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The top 5 Must-Go places for students studying abroad in Argentina

Wednesday, May 13, 2009 18:20

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937207 20450640 300x200 The top 5 Must Go places for students studying abroad in Argentina

If you are a student who has traveled abroad to study Spanish in Argentina there are a few destinations outside of Buenos Aires that deserve a visit and simply should not be passed by. Argentina is a country that has it all; mountains, flat plains, deserts, glaciers, coastline, forest, beach, skiing hills, lakes, and more, meaning that now matter your traveling style for vacation destination, there is something for you here.

 

Salta

This beautiful city with a combination of ancient and new age is a great place to explore as well as the jumping off point for some of the best visited sites in Argentina including the Quebrada de Humahuaca, Valles Calchaquies, and Tafi de Valle.

 

Mendoza

If you like wine and you like to enjoy it in style, Mendoza is your place. An architecturally beautiful city, Mendoza has a number of wineries and vineyards that can be visited by foot, bike, or car, and offer wine tasting as well as the chance to see how Argentina wine is produced.

 

Iguzau Falls

This world wonder can not be ignored if you are traveling to Argentina; over 80 waterfalls make up the falls, falling at heights as much as 80m, crashing below to rivers that run through a dense green jungle, fit for hiking anytime of the year.

 

Puerto Madryn

If animals are you thing, Puerto Madryn is the perfect destination. Here you can catch tours that will put you in clear sight of whales, dolphins, penguins, sea lions, seals, killer whales, ostriches, llamas, and hundreds of different bird species.

 

Bariloche

The ‘Swiss’ influenced city of Bariloche offers a picture perfect city, world class skiing conditions in the winter, hiking and water sports in the summer, and overall a relaxing and peaceful vacation, best enjoyed with a local beer.

 

Take the advice above and enjoy your study Spanish in Argentina experience to the fullest!

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25 de Mayo – El Día de La Revolución de Mayo

Tuesday, May 12, 2009 17:26

Categories - Concerts, Events, Festivals and Holidays - 1 Comment

locro 273x300 25 de Mayo El Día de La Revolución de Mayo

Pass the Locro, Hot Chocolate, and Churro’s Please!

 

On the 25th of this month, Argentina will be celebrating El Día de La Revolución de Mayo, a holiday celebrating the very first independent government in Buenos Aires, releasing itself from the Spanish rule, dating all the way back to 1810. This is a special day for Argentina and its rise in independence over the centuries. Students studying Spanish in Buenos Aires will have certainly heard about this day and should be sure to partake in the celebration.

 

For now, we are putting all politics aside and mentioning three of the most traditional foods that are eaten on the 25th as a way to bring families and friends together and remember the history of Argentina.

Locro is an Argentine stew that is originally from the Andes but has spread across the great country and is now also known as the meal to be eaten on the 25th of May. How do you make this delicious stew? Prepare it just as you would a regular stew, with the ingredients below

 

Locro Recipe

  • Pork
  • Chorizo
  • Corn
  • Potatoes
  • Sweet potatoes
  • Carrots
  • Pumpkin
  • Tomatoes
  • Onions
  • Paprika
  • Oregano
  • Parsley


 

 

Argentines’ are also known to indulge in hot chocolate and churros on this day, either for breakfast or a late afternoon snack.

 

Hot Chocolate

Hot Chocolate, called a Submarino in Argentina, can be made with Agila(brand) chocolate sticks, available at any local supermarket.

Churro’s

Churro on the other hand is a delicious snack made of flour, butter, sugar, and eggs, which then is rolled into a tube like form, deep fried, and often filled with dulce de leche or sprinkled with cinnamon.

 

Students studying Spanish in Buenos Aires should definitely take advantage of this special holiday and join some Argentine friends or family and enjoy the delicious cuisine that comes along with it.

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Swine flu in Argentina: is it safe to study Spanish in Buenos Aires?

Monday, May 11, 2009 19:26

Categories - Health & Safety - 0 Comments

piggy 300x219 Swine flu in Argentina: is it safe to study Spanish in Buenos Aires?

I have no doubt that anyone reading this will have heard of the swine flu that is now making headlines in 25 countries across the globe, said to have originated in Mexico. The swine flu is an infection that usually affects only pigs, and not humans (in fact only about 50 human cases have been recorded since the mid-20th century) and is not dangerous in pig meat unless the meat has not been properly cooked.

So what is going on, you ask? And am I safe to study Spanish in Buenos Aires? The outbreak that we are seeing this year is the product of a new strain of the flu and although there is no known origin of this strain, it has been declared a strain that passes from human to human, with ease. Again, no one is sure where this flu originated from but sources are pointing to Mexico where the first cases and largest amount of cases have been found.

There is no real threat in Argentina; there have only been a few ‘flu’ reported cases and only one actual case from a man who had just flown from Mexico into Argentina, however, after a few days was released from hospital in good health.

Argentina, with any regular precautions, should be perfectly safe to travel in without worrying about the swine flu. For extra precaution you can take a flu vaccination or wear a mask during international flights; if you are traveling in and out of other countries make sure to check their health reports.

If at any moment you have more than 2 or 3 of the following symptoms, head to a local private clinic in Argentina and get yourself check out! Symptoms are: chills, fever, sore throat, muscle pains, severe headache, coughing, weakness, and general discomfort.

