Perfect for the winter season, a submarino is a cup of steamed milk traditionally served with a stick of dark chocolate. In some cafes white chocolate is also offered. On occasion the chocolate is already melting in the cup when it is served other times the pleasure of plunging the chocolate bar is all yours. A submarino is a special kind of hot chocolate!

Las Violetas

If you want to indulge yourself Las Violetas is the place to be. With magnificent stained glass windows, uniformed waiters and numerous fresh plants in hanging baskets this traditional Buenos Aires Café oozes style.

A submarino at Las Violetas is served with a masita (a miniature cake) and a small glass of carbonated water. The chocolate bar is presented separately to the steamed milk-remember it is not to be eaten but dunked. Note that the price of regular hot drinks rise slightly after 16:00 on Saturdays, Sundays and on public holidays.

An exciting menu of coffee and liquor combinations as well as champagne is also offered along with light bites.

There is also a mouth watering selection of cakes and sweets on display in the substantial confiterie section of the café. It is like a permanent Christmas.

There is ample seating but now and then you will still see a queue forming outside because of its popularity. A trip to Las Violetas is a definite treat.

Las Violetas
Av. Rivadavia 3899 (esq. Medrano)
Buenos Aires
Argentina
Tel: 49587387/88

Opening Hours: Sunday-Thursday 6-1am
Friday and Saturday 24hrs

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Fernet con Coca is an Argentinian combo, typically 30% Fernet and 70% coke served with ice. It can also be drunk with soda water and is particularly popular in Cordoba and Buenos Aires, whereas in Italy it is drunk neat and does not enjoy the same success.

Fernet con Coca replaces the champagne at weddings and other celebratory events but is not only reserved for special occasions or the elite. In Argentina, it can always be Fernet 0`clock.

Although adored by Argentinians, when it comes to foreigners Fernet is like marmite (a British bread spread made of yeast) “you either love it or hate it”. This is due to its distinctly strong bitter medicinal flavour. It has been likened to Jagermeister.

Fernet is an unattractive dark  brown colour and is made from a mixture of numerous herbs and spices. It has a thickish consistency. However, its precise ingredients still remain the secret of the Fratelli Branca Distillery.

With a 45% alcohol content, if not taken with caution Fernet could lead to a potentially lethal hangover. In small doses it is believed to relieve digestive problems.

In supermarkets a bottle of Fernet-Branca is sold approximately for AR$30 but be warned there are many cheap imitations which do not compare in quality to Fernet-Branca and will leave you worse for wear, more than the real McCoy. Recommended alternative brands are Fernet Martini, Fernet Rama and Ferner Ramazotti. Note that when asking for a Fernet in a bar it usually refers to the Branca brand.

Fernet can be found in any bar or cafe. Why not steer away from the tourist haunts of San Telmo and Palermo and enjoy a refreshing glass of Fernet Con Coca in Cafe Margot? Located in the quiet neigbourhood of Boedo, close to San Telmo, Cafe Margot has a rustic decor with saucisson hanging from the ceiling and wooden seating. It is popular with the locals and there are regular art displays. A large variety of sandwiches are served along with other snacks and main meals. The smoking section is completely separate from the non smoking area so you do not need to fear for your lungs only your liver!

Cafe Margot
Avenida Boedo 857
Boedo

Opening Times: Daily from 7am to 2am

How to Get There: Subte Line E Boedo Station

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Grupo Clarin, through its Revista Ñ, presents every year a special exhibition of the works of one of the great and outstanding Argentine artists in the intermediate generation. The artist invited for the 2009 edition is Luis Wells.

Program Meeting Cultures: Japan
The program Meeting Cultures, especially created by Arteclásica in 2006, introduces in our market artists coming from different cultures, whose work is practically unknown in our latitudes. This is a unique project and a great opportunity to approach both different aesthetics and new symbolisms.
Just as in 2006 with the Arab world, in 2007 with the Post-Soviet world, in 2008 with Western Africa, mainly from the Republic of Nigeria, this year ARTECLASICA brings us the art of today’s Japan with a selection made by curator Yasuo Kitai, director of the Gallery Kitai from Tokyo. This program has the sponsorship of the Japanese Embassy in Argentina.

