Vacationing With Drew Carey

When Drew Carey took over the hosting duties at The Price is Right, he and I hit it off immediately and we became good friends. We are both very close to the same age and we both grew up in and around Cleveland, Ohio. I still love Drew to this very day.

Drew is extremely generous. How generous? He took me and all of the models (and our spouses) to Buenos Aires, Argentina for a week’s long vacation.

The flight from Los Angeles to Buenos Aires was a long one, it took an entire day to get there. But thankfully Drew had booked us all (1st. class) on an American Airlines flight that had seats that reclined to become full beds. The airline served us fabulous meals on real china. And for dessert there were loads of fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies and huge, hot fudge sundaes.

When the flight attendant came around to ask if we wanted anything more… my wife and I couldn’t help but to repeat the line from Seinfeld, “Yes… more of everything!”

Drew is a HUGE soccer fan. As a matter of fact Drew Carey owns part of the Seattle Sounders FC. So, this trip to Argentina was to see a particular game that was going to be played there. A legendary game of local rivals that is known for it’s violence in (and outside) the stadium.

Below are some photos from our trip to Argentina together.

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  This is a photo of Drew, Christine and I standing outside of the Four Seasons Hotel, along with our body guard "Death". Yep, that was his name. A name given to him by the Hell's Angels in California many years before this pic was taken. Death was a badass. He wasn't afraid of anything. Drew specifically hired him because he was worried about the safety of all of the American females that we had in our group (models, wives, etc.). We only had one incident the entire week we were in Argentina... and Death handled it with precision and professionalism.

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  Everybody on the bus to the soccer match.

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  Drew in the stands of the soccer stadium awaiting the opening celebration. He's giving us his "sad-guy" face because the wait was long.
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  Now THAT's the famous Drew Carey smile I wanted out of him.

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  All of a sudden... Ka-Boom! Explosions, smoke, confetti and balloons everywhere.

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  It was quite the spectacle.
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  They sure make the opening of a game exciting in Buenos Aires.

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  Ha! I caught me a balloon!

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  More explosions and smoke in the end-zones.
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  Huge red and white ribbons came flying down from the top of the stadium.

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  The ribbons literally decorated the arena.

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  The home crowd way out-numbered the visitors.
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  This is a pic of the upper deck visitor's section. This section was surrounded by HUGE barb-wired fences and the Argentine Federal army with automatic weapons. It was sick!

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  Where was "Death" during all of this? Standing guard the whole time.

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  Who gets to have they're picture taken with Death? Not many. This guy was hard as a rock. The girls loved him.
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  My wife Christine and I in the stands having fun. Brandi and Gabriel are seated behind us... Drew is down the bench a bit.

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  Drew with his girlfriend Nicole's son Connor on his shoulders.

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  This is the entire TPIR cast that Drew took to Argentina. Our Buenos Aires class-picture (if you will). Death actually snapped the photo for me.
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  Drinking tequila before dinner one night in the city.

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  My lovely bride, Christine.

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  Drew got us an invitation to a Buenos Aires estate for a traditional Argentinian meal. Huge amounts of grilled meats of all kinds. Wow!
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  The home and property belonged to a wealthy soccer club owner. He was an excellent host.

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  Brandi Cochran, Drew's girlfriend Nicole, and Christine... all smiles.

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  Christine and I in the Argentine night-air.
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  More liquor the next night when we were out at a Buenos Aries disco at 4:00 in the morning. The club didn't even open until 3am.

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  Kissing Christine at the disco.

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  Drew and Christine in the hotel lobby the next morning.
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  Me, Christine, Nicole, Connor and Drew in the stands of a local soccer match.

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  Christine grew up in Kentucky so she'll take any opportunity to pet horses. These were riot police outside the stadium of another night-time match that we attended while there.

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  While Drew and I were off doing something stupid, Christine and Nicole went horseback riding for the day.
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  Christine and Nicole with their cowboy guides.

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  Another night... another cocktail. Salute!

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  Christine shopping in the streets of Buenos Aries. I am shocked we got this picture without all of the children who are constantly approaching you for money.
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  Our last night in Buenos Aires when Christine and I took Drew and Nicole out to dinner. It was a small thank you for his tremendous generosity... and a fabulous trip.