#for her to experience latam crowds

[latinashepard]

the latinamericanization of taylor swift starts this week

[xceanlynx]

Hi! It's me, waking up from a nice nap to give my lovely mutuals, but especially @khaofirsts @hushedstars @drama-nonsense (the amazing people who accepted my letter-delivering proposal lol) my detailed experience in the FirstKhao fanmeet in Brazil!

So, I only got there by 3:45pm, and the gates would open to the general audience by 4pm (only the people who got VIP1 — the ones y'all probably saw taking solo pictures with First and Khaotung — got to enter earlier) and oh my God the lines were LONG. It was a bit more organized than how it was earlier (in the morning there was only one giant line that was divided by sectors in the afternoon) and the temperature was very nice, not as nearly as hot as it was the day before. Here, it was just a few minutes before it started:

One thing I want to emphasize so much is that there were so many different kinds of people there! Usually in events like this, with asian celebrities, the crowd tends to be more white, female presenting, more emo/punk vibes, and definitely more lgbtq+, but my guys, when I say there were people of all types, I MEAN IT. There were some nice ladies (that were probably 50+) cheering so much in the line, at first I thought they were mothers accompanying their kids but NO, they were fans! There were also a lot of men too, and gender non conforming people, trans people, you name it!

There were also many black and asian people, although white and white presenting people were still the majority (also, many photos may have you think there were only white and whiteish people but the lights that lit the crowd were so strong they basically made everyone look pale lol).

There were also many people from other countries. There were two guys (i believe they are a couple) that I have no idea where they were from, they only talked to staff in english but to each other they spoke some language I have no idea. There were also many latam groups, I saw some girls from paraguay, I know there was a group from Chile too, and there were probably more that I haven't seen. The crowd was DIVERSE!

But enough of all this pre fanmeet talk, let's get to the real stuff!

My moots. Dear moots. I almost lost my hearing /j. We were so loud, and we always are, it's basically cultural of Brazil to be louder than the artist, but last night was something else. Everyone was so excited, really, it is a different atmosphere.

The boys were so, so nervous! It was very easy to see how nervous they were in the beginning, but I think they got a lot more relaxed as the fanmeet went on. When they first entered singing, oh my god... They really got so surprised we were singing so loudly, I bet y'all have seen the footage already, it's all over twitter. They couldn't believe what they were seeing lol

Just a tiny video I took of part of their introduction (IN ALMOST PERFECT PORTUGUESE MIGHT I ADD) — bear with me I own a 6-year-old samsung and I was in the box seats, the quality won't be qualitying lmao (I made a friend while waiting in line and she'll send me some of her videos, thankfully)

I was kinda shocked, yet not really shocked, when I noticed that First wasn't singing live. Like I get it, we all know he isn't really a singer, and considering this was their largest event (by number of people: ~4k), they probably thought that it would be better that way. In any case, I don't think people really minded at all. We scream so loudly anyway that live or not, we would barely hear it lmao and he was such a charismatic performer, he interacted with everyone he could in the standing crowd. Mr. Kanaphan is a tease, you all!!!

Idk if that was just me but Khaotung sounded a little bit rough in his song, which he sang live. Maybe he had a sore throat? No idea, but by the last song (let's try) he sounded very good. Maybe it was recorded, but I really didn't noticed. Their stage presence got better and better at every song. AND RAPPER KHAOTUNG? OKAY! GIVE ME SOME MORE OF THAT!!!

The questions and games were very fun! I'm not the type that like much fanservice (all of this was fanservice, I know, but like, those obvious one, you get me?) but they were really nice and not much forced. The questions were also very nice and well-curated (no nonsense ship questions), although I think there were a couple of questions the translator didn't understand fully (also, we were screaming so much I can't blame her for not hearing) and she probably translated to them wrong/not complete, so their answers were a bit weird but we understood what they meant. Also, they tried to samba! The crowd singing Zeca Pagodinho! So random... poor boys were so, so awful lmao but we can forgive them because they're cute

The game interactions with the two fans were also really nice! The girls were very polite (one of them was very young and timid, poor thing) and yeah, it was cool *alexa, play "That Should Be Me" by Justin Bieber*

The surprise fan video was so wholesome. I was almost tearing up lol and when, in the video, a deaf fan appeared signing how much she loved them I lost it and just started crying. Really, they are such great people and their talent has entertained and inspired so many different groups, it really is heartwarming.

Okay, now for the picture: Look, I was in a trance like state. I have absolutely no idea how I got on that stage to take the photo. I was the last one of the group so I couldn't sit next to them, but I believe I got to be somewhat behind Khaotung? I remember seeing the top of his head. Oh my god I really blanked out

As for the hi touch, it was so fast I kinda also did not register much? My brain really was malfunctioning. What I can remember is: They aren't as tall as I thought? Like, I don't think they are lying about their height, I just realized I'm not as short as I thought lol I am 168cm and, with the shoes I was wearing I was probably ~171cm. Still shorter but not as short as I somehow thought I would be.

Their hands are soft. Very soft. Also, their skin literally is flawless, everyone was commenting how perfect it was, just like porcelain. I don't know what treatments they do, and what makeup they use, but I need the detailed list right now!