The auditorium of Arteclásica 2009 will host every day important conferences, round tables, talks, seminars and book presentations.

Dates and Opening times: July 17th to July 21st, 2009. 1 pm to 9 pm
Location: Pavilions 1 and 2, Centro Costa Salguero Convention Center. Av. Costanera and Salguero
Entry fee: Adults AR $ 20. Seniors and Students: AR $ 15.

More information: www.arteclasica.com.ar

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A licuado is a fruit shake.

It is a typical, non-alcoholic, Latin American beverage. This refreshing and nutritious drink is made by blending fruit and ice with either water or milk, the latter option being slightly more expensive. The most common flavors are banana, strawberry and peach. When ordering, it’s important to specify if you do not wish to have sugar added. Also, depending on the season, canned fruits may be used. Argentineans generally drink licuados at breakfast or in la merienda which is between 17:00 and 20:00 as a snack.

One can enjoy a delicious and generous serving of a licuado at El Taller in Palermo. Taller meaning studio, it indeed has an artsy vibe to it with a large poster of Julio Cortazar, the famous Argentine writer along with splashes of color on the walls and wooden chairs and tables. There is also an upstairs performance space. Licuados range from AR$11 to $17. Food is also served.

El Taller Bar

Serrano 1595
4831 5501
Sunday-Thursday 9am-2am
Friday and Saturday 9am to 5am
The night before a public holiday it remains open until 5am

Photos by Vanessa Hoese

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The participating artists confirmed for this edition are:

Nate Williams (illustration)
D.a 1 (Fabregas, Scott, Cabito & cia)
Matias Dutto (comminication)
Paco Savio (movilizer)
Federico Platener (art+design)
Juan Vellavsky (jewel maker)
Facundo Huidobro (sculpture)
Pablo Matteoda (industrial design)
Atypica (editorial)
Manifesto (design furniture)
yo leí este libro (NGO)
Leopoldo Estol (art)

Intermission and music: Army of Dub showcase.

“Pecha kucha” (which means chit-chat in Japanese), is presented in several cities around the world, including: Amsterdam, Atlanta, Auckland, Austin, Bangladore, Bangkok , Beijing, Belfast, Berlin, Bern, Bogotá , Budapest, Buenos Aires, Buffalo, Chicago, Cologne, Copenhagen, Costa Rica, Delhi, Dublin , Frankfurt, Glasgow, Gothenberg, Groningen, Hamburg, Harvard, Helsinki, Hobart, Lagos, Linz, Lisbon, Ljubljana, London, Los Angeles, Madrid, Manchester, Melbourne, Mexico city, Miami, New York, Newcastle, Oslo, Perth, Portland, Porto Alegre, Prague, Riga, Rotterdam, San Francisco, Santiago, Seattle, Seoul, Seville, Shanghai, Stockholm, Stuttgart, Sydney, Taipei, Tokyo, Toronto, Udine, Vienna, Washington DC.

Date: Tuesday, June 30, 2009. 8 PM
Location: Ciudad Cultural Konex. Sarmiento 3131. Buenos Aires.
Tickets: AR$ 20. Ticketek Argentina or Ciudad Cultural Konex ticket office: Monday to Thursday 5 PM to 10 PM, Friday and Saturday 5 PM to 11.30 PM, Sunday 5 Pm to 9:30 PM.
More information: www.pechakucha.com.ar

Via: MBATG

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On Monday you could hear Hugo Chavez recounting this or that rebellion. On Thursday, Evo Morales might be caught outlining the merits of his brand of socialism.  Or over the weekend you might read that one of the Kirchners was embroiled in a new scandal with old colonial powers.

