California: I´m Loving It

Holaaaaaa

Here I am in California, a day away from saying goodbye to my beloved 2007, that because of Time Zones, will be three hours longer for me! Fantastic!

I spent a lovely Christmas, but we didn´t celebrate Christmas´Eve. It was kind of strange, but ok. So we celebrated Christmas over dinner on the 25. We had Russian food over Anna´s and everything was wamr and cozy. It was so much fun! Oh! I got a new camera for Xmas!!! It´s pink, it´s sony, and I´m loving it!

After celebrating Christmas, we rented a Car in Vacaville -where we are staying at Jean´s apt and drove for a few days to Los Angeles, San Diego and Costa Mesa. We drove through the desert and of course along the Pacific Coast. PCH is awesome! I throw garbage at Leo Di Caprio´s mansion in Beverly Hills and got lots of pictures with sculptures by Noguchi. Got plenty of food and got to see great scenarios.

Back to San Francisco, we did a night tour of Alcatraz and walk the halls where Al Capone walked... It was foggy and scary...

Today we went to Napa Valley, a beautiful area full of wineries, where I had some wine tasting experiences and tours. I think it was the best day of the trip! Beautful landscapes, good wine, chilling out outdoors, just great!

Tomorrow I will be visiting the SFMOMA (Museum of Modern Art in San Francisco) and then closing the 2007 at Anna´s beautiful Russian home. But this time, we will try to grill asado (BBQ Argentina´s way). But we did ask Anna and her mum to prepare the Olivier Salad, because it´s soooo good!! It´s funny that we call that recipe Russian Salad in Argentina and they, in Russia, call it Olivier Salad, after the chef that created it.

Well, I hope everyone enjoys the last day of 2007 and begin 2008 with the right foot !!!!!

Californian kisses and best wishes!!
Bel

Californian Roadtrip

Bel & New York, where I found myself...

Funny intersections...

Funny intersection!

Reporte neoyorkino Numero ..... (ups, perdi la cuenta!)

Holis!!!

Como les va?

No desapareci! No me perdi entre las calles neoyorkinas! Si, si, soy yo! Juro que soy yo!

Uf, hace meses que no escribo a mi querida lista neoyorkina! Perdoooooooon. es que anduve bastante enloquecida con el trabajo, la conexion de internet de las monjas tambien se va pauperizando dia a dia y los fines de semana estuve viajando casi siempre a Boston , asi que sentarme a escribir reportes se me fue complicando

Los que solian visitar belandthecity.spaces.live.com se habran dado cuenta que hace semanas/meses que no subo fotitos porque cada dia funciona peor! Asi que me pase a Facebook.com

Los que visiten Facebook (les va a llegar una invitacion en un mail aparte) podran ver que hice en estos ultimos meses. Conoceran las calles de Boston y sus islitas, algunas lindas playas de Massachusets, mis fotitos de Canada, mas fotitos de museos, fotitos de mi breve visita a Buenos Aires, de mi mami en NY (si, me vino a visitar y logro no perderse en el intento!), del set de la pelicula de Sex & The City, de mi fin de semana en Upstate New York (y el parque de esculturas hermoso que visite) y de mis poquitos fines de semana en New York!!! Si, todo eso y mucho mas! Estan casi todas las miles de fotos que acumule en este año!

Sip, ya paso un añito desde que me vine a NY. Otra vez me llego el frio, y este invierno parece que va a ser un poco mas crudo. Ya nevo!!! (Hasta tuve que resignar mis taquitos y comprarme botas de lluvia/nieve.) Ay, paso tan rapido... snif snif, y ya se me termina mi año neoyorkino.

En realidad, aunque la pasantia es hasta este jueves 13, me queda un mes mas por estas latitudes.

Voy unas semanitas a Boston y paso Navidad y Año Nuevo en California!!! Si todo sale bien, andare recorriendo las calles de San Francisco, Los Angeles y quizas San Diego, y esquiando en Lake Tahoe. Si sobrevivo a mi primera vez sobre un par de esqu

'ies (no quiero ni pensar en los golpes que me voy a daaaaaar), estare regresando a Buenos Aires a mediados de enero.

A los que les debo mails, mil perdones!!! Prometo que apenas termine de trabajar intento ponerme al dia con los mails que aun adeudo. Y los que quieran postales, manden su direccion!!! It's on first come, first serve basis, asi que manden su direccion asap, mientras me queden estampillas!!!

Bueno, voy regresando a mis ultimas actividades de pasante neoyorkina!!!

Adjunto algunos chascarillos navideños!

Besotes neoyorkinos!