Also, fuck my life: I can try to say anything, literally anything, but when I get in front of celebs the only thing I can mutter is "hi" with a giant smile. What the fuck I couldn't even say something like "i love you" or "you're handsome".... NO. I JUST SAID HI AND LEFT 😭😭😭

Okay, that's pretty much how it went. Oh, and as I was waiting for my uber to arrive, and I was more distant from the venue so I could avoid the crowd. I was in the street right in front of the gates of the venue, but still more distant, there were probably like 10 people around me. I heard so many people screaming at the entrance of the venue — firstkhao were going back to the hotel (you can see the van in an earlier post of mine). They entered the van and then the van was signaling they were going to turn left to the same street I was waiting the uber. Oh. My. God. I started waving like crazy, they could not have missed me looking like those gas station inflatable men lmao I couldn't see them because the window was very dark but boy I just know they saw me again 😂😂😂😂

To finish up, as the official photo wasn't released yet, let me show where I am in the gmmtv pic. Look at top left where the arrows are pointing. See the two hands? That's me, baby

[h-f-k]

tw: me being sappy and pathetic

taylor's show being so close from happening still feels like the most bizarre thing ever but it also made me think of the longevity of my love for taylor and how i have such vivid memories of my childhood/teeange years which involve her in one way or another. I remember the first time i listened to breathe, being a dramatic clown listening to white horse or invisible and making them about the crushes i used to have on these stupid boys lmao. The first time the lyrics of tied together with a smile truly hit and could understood them and i broke down crying, how i witnessed the drama and messiness of the speak now era with joe jonas, camila belle, taylor lautner, etc shjdbfhjsz. I remember how hard i tried to make my friends like taylor because i wanted to have someone to enjoy her songs with and how i just gave up and ended up being the crazy taylor swift fan who would be the butt of the joke most the time. I remember how i was so stupid to believe, with every album release, that taylor would perform here and it was always hard to keep watching everyone make their dreams come true while latam fans were relegated time and time again.

This (and not only the argentina shows but taylor playing in latam in general) feels like the biggest, warmest and tightest hug to my 12 year old self, or my 15 year old, or 17, or 20, or 22, or 25. It's the biggest hug to all the past versions of me who once believed this moment would never come. It brings me so much joy that for the first time in our lives taylor is performing here and i can't wait for her to experience the argentine crowd, to feel loved and celebrated, for her to FULLY regret being this stupid for only touring united states, two random countries from europe and australia/nz all these years (yeah i WILL be petty and salty about this, i don't care lmao, i have the right) I wish i could time travel and show my three tickets, my tour outfits and all the friendship bracelets i did to an 11 year old Nina who first listened to this american country artist for the first time and decided to become a fan and integrate Taylor in her life.

[deanwinchestergf]

i know some of you might not understand concert etiquette in latam but it is INSANE. and im not saying this in any condescending way because i myself have been traumatized in pit just bc i wanted to reach barricade. and its like. getting in line at 6am, no bathroom break bc you cant risk losing your seat, no food no water bc your soooo close to everyone else you can barely move. and thats all even before the show starts.

for the eras tour buenos aires we didnt want to risk having a bad experience, this was like my first BIG concert after covid and also both my gf and i are really prone to getting anxiety attacks whenever its too crowded so we went straight to the bleachers that are like. included in pit (? idk how else to explain it bc it was new to me too ive never been to a stadium that has that but yea. it was definitely thee best decision we could've taken bc we had an amazing time and most importantly. we weren't suffocating lol. but i had lots of friends in pit who tried for barricade and were like fighting for their lives. one of my friends literally had a panic attack bc she couldn't breathe and the guards had to take her in the middle of like fearless era and she ended up in the back but still had a much better time there than other people who fought tooth and nail for barricade. and thank god my gf convinced me to get to the bleachers instead bc if something had happened to her or if we had had to separate for safety reasons i think i wouldve gotten a panic attack just from losing her in that sea of people :(

what happened last night was horrible and heartbreaking. i know todays gonna be even hotter so please if any of my mutuals and followers will be attending please please let me know youre okay and you got home safe!!! it is literally the experience of a lifetime so please prioritize you safety bc otherwise you wont be able to truly enjoy it the way it should be!!!!!

[alarrytale]

I always find it kind of funny when you and your anons (please don’t take this in an offensive way) say that Louis’ speeches is the same every night and the same setlist.

When Harry toured I almost knew his speeches better than my own name, if it wasn’t for the breaks where he read signs, he said the exact same thing every night, you could even hear the people who was live for his shows saying them together with him. His thank you speeches didn’t change, just like Louis’ didn’t do and just like most artists probably don’t so.

His setlist was also almost identical during the whole tour, only with a couple surprises at Wembley and Harryween. Louis gave us a new cover when LATAM leg started and at the festival two months ago he played Just hold on.

Don’t get me wrong, I love Harry and Louis equally, I just sometimes feel we want more from Louis, just because he doesn’t have the “funny” stage performance like Harry.

Just a little comment regarding Dylan. I think it was her own choice to not sing the song, I’m sure she don’t even know Louis good enough to know if Larry is real or not, and therefore she didn’t want to take the chance in making anyone unhappy. Louis sure didn’t tell her if he dates Harry or not, if he had a problem with the song he would have never hired her to the job.

Hi, anon!

In order not to offend anyone i think it's important to distinguish between what i say and what my anons say. My anons say loads of different things. Some i agree with and some i don't.

I have said that his speeches are the same every night, but i have not said that his setlist is the same. I have said the opposite. I would have preferred a fixed setlist so you know what songs you're going to get and make it easier for Louis to know the setlist and make it easier for him to learn the lyrics of the songs. He could switch out one song per night if he wanted to and make that a surprise (like TS does) or do one song as a treat every other show like H does with Medicine. H also invited legends on stage a couple of times to join him (Harry and Daryl Braithwaite singing the Horses as an example. The aussie crowd LOVED that).

I was pretty bored with H's thank you speech at the end of tour, you're right. But H's interactions with fans, his banana song, his impromptu snippets of 1D songs, the gender reveals and coming outs etc. all made each show different and memorable. We were able to distinguish between each show and look forward to what would happen at the next show. It was exciting and unpredictable.