These stories may emerge first before the traveler, as they did for me, and remind us that this is a place where history still lives, challenging conceptions of peace and war.  Perhaps you’ll get past it and let the daily routine take hold.    We can draw a blind eye to greater issues, but this only allows the smaller ones to seep through.   For me, I couldn’t help but notice the things that usually go unnoticed, that are so easily taken for granted.  The doors, the portals to the culture in which I wander, have begun to amaze me.

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The exhibition features the series “Tarot”, which Dalí made for his wife Gala in large size. Also religious and mystic series like “Los Diez Mandamientos” (The Ten Commadments), and “Siete Días de la Creación” (Seven days of creation), made in silver, “Los Doce Apóstoles” (The Twelve Apostles), with Gala as lookout of the rest of the apostles, and “El Muro de los Lamentos” (The Wailing Wall).

The collection also includes the erotic series “Casanova”, as well as scientific and futuristic series like “Time”, “La Conquista del Cosmos” (The Conquer of Cosmos), and “Objetos e Imaginaciones del Futuro”, (Objects and Imaginations of the Future) in which Dalí, like Da Vinci and Jules Verne, produces elements and machines that will become reality with the future technological evolution.

The series “El Quijote” pays homage to Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra with modern Quixotes, including a miniature that the public must observe with a magnifying glass.

The variety of techniques mastered by the Catalan artist becomes evident with the silver series like “Las Profesiones” (The Professions), serigraphs on silver depicting The Doctor, The Lawyer, The Architect, and the Fashion Designer, in up to 12 colors. The series “Placas de Plata” includes an homage to Pablo Picasso. “Los Deportes” (The Sports) is composed of the official medals from the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games, made by Dalí specially for this event.

The series of original lithographs “Daliniana” includes “Torso de Venus Surrealista”, “Elefante Celestial”, “El Caballero Leonardesco”, “Ascensión de Gala”, and “Los Jinetes del Apocalipsis”.

Another technique probably unknown by the public is sculpture. The series of casts in bronze includes his famous Reloj Blando (Soft Clock), “San Jorge and the Dragon”, “Terpsícora”, “The Unicorn Horse with Clock”, and “Alice in Wonderland”.

Dali as a portrait artist is represented by the series of etchings “Españoles Inmortales” (Immortal Spaniards) and “Álbum”, showing the faces of Rembrant, Velásquez, Van Gogh, Michelangelo, El Greco, Toulouse Lautrec and Leonardo Da Vinci.

Amazing visual 3D effects can be seen on “Los Cristos de Gala” and “Los Anamorfos Cónicos”. “Gala de Espaldas Mirando en mar Mediterráneo” seen from a distance of 10 meters becomes the portrait of Abraham Lincoln, an example of optical art from the 60’s and 70’s.
Location: Abasto Shopping Mall – Av. Corrientes 3247
Salon: Plaza Zorzal – 1st Floor
Opening hours:
Monday to Friday, 3.00 pm to 10.00 pm
Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays, 10.00 am to 10.00 pm
Tickets:
General: AR$ 35
Pensioners and students: AR$ 15
Group of 4 people: AR$ 110
On sale through www.ticketek.com.ar, or at the Ticketek office located at the Abasto Shopping Mall food court.

Via: MBATG

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Through photographs, original artifacts, videos, and quotes, the museum depicts Evita’s short life, beginning with her early poverty filled childhood in a Buenos Aires province. Once a teenager, Evita traveled to Buenos Aires to not only escape poverty but to also pursue an acting career. From here she gained great success as a radio actress and even had a short film career.

Walking through room after room we learn of Evita’s relationship with Juan Peron and her move into politics as the First Lady of Argentina. From a poor childhood with no formal education, and coming right out of an acting career, she had her fair share of critics but quickly became a popular figure in Argentina. With her own money, Eva started the Eva Peron Foundation in 1948. Through a video, we learn of the many beneficial programs Evita initiated for Argentine citizens in need. She also had a great impact on women in politics, with a strong role in gaining Argentine women the right to vote.

In 1951, Evita was diagnosed with cancer and died a year later at the young age of 33. A video goes into detail of the people’s mourning, her memorial, missing corpse, and final resting place in Recoleta Cemetary in Buenos Aires. Her grave is always covered in flowers, showing that even to this day Evita remains a powerful icon and influence for the Argentine people.

