Making Saints Fans in Buenos Aires
I love travelling. I also love the New Orleans Saints. My fandom from the Saints has grown with every year that I’ve dated Gunner, a New Orleans native and avid Saints fan. I’d become an even BIGGER Saints fan after watching them from the 2nd row in the endzone when they played the Titans in Nashville last season. I was officially hooked. From then on out, I had to watch every play, every game. And so, when I was traveling around South America just as the playoffs for the 2011-2012 season were starting, I wasn’t going to let a little thing like a difference in the earth’s hemisphere prevent me from watching the Saints whoop the Lions. (Let’s get one thing straight, ordinarily I do NOT plan my evenings in exotic places around TV schedules). Fortunately, Hostel Estoril in Buenos Aires had cable TV. They also had the Latin American version of ESPN. They also had several potential Saints fans. It was a Saturday night in Buenos Aires, so I did what any other 25 year old American girl would do. I claimed ownership of the common room, opened a beer, and turned on the NFL game. The room had been empty at first, but slowly, one or two bored patrons of the Hostel Estoril drifted in, eyeing the television curiously. “It’s football!” I explained innocently/excitedly/stupidly once or twice before remembering futbol meant something else to the rest of the world. After awhile, quite a crowd formed, mostly composed of soccer fans who were willing to give the NFL a shot. Israelis, Canadians, and Brazilians were cheering for Drew Brees, even if they didn’t have a clue who he was, or why they were cheering for him. And I was quite proud, especially when the Saints won in the end. (Only to go on and lose the following week and then get plagued by bounty allegations…but we won’t talk about that.) “American Football” night at the Hostel Estoril ended up being a success....
When Your Phrasebook Won’t Save You: Learning New Languages for Travel
When I went to Brazil last December, I wasn’t too concerned about Portuguese. After all, I was meeting my Brazilian friend, Raquel – getting around would be a cinch. It would’ve been wise to practice just a little bit of Portuguese for that half hour when I was simply trying to board the right bus at the Rio de Janeiro airport. Sure, I knew how to ask “Where is the bus to Copacabana?” – Raquel had given me that much – but I had no idea how to interpret any of the answers I was receiving. As I look at my map of the world and begin plotting my next trip, I’m currently eyeing the Camino Frances, a walk that begins in the south of France, and then continues through Spain. It’ll take me through countryside and towns, and while the walk is covered by hundreds of pilgrims every year, I’m already plotting ways I can pick up the essential French words I’ll need to travel effectively – at least, more efficiently than my Rio de Janeiro aeropuerto fiasco. What would the easiest way to learn how to order a meal in French? A bed at a hostel? Use French websites for accommodation, restaurants, transportation, etc – and employ Google Translate to help. Browsing hostels in French (and booking!) is a great place to start. From there, I’m getting a grasp on basic words like nuitées (nights), auberges de jeunesse (hostels- literally, “hostels of youth”), dortoirs (dorms), and chambres privatives (private room). Sure, most hostels will speak a little bit of English, but knowing these basic French words will guarantee I won’t be stuck for three nights in a dorm when I wanted four nights in a private room. Don’t be too proud to admit you really don’t know the language. I took two years of Spanish in high school, and had started brushing up on it prior to my trip. I’d be fine, I assured myself. Yeah, right. While in Iguazu Falls, I knew I’d have to ask my hostel to call a shuttle to pick me up and take me to the airport. That request seemed simple enough. I figured I knew enough basic nouns to squeak by, and my pride got the best of me as I embarrassed myself. The receptionist at the hostel looked at me blankly as I struggled to form a cohesive sentence, and I began to wonder if I’d be stranded in Iguazu Falls forever. (I tend to get overly dramatic when I’m overseas.) I may have taken two years of Spanish, eight years ago… but I’d had no practice “in the field”. Practice the basics with...
Off the Map Travel: Svalbard, Norway
When I’m in the middle of a job and know I won’t be able to sneak away for a few months, I satisfy the urge to escape by pouring over maps of the world. So, as a perpetual daydreamer plagued by curiosity of places not many folks visit, and as lover of adventures in general, I’m starting a new series: Off the Map Travel. While I’m based at home, it’ll (somewhat!) satisfy my wandering mind… and perhaps yours, as well! I’ll start with a personal favorite that gives me chills whenever I look at its location on a map… Svalbard, Norway. Svalbard Svalbard is an archipelago located inside the Arctic Circle way, way, WAY north of Europe. We’re talking further north than most of Greenland and Canada, folks! Up until a year ago, I had no idea it was an inhabitable place – and it’s possible to get there. The main entry point into Svalbard is through Longyearbyen, a port town located towards the center of the island. With a population of just shy over 2,000, there’s somewhat of an established tourist infrastructure, plus the added bonus of the basics, such as electricity and internet. Primarily a home for those in the mining and research industries, it’s a quaint little town that serves as the gateway to the rest of the uninhabited, picturesque landscapes of Svalbard. How to Get There There’s a weekly boat that goes from Tromso to Longyearbyen, but the most economical and quickest option is by way of Scandinavian Airline Systems. SAS has two direct flights to Longyearbyen most days of the year, one departing from Oslo and one departing from Tromso. It isn’t a budget flight by any means, but prices can get as low as $350 roundtrip if booked far enough in advance. Seeing the Island The most popular way to take in the sights of Svalbard is by way of cruise – a 6-night cruise will take you all around the west and north parts of the island, showcasing glaciers and arctic wildlife that would otherwise be impossible to see if you were trying to plot the route yourself. There are TONS of cool activities in Svalbard, albeit pricey. Day hikes, excursions, and taking a day trip via snowmobile to the last remaining Russian settlement of Barentsburg on Svalbard are just a few of the options available. Pyramiden If I ever can justify the cost of getting to Svalbard, at the top of my list is checking out Pyramiden, an Arctic ghost town that used to be a bustling Russian mining town in the 70’s and 80’s, but was suddenly abandoned in 1998. It’s the definition of creepy: abandoned homes, buildings, schools, still with furniture, clothing,...