I do think we expect more of Louis because he isn't showing us his charming and funny personality and entertaining us in the same way that other artists do. I think it's absolutely fine to not want to do stand up between songs like H does, but you need to find something that's memorable, engages fans and make it a good experience to compensate for the lack of entertainment.

I see everyone on twitter talking about Sabrina Carpenter's lyric changes for "Nonsense". She changes the lyrics of the outro on the fly. Sometimes she’s paying tribute to the city in which she’s performing and, other times, she’s testing how far she can push the limits of sexually suggestive lyrics. Everyone is talking about it across fandoms and it's making people pay attention to her and put her on people's radars. I think it's pretty brilliant. I would love for Louis to do something like that.

About Dylan. I think it wasn't her own choice, because it's an obviously wrong choice to make for her and her career. It's her biggest hit, it's about a 1D member and she’s at a festival full of directioners. She couldn’t have played a more relatable song than that song, and it would have made the crowd go ballistic. And what artist doesn’t play their most famous song? What small scale artist does that? What a missed opportunity! She wants louies/larries as fans? Cater to them? Louis wants harries and directioners to come to the festival? Cater to them! I'm sorry, but i don't see one good reason why she would skip that song to that audience at that festival. The song isn't a larry song, it's a harrie song. Nobody in the crowd would have a problem with it being played. So somebody behind the stage must have.

[dearreader]

I agree it's too early for rep TV, but her dancers are posting black hearts everywhere

And also... I was in the crowd on Nov 12th. I'm the "eldest" swiftie I know, so everyone I talked to (I'm talking about friends/acquaintances) and gave my opinion on the Nov 10th theory wasn't really happy with what I had to say, but I never believed she would announce it that day. Everyone really hoped she would (even really "new" fans)

The feeling I got from that is that we just want to be a part of things. We wanna be a part of the rerecording history. She's touring latam for the first time, and chances are she won't come back (for reasons I can describe if needed). She'll do Mexico again, but it's unlikely she'll do Argentina/Brazil again. And we all know that. We just want announcement like the US got (twice), and like Asia will probably get and Europe too.

I understand the whole conversation about demanding too much too often from her. I really do and I think it's a very valid point and something to be discussed. I miss when there were less of us and more interested in her actual music. But please understand we don't mean harm. We never got tour dates before this, we don't get merch (shipping is crazy expensive and they let you buy one of each only so you can't even pool in money with friends to share shipping costs), and we just wanna feel like we're part of her story too.

I know you haven't said anything but I needed to put this opinion out there and maybe someone will read it and understand what's going on.

Thank you for reading 🩵

hi, thank you for sharing.

i do understand all of this, i really do, and im going to try phrasing this in a way so i don’t come off rude.

i understand that you want to be apart of re-recording history but i still think latam is apart of it (correct me if i’m wrong). but you guys got to be there when 1989TV dropped and also so many other fun moments (like chiefs on the screen). and i can’t speak on taylor returning to latam because i’m not from there and don’t want to step over the line (and i don’t think it has anything to do with the whole T4F fiasco since that was the stadiums fault and taylor wouldn’t blame brazil on that). but a majority of the people i’m seeing turn out the theories are swifties from the states who are counting her steps in the reputation set and using math to prove reputation is next. if she did announce reputation tonight i’d 100% eat my words and be excited about it as i love reputation. but i still think at the end of the day it’s an INSANE thing to ask of taylor to announce another album. we ready got two this year, one last year, a whole concert movie, and so much more. and even before midnights i saw people complaining that we hadn’t gotten any new taylor announcements and how was anyone supposed to go on if we didn’t get one (when we had gotten two surprise albums not even a year ago).

again i get what you’re saying and do not want to come off as rude or mean in anyway. being a city that she announced something that big at is a thing to remember, but i don’t think it’s right to ask her to keep announcing and releasing stuff just to make a moment and be remembered. she’s literally just a person at the end of the day and she’s still doing everything to make this a memorable concert experience for everyone there. just because latam may not get a re-recording announcement doesn’t mean it’s not anyway less apart of the history of the re-recordings like any other place.

again, thank you for sharing your opinion and telling me this as it did give me a different view on this. but i don’t think she’ll announce it tonight as it’s still crazy close to 1989tv and she’s allowed to let her projects breathe.

i hope you have a good night 🫶🏻

[folkyts]

latam crowd is INSANE i'm so happy that taylor gets to experience it!! can't wait for her shows here in brasil cause we will go crazy

[jakeperalta]

I love Taylor swift’s songs, i really do. But speaking of her concerts always makes me SO mad.

I am from latin america, and she has never performed anywhere here (with the exception of a single private show in 1 country which seriously doesn’t count). And the reasons people justify this with are always ridiculous. It is not about demand, since she sells a crazy amount of records, the whole concept i hear lately of “she can’t do stadium tours bc there are no stadiums” is ridiculous ofc there are stadiums!!! South america is crazy about football, we have plenty of great stadiums!! Have people actually seen other artist’s concerts?? Huge crazy shows are done with all of the same effects/stages that in other countries.

The only reason i could think of why she ignores such a huge portion of her fanbase here (and in many other parts of the world like asia, africa and a huge portion of europe) is money. Which is kind of icky honestly.

Of course in latam we are in constant crisis and artists do make less than doing the same show in the US. But even so most huge international artists still come here to full stadiums. Whether it is bc of the experience (there really aren’t crazier or more passionate crowds than those in south america) or bc of the fans they do. Honestly most don’t need a huge profit either, and it is not like they are losing money — just not making the same (huge) amount that they do in the us.