Museo Evita is located at Lafinur 2988 in Palermo. Admission is AR$12, and it’s open Tuesday – Sunday from 11am – 7pm. The museum also holds a gift shop, library, and restaurant, all with different hours. Definitely worth a visit!

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The 35 meters long walkway in a horseshoe shape allows the public to appreciate the vessel from every angle.

Entrance is free, but visitors must register to make the visit. Click here to complete the reservation form.

Location:
Rosario Vera Penaloza and Juana Manso, Puerto Madero
Hours:
Monday to Friday, 12.00 noon to 6.00 pm
Saturdays and Sundays, 10.00 am to 6.00 pm
Guided visits:
In Spanish: every day
In English: Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, 3.00 pm to 5.00 pm
In Portuguese: Monday to Friday 11.00 am to 1.00 pm, and Saturdays 3.00 pm to 5.00 pm.

The visits are canceled in case of rain. People will have to register again in this case.
For security reasons, children under 5 are not allowed to visit.
An ID of the main applicant and his/her companion must be presented on the day of the visit, plus the confirmation email.

Via: MBATG

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There are many options but bear in mind that you will be living on a third world wage and more often than not will be charged the price of a extranjero for your accommodation. Thus trying to make ends meet and let alone save for your future travels will be a challenge.

Living and working in a foreign country is one of the best ways to learn a language and to really get to know the people and the culture. However, choosing to stay put for a while does require an investment on your part, in terms of time, energy and finance.

Purchasing a mobile phone is essential so that prospective employers can contact you. However, depending on your level of Spanish answering the phone could be problematic as without seeing the lip movements and the crazy hand gestures you might not even realize you are being invited for an interview. It is also invaluable if you start teaching English so your students can contact you directly if they have to cancel on the same day so you do not make a wasted journey.

Searching for a job takes time and patience along with the added frustration of finding your way to interview locations whilst getting to grips with the local transport system.

Furthermore, depending on where and for how long you have been traveling you may not have appropriate clothing or footwear for an interview. With nothing but flip flops and hiking boots to choose from and an assortment of strappy numbers and frayed jeans you hardly look like a model candidate. Even worse you’ve arrived in Buenos Aires just as the seasons are changing and no matter how pretty your toes look, sandals are a definite no no in the winter months. It may be necessary to make a few bargain purchases.

In true backpacker style you could find yourself working as a receptionist or barman at one of Buenos Aires´ many youth hostels. This may not always be paid but be in exchange for board. Living at work with your guests may not be everyone’s cup of tea and you may be landed with the graveyard shift on weekend nights but your are in no position to argue.

If you’ve managed to bag the job with a minimum level of Spanish the next hurdle is to hold onto it. In the comfort of your own language this would normally be a piece of cake. It is fine if most of your guests are English speaking traveling Europeans but when they are mainly Latino couples or local university students who are living in hostel dormitories, Spanish is a must. You quickly remember important yet basic words such as toalla and manta through awkward sign language. Some of your guests might be sympathetic and find it amusing to play this game of charades and curious as to why a foreigner wants to work in Argentina. Others may not be so patient.

One is spoilt for choice for English Language Schools in Buenos Aires and with a bit of persistence and elaboration you could soon find yourself preparing classes for wealthy business men and screaming toddlers all in the same day.  You will soon discover that Buenos Aires is a city without rules, not only should you never trust the green man when crossing the road but when applying for jobs, diplomas, certificates and work visas are not as imperative as they might be in your own country. Anything is possible.

However, once you have convinced your interviewer that you are competent you then need to convince your students on a daily basis that you are worth parting their hard earned cash for.

With imagination and creativity there are several ways of earning your steak and wine in Buenos Aires. However, after a while the novelty of working in a foreign country wears off and despite the rewards of immersing oneself in a new culture, the cost of living might be too high for some.  Vacation, though, is a separate matter.

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