Evading Thieves in Latin America
During the two weeks I was in South America, I managed to have a quick, good trip without any incidents of pickpocketing, or mugging. Petty theft around Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires isn’t out of the ordinary. I didn’t see any incidents, but I did meet several people who themselves had been victims once I got to Buenos Aires. Four people at my hostel got robbed while they were in Buenos Aires, only one was somewhat violent – a guy got wrestled to the ground for his iPhone, but onlookers interceded and scared the thief away. Flashing expensive gadgets in public and looking like a clueless tourist with money to lose will obviously will make you any easy pick. However, there are ways to avoid making yourself a target. Do as locals do. As I walked down the streets of Buenos Aires, especially down the crowded Florida street, I realized that nearly all of the local ladies were wearing their purses crossbody, with one hand securing it in place. In Rio, my Brazilian friend NEVER wore a purse, but always kept her cash in her front pockets. She never brought more than what she’d need for that particular outing. When you get lost, fake it, and duck into a hotel to ask for directions. Hopelessly lost, I BS’ed my way around Congreso Plaza with backpack, daypack in tow for a solid 20 minutes before I stumbled across a hotel. It wasn’t MY hotel, mind you, but I knew if I smiled sweetly at the man behind the front desk, he would have no choice but to at least point in the direction of Avenida de Mayo, where my hostel was located. It worked. Although stumbling around hopelessly for 20 minutes felt like an eternity, I never appeared flustered, nor did I pull out a map in exasperation. If you’re paranoid like me but despite money belts, make a hidden pocket. Jasmine of Jasmine Wanders offered a great, cheap tip: take a small, drawstring pouch and a large safety pin. Put money or credit cards inside, and then pin the pocket to the inside of your jeans or skirt. When I wore a dress, I slid the entire pouch in the bra area of my dress. (Obviously, it was a little more noticeable when I was trying to hide a credit card, ha!) Don’t be afraid to ask for help – but be smart with who you ask. Opting for the $2.50 bus ride as opposed to an $80 cab ride, I found myself wandering around aimlessly for the specific bus stop I needed. After checking all the bus stops, and not finding...
Enjoying the Gulf from Ship Island, Mississippi
Hattiesburg is high on my list for most frequented destinations, if only because it’s where Gunner lives. If you haven’t been that way, summertime in the deep south is sweltering. The humidity is oppressive, only giving way occasionally in the form of an afternoon thunderstorm. It doesn’t take long for me to begin yearning for the Gulf and a cool ocean breeze in the midst of these conditions. A Day Trip to Ship Island Gunner presented me with a great day trip idea to one of Mississippi’s barrier islands: West Ship Island, Mississippi. Blindly agreeing without doing any research (and also excited to go on a trip someone else had planned), I was expecting the standard American beach with a little built up touristy-ness, kinda like Atlantic Beach, or perhaps Destin — and I was presently surprised by Ship Island’s ruggedness. About Ship Island There aren’t any accommodations on Ship Island – for the mass populous, anyway. However, there are bathrooms and showers, and full snack bar outfitted with air conditioning and alcoholic beverages. (Traveler Be Warned: The “margarita” comes in a can!) Ship Island’s charm exists in its sole purpose: to be a barrier island. It isn’t built up like Myrtle Beach or the Outer Banks, but it isn’t meant to entertain for longer than a day. Even after 6 hours, I realized that amenities aren’t really missed here. People come to Ship Island to relax and stare at the Gulf. While I loved having a rough, undeveloped beach close at hand and still enjoying the conveniences of indoor plumbing – there were man-made conveniences that I found to be an eyesore: the dreaded blue beach chairs and beach umbrellas. But I get it’s provided in an effort to make a day trip to Ship Island an easier trip for folks and to cut down on the overall amount of crap people bring, plus make a little additional income. (Umbrellas and chairs are available for full and half day rentals, by the way. We just brought towels and laid on the beach and ended up getting a lovely sunburn – we’re so old school.) It does cut down on the natural rustic charm of the island, but the chairs don’t go on forever. Walk past them for a quiet part of the beach all to yourself. The Aquatic Wildlife My goodness, I’d never seen a more active ecosystem at any other beach! I’m not sure if it’s due to Ship Island’s position in the warm Gulf, or the limited amount of disruption from humans – but there were SO MANY hermit crabs hanging out right where the waves were breaking. A...
Venice at Sunset (Photo Essay)
Although I was dirt poor in the spring of 2009, I was able to score a $375 roundtrip ticket from New York to Milan. My friend Ashley and I then took the 3-hour train to Venice, which was unbearably hot by day – but breathtaking once the sun decided to dip beneath the horizon. Armed with my new Nikon D60, I snapped away as the different shades of yellows, oranges, and blues danced across the waterways, but was easily overwhelmed – this kind of beauty is impossible to capture in a lens. At dusk, sunlight is very delicate and forgiving – only making room for the slightest detail, and colors are at their richest. It’s what the folks in film production call “magic hour”. Needless to say…Venice is in my top 5 for sunsets. Where was your favorite...
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I'm Laryssa, and when I'm not working in film or television, I'm attempting to travel -- or I'm here, providing resources for working in film or travel. Read more Elsewhere on the internets
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