argentine Empanada\u2019s<\/a><\/p>\n Here is a link to how to make them the Argentine way<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n Hope you like it.<\/p>\n Mike<\/p><\/blockquote>\n From:<\/strong> Michael Addison Hey All,<\/p>\n Sorry it\u2019s been so long since I\u2019ve written. Things come up, schedules changes, and\u00a0finally, I was able to remember to go to a camera store and back up the photos from my card onto a DVD. I didn\u2019t want to risk losing the pics to a virus again, thus the back-ups were necessary.\u00a0<\/p>\n Saturday began with clouds and then the rain fell, just as we were about to get on the tennis court for our showdown (Aaron played college tennis…he might have had the upper hand). Fortunately, my game is still solid. \ud83d\ude42 I really wanted to play. Rats. Saturday night we decided to take a night to stay up all night, hitting the clubs and dancing well into the morning. We first had the most delicious steaks for dinner in a cool district called Palermo. Then we saw a live band at a local club (played covers from American rock bands). Then we went to a massive club called Crobar and danced until 6am (no idea how I was able to stay awake).\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0Yesterday two\u00a0guys I met at the hostel (Tim and Rob from the UK),\u00a0a German tomboy (Lena), and I went to one of Mendoza\u2019s attractions, the Hot Springs (thermal pools). These naturally heated pools were so cool to visit. They are on the foothills of the Andes and are so relaxing. Upon our return, some guys and I went to a cafe and chilled out, playing cards and sipping beers (another pic attached). Here\u2019s the link to the pics (thanks Michele for your Snapfish idea!). Let me know if you have problems viewing it. SnapFish<\/a><\/p>\n Got to go now…Take care everyone! I will write sooner next time.<\/p>\n Mike<\/p><\/blockquote>\n I asked Mike if he wouldn’t mind getting me some more information about some of the home made foods he was served earlier on in the trip and he responded with this email, here is the tread copied below:<\/p>\n From:<\/strong> Michael Addison Hey Ryan!<\/p>\n Sure thing…..here is one that was\u00a0made for me, called Milanesa (a\u00a0breaded steak, very popular in\u00a0Argentina). Sorry I do not have a picture of us eating it, but will keep this in mind in the future. Milanesa<\/a><\/p>\n
\nSent:<\/strong> Saturday, October 31, 2009 12:41 PM
\nTo:<\/strong> Ryan Boudreaux
\nSubject:<\/strong> Empanadas<\/p>\n
\nSent:<\/strong> Tuesday, November 10, 2009 10:27 AM
\nTo:<\/strong> Ryan Boudreaux
\nSubject:<\/strong> Ushuaia, Buenos Aires (again), Iguazu Falls, and Mendoza, Argentina<\/p>\n![\"City](\"http:\/\/cajunchefryan.rymocs.com\/images\/Ushuaia_01.jpg\" "\\"City")
<\/a>So, the last time I wrote I was in Calafate (deep into the southern Patagonia region of Argentina). I mentioned that the\u00a0following day I would be going to Ushuaia, the southern most tip of the country, a.k.a. the end of the world. The city is situated immediately next to the water (which if you continue south, takes you to Antarctica), with a beautiful harbor on the front side and a magical slew of snowy (not just snow-peaked, but in many cases totally snow-covered, mountains) just behind the city. I actually flew from Calafate to Ushuaia and I don\u2019t know if I\u2019ve ever seen such beautiful scenery as the plane floated over the Andes and descended towards the city. ![\"City](\"http:\/\/cajunchefryan.rymocs.com\/images\/Ushuaia_02.jpg\" "\\"City")
<\/a>I immediately took a cab to the one of\u00a0Lonely Planet\u2019s recommended hostels (a short drive, as Ushuaia is a small town) in the city center. Two pics show the city and water from my room at the hostel. I grabbed a room and signed up for a boat tour, which took off from the harbor at 3pm. There were 5 others in the group…really cool people, and we went to some large rock\/small land formations in the water where we saw a multitude of sea lions.\u00a0It was\u00a0cold (but not bitter cold) and the wind gusts could literally knock you down. ![\"Local](\"http:\/\/cajunchefryan.rymocs.com\/images\/LocalBar.jpg\" "\\"Local")
<\/a> Nevertheless, it was such a beautiful day too. We all had such a great time that after the 2-hour tour we decided to take in some beers at a local bar (group shot\u00a0pic attached) and then had an asado (BBQ) for dinner. A very full, but great day.