Like coldplay opened and closed their tour in Argentina bc they loved it so much!! The rock in rio is MENTAL and any artist can tell u. Watch lollapalooza arg, br or chile in YouTube for any artist and you will see how full and crazy those festivals are. Plenty of artists have done films about concerts down here bc of the experience (acdc, roger waters, etc). So she is more of an exception to most.

Taylor barely acknowledges us. And it kind of lead me through the years to really love her music but not her as much :/

And the thing is, if she has actual reasons for it, why doesn’t she explain them?? Like i am not unreasonable i am not saying do a world tour for every album, but once in her like 15 year old career??? All major artists have come here, why doesn’t she?

I am sorry i am ranting lol, but every time i see swifties discussing concerts/festivals/etc i get so angry bc i really really wish she would come here. Anyways, maybe when this pandemic ends maybe we might have a chance, who knows 😕

that's valid, I think it would be really hard to not feel completely ignored and frustrated. it seems ridiculous that taylor hasn't been to Latin America at all despite five "world" tours, especially because like you say those crowds are renowned for being the best and most passionate. (wasn't it at that one show she did where there's the video of the crowd just fully singing sparks fly back to her without her prompting them which everyone shares as an iconic crowd moment?) I really hope that when all this is over and she's planning her next tour she takes you guys into consideration!!

[spidderboy]

TELL ME BOUT UR HALSEY CONCERT

i made a list of highlights

-she talked a lil bit in spanish, like everyone does when they come to mexico or any LATAM country but i don’t blame her i luv her lmao

-we started chanting “Te Amo” and she replied w a “ i love you too, mexico city!”

-i love that everyone hyped lauren,, and everyone knew halsey’s songs and it was even better. like the crowd was rlly hyped as well

-before singing “closer” she had a small talk w the crowd and she said how in love she was w mexico bc she shouted Now or Never and Sorry music videos here so she lived for 2 weeks in here and she fell in love with the city. and she also talked about how her shows make her fee way better when she is angry or just in a bad mood, and she was like “cuz when i wake up pissed and i have a show and after a few songs i am all happy and oh guys it isn’t fair i was supposed to b angry” and she STARTED TEARING UP SO SHE SANG CLOSER W A SHAKY VOICE IT WAS TOO INTIMATE

-Lauren opened the show and she sang strangers w halsey alsndkdnd

-her backup dancer WAS AMAZING AS USUAL-she SANG DONT PLAY !!! and the last bit of “women, don’t play no games” is just a great thing to shout

-she brought g-eazy on stage to sing “Him & i”-then she said that this wasn’t the last surprise and that she hoped we were ready !!!! foreshadowing smh

-before singing bad at love she asked if we believed in love and everyone was like YeS and then she laughed and said “hahaha i used to be like that too, poor you” balejlsnsskd

-during Is There Somewhere she did the thing where she came up to the barricade and stood up there holding on the fans hands and at some point there was pushing so she had to just remains them that they all had to be kind at each other not only at her, and to be careful !

-during hurricane she explained that “you don’t belong to anybody but yourself” and i know she does this in every show but like it is amazing to just hear her say that w your own two ears

-DOOD HER VIBE, she just makes the whole room buzz w excitement

-she PLAYED THE TEASER/TRAILER FOR THE STRANGER VIDEO TO US FOR THE FIRST TIME!!! AND FUCK IT WAS THE MOST AMAZING EXPERIENCE BC EVERYONE WAS SHOUTING AND SCREAMING WHEN LAUREN AND HER CAME UP IN THE VID AND LIKE SAME.

[bites-kms]

Mi Buenos Aires Querido

Buenos Aires: Good Vibes, Tailwind, Hopeful Winds. All these could be an accurate transcreation of its original Spanish name, but nothing further than the truth: this eclectic, diverse, stylist and hectic metropolis is a South American hub for fashion, creativity, food and culture. 

It’s hard to talk about Argentina, but I will do my best to leave my Uruguayan bias aside and be as truthful to my experiences as possible. Buenos Aires is like your older, more fashionable sister: you admire her from the distance, you think she is as cool as it could get, and you’d kill to be like her. Of course, after an intense long weekend with her, you are eager to return to the more laidback version of it, Montevideo, my home. After some visits to both cities, one starts appreciating the differences and the nuances between these two “Silver Princesses”, honoring the river’s name that waters their shores. 

I visited Buenos Aires several times before starting this blog. All of these trips were different and unique in their own way: there were solo trips, a couple’s retreat, multiple done via ferries commute and some via airport queues;  I went for advertising festivals, educational congresses, music concerts and shopping weekends with my dearest friends. Buenos Aires has something for everyone, so my best recommendation is to have in mind a very clear objective for your stayed, since its constant movement and energy may easily draw you into a non-stop vortex of adventure, resulting in a massive anxiety state of mind and FOMO feeling. Here, I’m proposing a few long weekend options (since time there is perceived different, and as an Uruguayan, 4 days in Buenos Aires feels like two insane weeks) that you can use as a guide for your next trip down under:

Showtime Buenos Aires

Check out a concert. The Argentinian crowd, as well as Uruguayan or any other Latino audience, generates an experience on its own, you want to experience at least once during your lifetime. River Stadium filled with crazy, emotional fans is incredible. The beat of the bass felt in your bones while jumping on the field and people’s sweat on your body sounds disturbingly attractive to be honest. Polo National Stadium is also a favorite venue for locals where international and national bands alike give their best performances. For a more local taste, do not miss Ciudad Cultural Konex, a multi-disciplinary space where La Bomba del Tiempo performs regularly. Imagine the latin version of Stomp. That vaguely describes it. Last but not least, make sure to save a night for Fuerza Bruta, a signature show in Buenos Aires. I won’t say much about it, I’m just gonna quote their own website description: “an experience of collective, universal sensibility, without translation, and nor anesthesia. Brutally happy”. Corrientes Avenue is  Buenos Aires’ Broadway. Reaching Puerto Madero, hugging the Obelisk, a parade of national theaters where vedettes, actors, singers perform their latest and best shows is also a classic. Don’t forget Señor Tango, a multi-sensorial tango show with local cuisine.  

