ARGENTINA September

Pictures of the temporary apartment that I am staying in Palermo which is about a half hour bus ride from the the Studio Catmandu..  The barrio in which I am living is called Palermo.. Apparantly this is where the people mostly go for the restaurants and night life.. .  I keep hearing about the most beautiful people here but so far its been just normal.. Yes there are afew handsome ladies and men but so far it seems like an average city.. Ill let you know if I have discovered this species of Buenos Aires homo sapien. 

I arrived to Buenos Aries airport safely..  However I DID miss my first flight as my kids will attest.. The first plane out of LA was delayed and that meant that I would miss the Dallas connection.  So the American Airlines lady searched what seemed like an hour for a flight that would get me there..  They found one at 9 15pm which meant that I had to wait 7 hours in the airport.. Jordan and Savannah stayed with me for a bit then went off their way back home in MY CAR which I am entrusting Jordan with it as he is going to drive MY CAR to get to and fro from his school..   I am watching you Jordan!!  

THe flight...  boring  tyopical stuff watched all the movies they had and fell asleep  Landed in Lima Peru and then almost missed the connecting flight to Buenos Aires..

When I got there Maxi picked me up in his diesel truck..  

Maxi is on the right with the red hat..  Maxi speaksin the Buenos Aires italian like spanish..  It has that lyrical rthym you hear from Itlaians.. QUite pleasant to hear.. Maxi so far has been very accomodating and attending to my every need..

That is Miguel Fuegos (sp?) on the left..  Accomplished animator from ILM who is also down here to help animate and take a lead position..  we are about the same age..    I call Miguel the "Most Interesting Man" as he is from Spain and has that accent from the dos eqquis commercials .. He knows english very well and has been tranlating for me.. He also sits next to me in the studio.  Miguel is a true believer in the artistic nature of animation and has a history films and shorts and snippets  of animation on his I.Pod.Miguel arrived the next day and he lives in the same building and we often go out to dinner and drinks by Palermo. 

My first days were spent trying to get acclimated..  time, money language, who speaks English Who doesnt.  ( most everyone in the city does NOT speak English)  but the studio is filled with people who are bi lingual..  I met Gaston and dDiego for the first time since our skyping days..  And I also met the director  JJ Campenella  .. Very sweet man..  He is know for his live action movies.. 

So far I do not have a cell phone yet.. I found out that my bank card doest work in ATMS.. that the exchange rate changes every day.. that electronics are 3,4 time what it costs in the states. They have no Super markets like ALbertsons or Safeway or Vons.. Its a small store around the corner like a smaller 7 eleven with But they sell everything I need.  

WHO WANTS A TOOTSIE ROLL!

This is very typical in the big city.. WATCHOUT!!  Keep your head low  watch your step!!  Its every where  although I did SEE one lady pick up after her dog so I think the social consciouness is changing..