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Archive for February, 2010

Where to watch the Olympic Games in Buenos Aires.

Wednesday, February 24, 2010 11:29

Categories - Buenos Aires City Attractions - 0 Comments

whistler Where to watch the Olympic Games in Buenos Aires.

 

The 2010 Winter Olympic Games have been in full force now for over two weeks and continue to go strong and draw a crowd in beautiful Vancouver, Canada.

 

Studying Spanish in Buenos Aires? 

Want to get the full ‘Olympic’ experience in Argentina?

 

Don’t worry about missing the Winter Olympics while you are taking Spanish courses in Buenos Aires, check out the bars below that are a few of Buenos Aires’s best sports bars and most popular places to be any night of the week.

Sports included in this years Winter Olympics: Alpine skiing, biathlon, bob sleigh, cross-country, curling, figure skating, ice hockey, luge, short track, skeleton, ski jumping, snowboard, and speed skating.

 

 

 

 

Go to the Canadian Olympics website and check out the calendar for events dates and times.

Learn Spanish in Buenos Aires; Cost of Living in Buenos Aires 2010

Monday, February 22, 2010 8:55

Categories - Uncategorized - 0 Comments

money2 Learn Spanish in Buenos Aires; Cost of Living in Buenos Aires 2010

With a new year comes a new cost of living where ever you may be in the world.  Prices may go up, prices may go down, and inflation rates change, all major factors that contribute to a city’s cost of living.

Studying Spanish in Buenos Aires in 2010 also brings up a new list of costs, no too different from the year before, but definitely with some changes. Lucky for those coming from abroad, foreign currencies are still strong against the Argentine peso making travel to Argentina still affordable!

Cost of Living 2010

1. Accommodation in Buenos Aires

Most students will look at about $290-400US to rent a room in shared apartment or a room in a homestay, depending on location and size of the apartment. Hostels and hotels vary depending on the place, 1-5 stars, amenities and services, and location.

2. Food in Buenos Aires

If you eat in, you can keep your food costs relatively low, for example, calculate about $ 150-250US a month/ per person, eating fairly well. Vegetables, fruits, and meats are very affordable, cheeses, delicacy items, and imported items are what will bring you costs up.

3. Entertainment in Buenos Aires

This is a tricky subject as this is totally up to the person and their style of living. If you eat out 6 times a week, hit up the movies once a week, a concert once a week, a nightclub once a week, and out for drinks/coffee a few times a week, your costs may rise significantly. For example, a coffee will cost you about $2.5US, a cocktail about $5-7US, a dinner (steak and side) $12-20US, the movies $4US, concert (local) $5-10US, and so on.  This amount you must think about, but you can probably put the round about number of $100-300US/month.

4. Transportation in Buenos Aires

Taking the bus costs 1.25pesos = $.30 US. The train, $.80-1.80 pesos = $.15-.40US. Taxis start at $4.20pesos = $1.10US, and for a ten minute journey average = 12- 15 pesos = $3-$5US. Subte is $.90pesos = $.30US.  Public transportation is fairly cheap in Buenos Aires, taxi’s may run your bill a bit, but still pretty affordable for a big city.

These are the 4 major costs that you will face while learning Spanish in Argentina. Of course, there are other hidden costs such as the new Reciprocity Fee (special for United States, Canadian, and Australian citizens) or costs such as necessity items while abroad (shampoo, flip flops, locker rental, etc). Be sure to always over-budget, and have a back up plan, such as traveler’s checks or credit cards in case your money wears a bit thin.

Interested in Spanish courses in Buenos Aires? Check out our Spanish classes here!

Valentine’s Day in Buenos Aires

Thursday, February 11, 2010 10:38

Categories - Concerts, Events, Festivals and Holidays - 0 Comments

heart thumb Valentine’s Day in Buenos Aires

It is that time of year again… when we take one day to celebrate that ‘special’ person in our lives, or for some of us, to celebrate our freedom and future love!

Studying Spanish in Buenos Aires? What will you do this year from San Valentine in Buenos Aires?

So that all of us have a chance to enjoy this day, we have narrowed down the ways to spend it into to two categories: Couples & Singles.

Couples

There are plenty of romantic things to do in Buenos Aires!

1. Head to the Palermo Parks for some time in the sun; pack a snack and relax near the lake.

2. Buy a lovely bottle of wine and indulge with some good conversation.

3. Go to the MALBA and check out the local exhibits and great Latin American art.

4. Take the train to San Isidro and bask in the sun riverside and enjoy lunch outside.

5. Buy your special love a big bouquet of flowers from one of the fantastic flowers kiosks in the city.

6. Take a tango class and then go tango dancing at night.

7.  Buy delicious chocolates from Compania de Chocolates, located in Palermo.

8. Just because you are a couple doesn’t mean you can’t go out for drinks and dancing! Dress up in your best and head to Godoy for some delicious cocktails and a trendy atmosphere.