Cultural Buenos Aires

La Boca is your starting point. A colorful, over-touristy neighborhood where you experience the football passion, the asado taste and the tango heritage. Originally a low-class, dangerous neighborhood surrounded by the port, brothels and slums, it now became an international destination over the weekends with its crafts market, colorful facades and fileteado porteño, a unique, hand made lettering style that resembles French craft, usually associated with tango and Buenos Aires golden era. Have some entraña steak knowing that it will surely be overpriced and not the best one, but you will be paying for the experience and not just for the food. Visit La Boca stadium and check out its surrounding murals and street art. Watch a street tango show and super talented street artists performance. Take a bus to San Telmo, and enjoy a more relaxed, local vibe. Check out its main square and wonder around its market looking for hidden, used gems. Head northwest to Recoleta, on the opposite side of the city, and visit its cemetery. Yes, you read correctly: Recoleta Cemetery is where Evita is buried and it has some of the most beautiful tombs and niches. During summer time, with its trees, flowers and offerings, it becomes a gorgeous place to take a relaxed stroll and calm down the city frenziness. End up your tour in MALBA, the Museum of Latin American Art in Buenos Aires with its itinerant and permanent exhibition, it gathers the biggest LATAM art collection in the world. To end up in a high note, visiting El Ateneo is a must. A 5 store, beautiful bookstore with a cafe, which used to be a theater, awaits in El Retiro neighborhood. According to 2019 National Geographic, is the world's most gorgeous library. If you have time, read a little bit of Argentina and South American history before heading to Plaza 25 de Mayo where the Casa Rosada, the pink version of the White House, is. This is the place where the National government is located and most of the social manifestations and gatherings happen. Walk down 9 de Julio Avenue, the widest avenue is the world to check out the Obelisk. 

Foodie Buenos Aires

This is surely not updated. I am craving to go back and visit all the new and truly local recommendations my Argentinean friends love. But some of the areas I remember being a must when it comes to culinary experiences are Palermo, Puerto Madero and Las Canitas. I haven't been to this last one, but it’s supposed to be the swankiest place to check out the best food in town. There are some classics every Uruguayan visits at least once during their stayed: El Palacio de la Papa Frita, where their traditional blown french fries are the menu’s best seller, Il Gatto, the Italian to-go chain where portions are massive and prices affordable and El Alamo, the traditional 20-year-old something bar where free pitches of beer or insane 2X1 promos are held for ladies. Palermo is my favorite one thou, probably because that is were I used to stayed the most each time I went. Buenos Aires has its own Burger Joint, the signature NYC burger spot in Plaza Serrano. Check out Krishna Veggie for an out-of-the-box dinner treat and make sure you have spare bills since this one is cash only. For a unique speakeasy experience check out Nicky’s, the sushi bar around Plaza Armenia and ask to visit the cellar. A visit to Buenos Aires is not complete if you don’t have an Italian style gelato, and although you can find good options in Fredo or in local ice-cream shops, my favorite one is L’altra Volta. Bites&KMs tip: get the dark chocolate with passion fruit. 

Fashionable Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires economy is as fluctuant as its traffic, energy and beat. So, a trip to Argentina can result on great shopping deals. If you end up going on the right time, everything will be super, super cheap, except exchanging the dollars you may have. But after that, be ready for a treat. And this is no exception when it comes to fashion: major brand outlets are spread out around Cordoba Street, commonly known as “El Once”, whereas more high-end alternatives, boutiques and brands can be found by Santa Fe, and of course, inside the beautiful malls  the city offers such as Alto Palermo. The classic Galerias Del Pacifico or Florida in Microcentro area are a little bit forgotten nowadays but they still represent the glamorous era of Argentina, with hidden deals and seasonal discounts worth checking out. Plaza Serrano and Palermo Soho have multiple stores and markets where to get cool, design options for every budget. 

As a final note, while living abroad I always had the chance to meet Argentinean people - hell, most of the time I get confused as one due to my accent. And, even thou there’s a constant futile rivalry between Uruguay and Argentina, I have nothing but gratefulness and love to these people that I’ve met along the way. They were always there with a smile, a story or a mate in hand ready to help me. I would like to dedicate it to all these Argentinean friends, that throughout the years, became more than friends. They were, are and will always be our siblings. 

[ladystylestores]

The Ultimate Hiking Guide to Torres del Paine, Chile • The Blonde Abroad

Alex of Roam & Thrive is here to share her ultimate guide for hiking Torres del Paine in Chile!

As one of the most Southern National Parks in the world, Torres Del Paine is a place you’ll want to visit at least once in your life. Desolate, wild and unforgiving the Torres Del Paine is pure nature with scenery that will surprise, delight, and have you reaching for your camera again and again.

Here in Patagonia, you’ll experience a different world, one that you’ll never want to leave once it’s captivated you with its magic. Having lived in Chile for the last 5 years, I’ve visited the park twice now, once trekking and once experiencing the park as part of a road trip and I’d highly recommend the former.

Here’s the guide for how to make your trip to Torres Del Paine the best trip yet!

When to Visit + Seasonal Tips

Due to its extreme southern location, the Torres del Paine is a seasonal destination. Most people visit from December – February, during Chilean summer.

At this time, February especially, you can expect the park to be at its capacity with many people on the trails. The wind and rain can also be a problem in the park and the windiest and wettest months are January and March.