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\nThe following day (Friday, Oct. 30th), I took a plane back to B.A., arriving at 5pm. I was not planning to stay in BA again, as you know; I had already been there previously for\u00a0a week. Nevertheless, in order to get to my next destination, Iguazu, I had to pass through BA again.\u00a0I decided to stay for a few days as\u00a0my friend Aaron (mentioned in my first email) was still there, about to complete his Spanish studies and continue his travels. He is a very cool dude,\u00a0and had booked some tennis for us on Saturday (playing on red clay courts).\u00a0He also\u00a0got tickets to see an outdoor rock festival on Sunday featuring the newly reunited Faith No More. I really dig them, and thought it would be so cool to see them\u00a0while in BA. After arriving back into BA Friday night, Aaron and I\u00a0went out to dinner in the Recoleta district of BA (kind of a rich\/snazzy area, but quite affordable restaurants). The night was electric, as everyone was in a festive mood…people walking, laughing, and having fun on this Friday night. We ate at an exquisite Italian restaurant—the pasta and wine\u00a0were outstanding. We did not stay out late, as we had the tennis the following morning.<\/p>\n
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\n![\"Music](\"http:\/\/cajunchefryan.rymocs.com\/images\/Concert.jpg\" "\\"Music")
<\/a>Sunday was a highlight as Aaron, another guy (Esteban, from BA), and I went to the music festival to see some of Argentina\u2019s best rock bands…ending with Faith No More. Mike Patton, the lead vocalist was in stellar form as he belted out Epic, Falling to Pieces, and Ashes to Ashes. A few songs from the\u00a0show\u00a0are on YouTube…check it out. I\u2019ve attached some pics of the show. This was the first show–and I\u2019ve been to many in my life–where I was genuinely concerned for my welfare.\u00a0It was freakin\u00b4nuts. I was able to get up near the stage, but when the band came out…we were\u00a0crushed against the stage, and then I was sucked into a mosh pit. I was able to duck blows and get out of the pit. Although it truly was insane, I was also thinking how cool it was to be in BA, getting crushed\/ducking fists\u00a0and watching Faith No More put on a kick-ass show.\u00a0
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\n![\"Water](\"http:\/\/cajunchefryan.rymocs.com\/images\/MikeWaterFall.jpg\" "\\"Water")
<\/a>Monday, Nov. 2 was a chill day; however, it was also the day that Aaron and I left BA. It turned out that Aaron and I both had plans to go to Iguazu (NE Argentina, next to Brazil and Panama) and see the world famous—and absolutely stunning–water falls. So we decided to go together, and caught a bus that departed in the evening. Aaron had befriended a French guy at the hostel…cool guy named Jeremie, and he also joined us. It was quite a bus ride (15 hours), but these long-haul buses are so amazingly comfortable. You can recline your chair to an almost horizontal angle…so you basically have a bed at night. You are also served food and beverages (just like a plane flight), and movies were shown on the overhead LCD screens. ![\"Iguazu](\"http:\/\/cajunchefryan.rymocs.com\/images\/IguazuFalls.jpg\" "\\"Iguazu")
<\/a> Iguazu Falls is simply amazing and blows away Niagara Falls. It\u2019s an almost spiritual experience as you can get up close to these truly thunderous avalanches of water dropping from a long row of cliffs. It\u2019s really something to behold. You will see pics of this as well.<\/p>\n![\"Mendoza](\"http:\/\/cajunchefryan.rymocs.com\/images\/Mendoza.jpg\" "\\"Mendoza")
<\/a>
\nOn Thursday, we parted ways as Aaron, Jeremie went to Brazil, and I flew to Mendoza, the wine capital of Argentina. It is also the coolest town I\u2019ve come across in Argentina. It\u2019s\u00a0has a breathtaking\u00a0backdrop of\u00a0the Andes,\u00a0amazingly beautiful weather everyday, and\u00a0wide streets and sidewalks with huge birch (I think) trees that stretch out and over the wide streets. People here seem so happy and satisfied…there\u2019s a certain Joie de Vivre that is quite palatable here. Oh yes, there are beautiful parks and plazas…and it seems every night (I\u2019ve been here 4 nights) there has been some live music playing on those parks and plazas. One of the streets, Villanueva, has a plethora of high quality outdoor cafes and restaurants. With the pleasant weather, you cannot beat hanging out at one of the cafes. ![\"Outdoor](\"http:\/\/cajunchefryan.rymocs.com\/images\/OutdoorCafe.jpg\" "\\"Outdoor")
<\/a>I went on a wine tour a couple days ago…rented a bike with a group of people and hit a few bodegas. I met 3 other people on the tour (Roman and his wife Lenore from Poland and a tough, yet cool San Diego beach volleyball player chick named Jennifer). We all had\u00a0a great time sampling the great wines of this region. My favorite is the Malbec (the Trumpeter rules). You will see a\u00a0pic of us sampling wine at a table. I rented my bike from a dude named Mr. Hugo, and when you return his bikes at the end of the day, he will pour you endless glasses of wine until you leave. There is a pic of\u00a0Mr. Hugo and I…very cool dude this guy.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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\nToday I\u2019m finally leaving Argentina and taking a bus to Chile (Santiago) for a few days. After Chile, I\u2019ll go to Bolivia (may hire a tutor in La Paz and study Spanish for a week…won\u2019t be too expensive as Bolivia is very affordable). Then I\u2019ll continue north to Peru and Colombia. Brazil will be my final destination…ending my S. America tour on Jan. 15.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\nSent:<\/strong> Friday, November 13, 2009 8:13 AM
\nTo:<\/strong> Ryan Boudreaux
\nSubject:<\/strong> RE: Ushuaia, Buenos Aires (again), Iguazu Falls, and Mendoza, Argentina<\/p>\n