 

Singles

Get your single groove on in exciting Buenos Aires!

1. Buy yourself a box of chocolates from Compania de Chocolates, located in Palermo. Celebrate your single-dom!

2. Head to Plaza Serrano in Palermo and enjoy an outside lunch with friends, people watching and chit chatting with strangers.

3. Go shopping down the lengthy, and inexpensive, Santa Fe avenue – buy yourself something fun for the night!

4. Head to Koh Lanta in Palermo and celebrate their Valentines Party – Cupid is Stupid! – bringing your fantastic single self for a night of dancing!

5. Send your best friend a Valentine’s day card!

6. Check out the Recoleta Cemetery in Recoleta, admire the gorgeous tombstones, and after head to one of the local restaurants for some delicious traditional Argentine food.

 

Enjoy this Valentine’s Weekend anyway you can in Buenos Aires!

Check out our Spanish classes in Argentina here!

 

Carnival Porteño 2010; Learn Spanish in Buenos Aires

Tuesday, February 9, 2010 10:09

Categories - Concerts, Events, Festivals and Holidays - 0 Comments

image thumb Carnival Porteño 2010; Learn Spanish in Buenos Aires

This February, the city of Buenos Aires will be celebrating the arts with Carnival Porteño 2010!

Study Spanish in Buenos Aires while Celebrating Carnival 2010!

From Saturday, February 6th until Sunday, February 28th, the city of Buenos Aires will be hosting carnival every weekend in a different neighborhood in Buenos Aires. In total, over 17,000 artists will will participate, 100 carnival bands, and over one thousand base drums and other percussion instruments will be featured. 

This carnival is a mix of traditional folkloric music, urban folk customs, traditional dancing, and plenty of humour in every song or skit. The artists dress up in colorful costumes, often including gloves, top hats, long coats, and walking stick, and play music and dance to various themes.

The Schedule:

Feb 6, 7, 13, 14:  Abasto: Av. Córdoba between Agüero and Sanchez de Bustamante

Feb 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, 28: Almagro: Av. Corrientes between Medrano and Palestina

Feb 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21: Balvanera: Av. Independencia between Alberti and Rincón

Feb 6, 7, 13, 14:  Boedo 2: Av. Belgrano between Columbres and Maza

Feb 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, 28:  Caballito 1: Av. Avellaneda between N. Oroño and F. Sarmiento

Feb 6, 7, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 27, 28:  San Telmo: Av. San Juan between Balcarce and Peru

Feb 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, 28:  Coghlan: Av Congreso between Holmberg and Machain

Feb 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, 28: Colegiales: Av. Federico Lacroze between R. Freire and Martínez

Feb 6, 7, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 27, 28:  Boedo 1: Av. Boedo between San Juan and Independencia

Feb 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, 28:  Saavedra 1: Av. Balbín between Plaza and Jaramillo

Feb 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, 28:  Saavedra 3: Av. Balbín between Pico and Arias

Feb 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, 28:  Villa Crespo: Av. Scalabrini Ortiz between Av. Corrientes and Padilla

Feb 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, 28 :  Villa Urquiza: Av. Triunvirato between Roosevelt and Rivera

Feb 20, 21, 27, 28:  Parque Centenario: Lambaré between Corrientes and Bogado

Check out the Buenos Aires Government Page for more information!

Find our more about our Spanish programs in Buenos Aires!

Packing for Dummies: Part 2: Get Ready to Study Spanish in Buenos Aires!

Friday, February 5, 2010 9:13

Categories - Argentina Travel Info - 0 Comments

doginbag Packing for Dummies: Part 2: Get Ready to Study Spanish in Buenos Aires!

In our last Packing for Dummies, Part 1,  we covered both Clothing and Bathroom Stuff to bring when traveling to Buenos Aires.  Now, we will look at the other items that are needed and wanted when traveling to Argentina!

Step 3.  Hard goods – books, Spanish dictionary, writing journal

These go in the NECESITY pile.

  • Spanish dictionary
  • Travel Guide
  • Black book (contacts back home)

These go in the I WANT IT pile.

  • Writing Journal
  • Fiction Books
  • Drawing Books

Step 4.  Medical goods – band aids, scissors, rubbing alcohol

These go in the NECESITY pile.

  • band aids, bandages
  • small pair of scissors
  • small bottle of rubbing alcohol or alcohol wipes
  • tweezers
  • stomach settlers/acid/nausea

These go in the I WANT IT pile.

  • There is nothing in this part, as I don’t believe there are many medical items that fall under a “want”.

 

Stay tuned for Part 3 in Packing for Dummies for more great packing tips!!!

Check out our  Spanish programs in Argentina here!