In my opinion, the best time to visit the park is at the beginning of December or at the beginning of March—most of the crowds have dispersed but it’s not yet too cold to not camp.

If you’re feeling brave, visiting in the winter (May-September) is also an option but you’ll have to stay in hotels rather than camp and be prepared for limited hours of daylight.

How to Visit + Get There

From Santiago, the easiest way to get to Patagonia is to fly to Puerto Natales, the town closest to Torres del Paine National Park. LATAM, Sky Airline and JET Smart all offer flights to Puerto Natales, but only in the summer. If you’re traveling in the low season you’ll have to fly to Punta Arenas, and from there take a bus to Puerto Natales. The ride takes about 3 hours.

If you’re arriving from El Calafate in Argentina, you can take a direct bus to Puerto Natales with a stop at the border.

From Puerto Natales, there are many bus companies that shuttle people to and from the park. The journey takes about 3 hours to get to the start of the trails and buses leave in the morning and then again in the afternoon. In high season it’s worth reserving your ticket as soon as you can.

Helpful Tip:

Flights to Puerto Natales can be quite expensive in high season. If you have more time it might be more cost-effective to fly to Punta Areas and take a bus to Puerto Natales. You can compare prices on the airline’s websites.

If you’re not planning on trekking or staying in the park for a number of nights, you can also rent a car in Puerto Natales and take day trips to the park. While you do miss some of the best views, driving the park is a great option and the views from the road are simply indescribable.

What to Bring

Outdoor & Waterproof Clothing

Whatever your itinerary you’ll need comfortable outdoor clothing for all seasons. You are more than likely to experience all four seasons in one day and it’s not unheard of for the temperature to fall to 40°F/5°C in the evenings in summer.

If you’re trekking, a good pair of already worn-in hiking boots are essential.

Camping Gear

If you’re doing the famous ‘O’ or ‘W’ treks and you choose to camp without having rented it out from the campsite, you’ll need all camping gear such as a tent, mattress, a winter sleeping bag, and cooking equipment. It’s worth having a high quality, waterproof tent as sometimes, the rain and wind are relentless.

If you don’t have your own camping gear but you still want to do some trekking, rental shops are available in Puerto Natales. Most gear rents for about $5 per item per day. You can also rent an already assembled tent, mattress, and sleep bag at the campsite and this can be booked when reserving accommodation.

Food

On the ‘O’ or ‘W’ treks, when you book them most campsites have a full board (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) or half board (lunch and dinner) option. Going for this will mean you’ll have to carry less weight and you get your meals cooked for you.

You can also bring all your own food and cooking equipment and prepare it all yourself. This is perfect for those with a lower budget and wants more of a wild camping experience. Make sure you plan all your meals ahead and buy all your food in Puerto Natales.

Other

Headlamp — for moving around after dark. Kindle/Book, + Playing Cards — In the evenings there isn’t much to do so you’ll need to bring some entertainment. I’d highly recommend a Kindle- it’s lightweight and fits many titles onto it. Small Padlock — On the ‘W’ or ‘O’ trek you’ll be leaving your tent unattended a few times, bring a small padlock so you can lock your stuff inside. Reusable Water Bottle — There are water sources located at all the campsite so bring a reusable water bottle with you to avoid using plastic bottles. Camera — Needless to say the Torres del Paine is extremely photogenic so don’t forget your camera- you’ll have it in your hand most of the time.

Glacier Grey

Itinerary Options

There isn’t one way to experience the Torres del Paine and there are non-trekking ways to see the park too. The most popular way to experience the park is by trekking the infamous ‘O’ or ‘W’, routes named after the shape of the trail they take.

Trekking the ‘W’ Circuit

The ‘W’ is the park’s most popular circuit and it can be trekked in either direction. It takes 4-5 days to complete and I’d highly recommend you assign a full 5 days to not feel rushed.

The trail has a ‘W’ or a pitchfork shape which means that you do have to double back on yourself often, however, due to this, there are sections that you can walk without your heavy backpack. On the ‘W’ you can expect to see stunning high passes with views for miles around the park, pristine lakes, glaciers, rugged granite peaks as well as a variety of local flora and fauna.

Trekking the ‘O’ Circuit

The ‘O’ Circuit consists of hiking the ‘W’ trail with a northern extension. It’s this extension, especially the steep John Gardner Pass that makes this trek longer and more difficult than the ‘W’ but absolutely worth the extra effort.

It takes about 7-9 days to complete and due to the lack of refugios in the Northern Side of the park you’ll have to camp, making camping gear essential for this trek.

As a result, this trek is definitely less crowded than the ‘W’ and the views from the John Gardner pass are simply incredible. Note that the ‘O’ should only be trekked in a counter-clockwise direction due to the steepness of the pass.

Sample Itinerary

This is my exact 5-day itinerary for what I did when I trekked the ‘W’. I chose to walk from west to east to get the most difficult part of the trek out of the way first. The West side is the steepest. You can also condense it and do it in 4-days if you’re pushed for time.

Day 1 – Puerto Natales – Pudeto – Paine Grande – Glacier Grey

Catch the 7/7.30am bus from Puerto Natales and get off at Pudeto ready to take the ferry across to Paine Grande. Prior to getting to Pudeto, you’ll pass through Laguna Amarga, the main park entrance. You’ll have to get off here to pay the park entrance fee.

Once in Pudeto board the ferry to Paine Grande. From Paine Grande, start walking to the Grey campsite. Once at the Grey campsite, check-in and set up camp for the night. For the rest of the afternoon, you can relax, walk around the lake and take in the views.