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Art & Spanish in Buenos Aires

Friday, May 8, 2009 12:17

Categories - Art, Museums, Theatre & Cinema - 0 Comments

paint 200x300 Art & Spanish in Buenos Aires

We can all agree that Buenos Aires celebrates all forms of art and culture around the city in all sorts of way, including concerts, theatre, art shows, exhibitions, festivals, and more, and every year this list of events gets bigger and better. This May and the kickoff to the winter season, true to form, Buenos Aires will be featuring ArteBA Contemporary Art Fair, a great way for Spanish students in Argentina to get a taste of art from both local and Latin American art in one great fair.

 

ArteBA will be offering the public the change to experience one of the most important art exhibits of its kind, displaying some of Latin America’s best art and collector’s pieces. Somewhere around 800 Latin American artists will be showing off their work here, artists from Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Chile, Columbia, United States, and Spain, a mix of both well-known artists and newcomers from the scene. The works from this fair will differ significantly in colors, styles, textiles, methods, and eras, featuring everything from classic and modern art to new age, outside of the lines, art.

A certain amount of selected artists in this exhibit will have the opportunity to win 10,000 pesos in the Petrobras Prize for the Visual Arts; besides this, a series of special art conferences, artist stands, art features, and presentations will also be featured during the 4 fair days.

This Art exhibit will be displayed at La Rural Exhibition Centre, Av.Sarmiento 2704, from May 22-26, 2009. General entrance is AR$25; American Express holders, 2 for 1, and Student Entrance, AR$15.

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Maktub; a little bit of the Mediterranean in Las Canitas

Thursday, May 7, 2009 7:22

Categories - Restaurants, Bars, Cafes, Clubs - 1 Comment

falafel 300x224 Maktub; a little bit of the Mediterranean in Las Canitas

Buenos Aires is a food lover’s paradise; no matter where you are in the city or what time it is there is a restaurant that is open, busy with people, and serving great food. If you are in the mood for something a little different that your typical Argentine fare at a sit down restaurant, there is a Mediterranean hotspot waiting for you that offers quick and fabulous food for great prices and will leaving you wanting more, even while the smell of hummus is still on your breath.

 

As Buenos Aires becomes more and more international (and more students come to study Spanish!) so does its cuisine, and the taste buds of portenos continue to change, craving more and more ethnic styled food. Located in trendy Las Canitas, the small and cozy restaurant Maktub specializes in Mediterranean food and serves up some of the best food of its kind in the city. The restaurant itself is small and bright, features a delicious mound of meat cooking in the front window, daily Mediterranean snacks at the counter, a small kitchen, and a few bar styled tables outside. The owners will great you with a smiling face and a warm welcome and offer you a menu to place your order (eat-in, take-away, and delivery).

Some of the most popular dishes are:

  • Shawarma – wrapped pita with fresh salted meat, veggies, and a spicy sauce
  • Hummus -chickpea, lemon, and cilantro sauce
  • Falafel – fried chickpea balls
  • Labra – rice and spicy meet wrapped in leaves
  • Sfija Abierta – Arab empanada filled with meat, tomato, and cilantro
  • Baba Ganush – eggplant, tomato, and cilantro

 

Maktub offers impeccable food at affordable prices, a great location, and great service; when you are needing a break from studying spanish in Buenos Aires, need a taste of something new, and if you are in Las Canitas and looking for a quick delicious meal, day or night, this is the place.

 

http://www.maktub-delivery.com.ar/

San Benito de Palermo 1683

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Buenos Aires Finds a Taste of Japan through Art and Design this Winter

Wednesday, May 6, 2009 11:42

Categories - Art, Museums, Theatre & Cinema - 0 Comments

This winter, Buenos Aires is featuring an art exhibition that will make your Spanish studies in Argentina, at least for only one day, seem very far away and the taste of Asia much closer. Japanese fashion designer and the creator of Kenzo perfume has opened a special art exhibition at the Lordi Arte Contemporaneo gallery in San Telmo and everyone is invited.

 

Kenzo Takada, born in Hemeji, Japan, began his career as a fashion designer in Paris, France, opening his own fashion store there and reaching almost instant international success shortly there after. His designs began with women’s clothing however in 1983 he launched his first men’s collection, also finding success, and then again in 1983 he launched his first women’s perfume, Kenzo de Kenzo. After designing a line of cosmetics and a men’s perfume line, Kenzo announced his retirement in 1999, only to be seen again as a decoration designer and artist in 2005, today featuring his designs in homes, business’s, and art gallery’s.

 

For the following months in Buenos Aires Kenzo’s show will feature paintings, sculptures, and a series of collages. Kenzo uses his extensive fashion past to create a series of art pieces that feature women, clothing scraps, fashion and seasons, and other creations linked to fashion. Spanish students can check out the ode Kenzo made to Buenos Aires, unique to this exhibit only; Kenzo has added a special painting that features a couple dancing the Tango with the famous Obelisk in the background.

 

 

You can find the Lordi Arte Contemporaneo gallery in San Telmo, Venezuela 617.

This exhibit will run until the July 10, 2009 and is open from Monday to Friday 11 am to 8 pm.

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