Bel

Bel - Live from NY - "I'll make a brand new start of it, in old New York"

http://offexploring.com/belandthecity

Warmest Memories of Fifth Ave

Todavía no puedo pensar en una navidad y uan vida lejos de New York...

ASí es como me gustaría recordarla... con algunas de las mejores fotos que saqué de sus íconos... La Catedral de San Patricio, el Empire State y los taxis amarillos...

+ pics: http://belandherpics.blogspot.com

My Metropolitan Life is Central but is in a terminal stage...

Si la historia se divide en A.C y D.C., la mía se divide en A.NY y D.NY.
Now i´m just living the dash!

Bel & Cultural Overdose: New York & Boston

I have only a few weeks left in New York and I´ve been driving myself crazy with my agenda... I want to visit all the exhibits, all the museums, all about everything!

Friday at New York Moma

Saturday afternoon @ Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Saturday night @ Hasty Pudding Harvard Theatre

Tuesday @ Chelsea Art Museum, New York

I had the pleasure to attend the Chelsea Art Museum 5th Anniversary Party last Tuesday and it was so great that I even wrote a letter to extend my gratitude and appreciation to the staff and directors for inviting the public to take part in the celebration for free.

During my year living in New York, I went a few times to the museum and had the opportunity to see different exhibits. But every time I went I got more and more into Jean Miotte's work.The party was a great opportunity to meet the artist and be surrounded by such talented people.I went with Iwona and Pawel, and we all enjoyed the dance performance and Jean's delight when looking how the dancers' moves were merging with his work. Since I'm moving back to Argentina in the next month, the anniversary party was probably my last time in the Museum.

It was a truly memorable experience!

A cambio del tiempo que necesites para ser feliz...

Halloween in the Village

Mami estuvo unos días de visita y a la salida del trabajo la llevé al Halloween Parade...
Increible!

Airplanes: When they become a nightmare (ii)

So, these are the good news from Delta.

I didn´t get a full refund after all, but the compensation they are offering is decent enough, so I won´t lost any more time, writing to them... I will accept it and I´ll organize a new trip... I just have to figure out where to go next!!!

Dear Bel and The City,

Thank you for your e-mail describing the inconvenience you experienced
due to flight irregularities when traveling with Delta and our Delta
Connection partner, Comair. We apologize for the difficulties you
encountered.

We are very concerned about the unfortunate situation you described.
Flying with Delta should be enjoyable, and I am sorry for any role we
may have played which caused your travel experience to be otherwise. The
inconvenience you experienced does not support our goal of providing a
high level of service and value to our customers. Customer service is
very important to us, and we are working hard to transform our company.


Your time is valuable, and operating on schedule is equally important to
us. However, in the process of operating scheduled service over many
different routes each day, occasional mechanical malfunctions, adverse
weather, and other interruptions to routine performance plans are
unavoidable. These are situations faced by all airlines and no air
carrier can guarantee that all flights will depart or arrive on
schedule. We are sorry you were inconvenienced due to these delays and
you also incurred additional expense.

Your comments about our onboard service are appreciated. We realize
in-flight dining can add to the overall travel experience, and it is
unfortunate you were disappointed. The changes in our meal service are a
part of Delta's comprehensive Transformation Plan to offer a more
simplified, value-driven customer experience. Accommodating our
customers' dietary needs is a service we want to provide. We arrange for
thousands of special meals on our flights every year, and we do all
possible to avoid errors.

While we would like to offer special consideration in cases such as
yours, we are unable to honor the many similar requests that we receive
from others in equally deserving situations. We follow a consistent
policy to ensure that Delta is fair to everyone who travels with us.
Accordingly, we must respectfully decline your request for a refund of
your ticket.

We have also reviewed your information and want to reimburse the
expenses you incurred for the Shuttle. Accordingly, you will receive our
check worth $59.11 within twenty business days. Additionally, as a
goodwill gesture, we have authorized the issuance of our $200.00
electronic Transportation Credit which may be used toward future Delta
travel. E-TCVs are valid for one year from the date of issue. They may
be redeemed at delta.com, Delta Reservations, or at any Delta city or
airport ticket office. Tickets issued at delta.com will not incur a
transaction fee. Fees will apply if the voucher is redeemed through any
other Delta location. You will be receiving a receipt for this e-credit
in a separate e-mail. Please refer to the terms and conditions of the
e-credit for additional information.

Again, thank you for writing. Please accept our apology for the
inconvenience you experienced. We look forward to serving you under more
normal conditions.

Sincerely,

Jessica P. Neil
Manager
Customer Care

Bel & Upstate New York - Part II: Albany + Storm King Sculpture Park

Bel & Upstate New York - Part I: Troy + Saratoga Springs