Day 2 – Glacier Grey Viewpoint – Grey Campsite – Paine Grande

Wake up early and start the day with the 1.5hr trek to the spectacular viewpoints of Glacier Grey. When you’ve finished admiring their beauty head back to Grey campsite, have lunch, pack up camp and trek back to Paine Grande. At Paine Grande check in to your campsite and set up camp again. Spend the day relaxing and resting.

Day 3 – Paine Grande – Mirador Frances – Mirador Britanico – Frances Campsite

After an early breakfast pack up camp and make your way towards Mirador Frances. To save you having to carry your backpack any further, stop at Italiano campsite and leave your big rucksack in their reception area. You can then continue on with a lighter pack.

We managed to get to Mirador Frances and continued to Mirador Britanico—however, if the weather isn’t good, people say there is no point as you can’t see anything. We had good weather so we did it and the views were stunning. From there make your way back to Italiano campsite, grab your rucksack and head back down to Frances campsite, set up camp and rest.

On this day you can choose to stay at either Italiano or Frances campsite depending on the distance you want to walk. If you prefer a slightly shorter day (2km shorter) you can stay at Italiano.

Views over Nordenskjold Lake

Day 4 – Frances – Los Cuernos – Chileno Campsite

Pack up and leave Frances campsite in the early morning, making your way towards Los Cuernos, from where you can view and admire the expanse of Nordenskjold Lake. Continue along the side of the lake until you reach Chileno campsite. Check-in and set up camp. Spend the rest of the day relaxing and make sure to get an early night.

Day 5 – Chileno – Mirador Las Torres – Puerto Natales

Wake up before sunrise to start the trek to Mirador Las Torres, the most famous viewpoint in the park. The best time to see it is at sunrise. The trek takes about 2hrs 15 mins from Chileno campsite, so you’ll need to check the sunrise time and plan accordingly.

After taking in the amazing view of the sun lighting up the three jagged peaks and taking some photos, make you way back down to Chileno campsite. Have lunch and pack up your things and descend down to Hotel Las Torres. From here either catch the shuttle bus that goes to Laguna Amarga or walk. From Laguna Amarga take the bus back to Puerto Natales.

Where to Stay

Campsites

When trekking the ‘W’ or the ‘O’ you might choose to camp. Camping is the cheapest type of accommodation and ranges from $8-$20 a night depending on the campsite. Most campsites are equipped with bathrooms and showers and a restaurant where you can get meals for about $15-22 per dish.

If you don’t want to carry your own camping gear, everything can be rented from all the campsites except the free CONAF ones.

Tents are already assembled and you just have to set up your mattress and sleeping bag. It’s a great option for those not wanting to have to assemble camp after a full day’s trek.

Bear in mind that these tents have to be reserved in advance.

Refugios/Shelters

Another type of accommodation, perfect for those not wanting to camp or carry heavy camping gear with them. Refugios are basically beds in a shared cabin—exactly like a hostel dorm or sometimes in a private cabin.

The benefits of refugios are that they are warmer than tents and you’re protected from the elements a lot more.

Depending on the refugio, you can expect to pay between $60-80 per bed. If you’re planning to stay in them during high season, you’ll need to book them in advance and by in advance I mean 6 months or even more, in advance. It’s safe to say beds sell out extremely quickly.

Hotels

There are many hotels scattered around the park, most of them occupying beautiful locations in front of deep blue lakes and windswept valleys. They are mostly luxury hotels and a night can set you back about $300 in high season. A spa treatment, champagne breakfasts, and dips in their heated pools are great ways to celebrate the end of your trek.

Refugio in Torres del Paine

How to Book Your Accommodation

If you’re planning to hike the ‘W’ or ‘O’ circuits, it’s crucial to make reservations in advance for camping spots and refugios.

Due to the growing popularity of the park, there simply aren’t enough campsites and space for everyone who wants to visit. It’s not uncommon for all campsites to be booked out completely for the summer trekking season (Jan/Feb) by the previous November.

There are three different companies that own all the campsites in the Torres Del Paine Park and it’s more than likely that you’ll have to reserve with them all. They are Fantastico Sur, Vertice Patagonia and CONAF. To reserve your accommodation you can do so directly from their websites.

First decide which way you’ll be walking the circuit, then plan your route and which campsites or refugios you’ll be staying in, and finally go on to each of the websites and reserve them all.

Here is a list of which companies own which campsites to make it easier for you to make your reservations. Only the CONAF campsites are free and basic. All the others have showers with hot water, toilets, cooking areas, cafeterias etc.

CONAF: Camping Italiano (free campsite with no showers and basic amenities), Camping Torres

Fantastico Sur: Camping & Domes Frances, Refugio & Camping Los Cuernos, Refugio & Camping Torres Norte/Central, Refugio & Camping El Chileno

Vertice Patagonia: Refugio & Camping Paine Grande, Refugio & Camping Grey

What to Expect

The Torres del Paine really has what I believe to be some of the best hiking in South America, if not the world. Expect incredible views, icy deep blue lakes scattered with icebergs, giant glaciers creeping down craggy valleys, and the iconic towers—fingers crossed it won’t be too cloudy to see them.

Expect to see lots of other trekkers and make friends along the way. If you’re you’d like to hike the trails solo and if you’re wondering if the park trails are too isolated the answer is no, at least not in high season. Going solo is perfectly safe and you’ll make friends in no time.

Know Before You Go

The entrance ticket for the Torres del Paine is $21,000 CLP for foreign adults (about $27 USD). You don’t need any kind of hiking or trekking permit.

There are many sources of drinking water along the trek at the campsites and refugios so you don’t need to worry about bringing bottled water with you. I would strongly recommend bringing a reusable water bottle with a powerful bacteria blocking filter which will allow you to also fill up from lakes and streams. The water here is extremely pure but it never hurt to be a little more careful.

You can hike both the ‘O’ or ‘W’ independently or as part of an organized tour.

The main advantage of the tour is that you won’t have to carry any camping gear and you can choose where to sleep. It also involves little planning. When doing it independently you’ll have to plan the trek yourself and reserve all your accommodation months in advance, if going in the high season. The cost is, however, considerably lower.

Wild camping is not permitted. You can only camp in designated campsites.

There are many places to dispose of your litter at the campsites. Please don’t leave litter anywhere else outside of these designated areas. Let’s keep this amazing corner of the planet clean.

For more information about Chile and other places to visit before or after your trek, check out my website, Roam and Thrive. Other posts you might find useful are:

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Americans try to leave Brazil ahead of coronavirus travel ban (Washington Post) Americans made plans to leave Brazil on Tuesday, hours before a U.S. ban on arrivals from the country was due to take effect. U.S. citizens and green-card holders are exempt from the prohibition, intended to slow the spread of the coronavirus from Latin America’s hardest-hit country. But foreigners in Brazil have struggled to leave the country in recent weeks. The State Department on Tuesday advised all Americans who wished to leave to do so immediately. Jennifer Ribachonek had been scheduled to return to the United States on Friday to care for her parents. Both are set to undergo surgery next month. But her Latam Airlines flight was canceled shortly after the White House announced the travel ban on Sunday. Brazil imposed travel restrictions against foreigners, including Americans, in March. Flights between the two countries, and throughout Latin America, have been sharply limited. Latam, based in Santiago, Chile, the region’s largest airline, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Tuesday.

A new Russian stealth bomber? (Foreign Policy) Russia has begun constructing a prototype for its first stealth bomber, according to a Russian state news agency. The aircraft is called the PAK DA and will be designed to match the capabilities of the U.S. B-2 stealth bomber. China is also at work on its own stealth bomber, the Xian H-20.

Northern India wilts under crippling heat wave (AP) As India braces for a hotter than usual summer, many cities in the country’s north are reeling under an intense heat wave with the temperatures on Wednesday crossing a scorching 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit). The temperatures in northern India are the highest that the country has seen in decades for this time of the year, and the hot spell is projected to last until Friday. Temperatures in the capital of New Delhi have also soared beyond 47 C (116 F) this week and some states issued advisories urging people to remain indoors and hydrated.

India eases its lockdown (Washington Post) The resumption of domestic flights this week is a clear signal that India is moving to end the world’s largest lockdown, an unprecedented experiment that affected more than 1.3 billion people. The restrictions caused massive job losses, widespread food insecurity and an exodus of workers from India’s cities. Now India is bracing for what comes next. While the lockdown slowed the spread of the novel coronavirus, experts say, it did not succeed in flattening the curve. Instead, the number of fresh cases is rising. India ranks fourth in the world in the number of new cases a day. The shift is an acknowledgment of the economic devastation caused by the shutdown in a country where there is little social safety net. The Indian economy is expected to shrink in the current financial year for the first time since 1980, and more than 100 million people have lost their jobs.

China’s Young Struggle for Jobs in the Post-Outbreak Era (NYT) Relations with the United States are at their lowest point in decades and Hong Kong is seething with fear and anger, but China’s biggest problem by far is getting its people back to work. Millions of workers were laid off or furloughed while China battled the coronavirus outbreak. Many of those who kept their jobs have seen their pay cut and future prospects narrow. China’s youngest workers in particular have entered perhaps the country’s toughest job market in the modern era. Many are reducing their expectations to take any job they can get. The pressure is about to intensify: Another nearly 8.7 million young college graduates are waiting in the wings this year. China is not the only country where younger workers are facing a jobs crisis—young adults in the United States are particularly vulnerable in the downturn. But for the world, global growth will be hard to rekindle until China gets fully back to work. And the damage to the Communist Party could be long lasting. It derives its political power from the promise of delivering a better life for the Chinese people, a promise that has become increasingly difficult to fulfill.

Hong Kong police arrest 300 as thousands protest over security laws (Reuters) Police in Hong Kong fired pepper pellets and made 300 arrests as thousands of people took to the streets on Wednesday to voice anger over national security legislation proposed by China, that has raised international alarm over freedoms in the city. In the heart of the financial district, riot police fired pepper pellets to disperse a crowd, and elsewhere in the city police rounded up groups of dozens of suspected protesters, making them sit on sidewalks before searching their belongings. A heavy police presence around the Legislative Council deterred protesters planning to disrupt the debate of a bill that would criminalise disrespect of the Chinese national anthem.

World watches as South Korea cautiously returns to life (AP) The baseball league is on. Students have begun returning to school. And people are increasingly dining out and enjoying nighttime strolls in public parks. As South Korea significantly relaxes its rigid social distancing rules as a result of waning coronavirus cases, the world is paying close attention to whether it can return to something that resembles normal—or face a virus resurgence. South Korea once had the world’s largest number of coronavirus cases outside mainland China, but its daily caseload has since dropped to around 10-30 and occasionally has hit single digits in recent weeks.

An early U.S. exit from Afghanistan? (Foreign Policy) With an eye on November’s presidential election, U.S. President Donald Trump is pushing for a quicker withdrawal of the roughly 12,000 U.S. troops stationed in Afghanistan according to the New York Times. The Pentagon is reportedly trying to calm the president’s urgency, and bring the withdrawal schedule more in line with the May 2021 date agreed in the U.S.-Taliban peace deal. Any training and capacity building that U.S. troops have been conducting with Afghan forces has had to be put on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic, potentially delaying withdrawal even longer. U.S. officials estimate that up to 50 percent of Afghan security forces have the virus.

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Designing A Welcoming Company Tradition

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