:: Buenos Aires Weekly ::

If you’d like to win a week in BA and stay in a boutique hotel, then go visit this website: http://www.luxurylatinamerica.com/argentina/contest.html

To have a look at the press release, click here: http://www.emediawire.com/releases/2008/4/prweb826244.htm 

Contest’s running until May 15th. Hurry up! :=)

The invasion of smoke resulting from the burning of land [started by farmers clearing land for cattle grazing] a few kilometers from Buenos Aires, had the city disappeared under a thick acrid cloud. Here’s a video from an Argentinian regrouping various pictures taken for the most part yesterday, Friday the 18th, considered to be the worst day for Porteños since the burning started.

Even if I consider my castellano to be fluent (by now it should be after almost 3 years in Argentina ;-)), it’s hard to get rid of the French accent, that’s something almost impossible to achieve, unless one stays abroad for a considerable amount of time, and still I’m not sure one’s accent ever goes away.. you tell me? But that’s ok though, it brings that little plus in my way of speaking. Anyway all of this to say that earlier this week, and this happened the same day, I’ve been asked 3 times “De donde sos?” (where are you from?), at the morning in a kiosko and at the night, in 2 stores. I was suprised to be asked this question that much in one day, knowing that I do shop and go to kiosko every other day, without anyone never asking me this. And the same evening, while surfing on Argentina’s Travel Guide, I found this amusing video by Gonzalo Mazar, entitled “De donde sos?”. The video’s fun to watch - you can also visit Gonzalo’s MySpace.com for more lyrics.

# 5 on the map –> San Antonio de los Cobres: To the West, the Puna’s arid high plains with salty lakes (Arizaro, Pocitos) has few inhabitants, and its main city is San Antonio de los Cobres. San Antonio de los Cobres is known for being a forced stop for the Tren a las Nubes (Cloud-Bound Train). It stands at 3744 metres above sea level and owes its name to the famous Sierra de Cobre (Copper Sierra), rich in this mineral, overlooking the surroundings.

# 6 on the map –> Salinas Grandes: located astride the Jujuy and Salta Provinces, is a 3,200 square mile salt desert at 3 350 m. of altitude. It’s a huge salt surface made of a 30cm thick layer crust.

Click on the above picture to bring you to the San Antonio de los Cobres / Salinas Grandes photos gallery.

I got to spend time getting those photos galleries ready and uploaded to share with you a bit of our trip to Salta and the Northwest of Argentina-

#3 on the map –> Salta: It is situated in the Lerma Valley, 1,152 meters above sea level, at the foothills of the Andes mountains. Nicknamed Salta la Linda (”Salta the Beautiful”), it has become a major tourist destination due to its old, colonial architecture and the natural scenery of the valleys westward. Attractions in the city proper include the 18th century Cabildo, the neo-classical style Cathedral, and the July 9th central square. The city’s meuseums exhibit a wide range of artifacts and art work from the native civilations that flourished in the area, as well as from the 16th century Spanish conquest and the colonial and post-colonial periods. Salta is also the starting point of the “Train to the Clouds” (Tren a las nubes) -this train has been closed for the past 3/4 years, and is expected to reopen in June or July of this year, and on the way to red-soiled Cafayate, as well as to other nearby tourist destinations. -from Wikipedia.

Click the above picture to bring you to Salta photos gallery.

Next Purmamarca located between # 3 and 2 on the map: small village from the beginning of the XVII century, of prehispanic origin, located at 2192 meters above sea level and 3 kilometers away to the East of National Route Nº 9 which links it to the Capital City of Jujuy after riding 65 kilometers. Purmamarca - meaning “Town of the Virgin Land” in Aimara language- is settled at the foot of the polychromatic ” Cerro de los Siete Colores” ( Seven Colors Hill ) which provides the village with the ideal touristic contrast since it delights the senses of all the tourists that visit it. The village, with adobe buildings of cardon roofs and mud tiles, was designed around the Main Church from 1648 consecrated as St. Rosa de Lima which has currently been proffessed as National Monument since it has a particular architecture as well as valuable paintings and images from Cuzco inside. - from welcomeargentina.com

Click the above picture to bring you to Purmamarca photos gallery.

# 2 on the map –>Pucara de Tilcara: being the Head City of the homonimous department, Tilcara is located at 2465 meters above sea level on the verge of Grande River on Nº9 National Route and 84 kilometers to the North of San Salvador de Jujuy City. This town of low adobe buildings with steep streets offers you all the magnificence of the quebrada view which is decked out with the live cultural life of its inhabitants. Considered as the Archaeological Capital of Jujuy , there is a Museum belonging to Tilcara Interdisciplinary Institute which is considered as one of the most important in this specialty. Only a few kilometers away from the center of the region, you can visit Pucará - meaning fortress- which has been built by the original inhabitants of Humahuaca Quebrada on both polychromatic hillocks. -from welcomeargentina.com

Click the above picture to bring you to Pucara de Tilcara photos gallery.

# 1 on the map –> Humahuaca: Humahuaca is situated in the west of Jujuy Province, 126 km away from Horacio Guzmán International Airport, which is located in San Salvador de Jujuy City, capital city of the Province; and at 2,939 meters above the sea level, on the right verge of Nº 9 National Road. Due to the uneven topography of this land, the region presents rather different climates: high temperatures (38ºC) are registered during the day, while considerable lower temperatures are registered at night ( -10º) , and this changes according to the season. This is a colonial city: its worth walking narrow paved streets with streetlamps and adobe houses made Humahuaca one of the most important trade centers of Alto Perú until the end of the XIX Century. In this region, tourists get in touch with Hispano-America roots in a landscape made of valleys and narow paths where Indigenous and Spanish cutures merged. Due to the altitude in which all these touristic sites are located, it is highly recommended to walk slowly in order to avoid having mountain sickness that may be caused by the oxygen decrease. - from welcomeargentina.com

Click the above picture to bring you to Humahuaca photos gallery.

# 4 on the map –> Cafayate: Cafayate is situated 183 km away from the capital city of the province through Nº 68 National Road. It is the main city in the district of Cafayate and has become the most important site in the Calchaquí Valleys. Located at 1,660 m above sea level , Cafayate is well known because of its famous torrontes wine product of the exquisite combination of temperature and humidity that provides the ideal environment to the growth of the sweet and deep fruit flavor. -from welcomeargentina.com

Calchaquí Valleys is a valley in the northwestern region of Argentina that crosses the provinces of Catamarca, Tucumán and Salta. It is best known for its contrast of colours and its unique geography that ranges from the mountain desert to the subtropical forest. Most of the pictures in the gallery will show you landscape of the Quebrada las Conchas, also known as Quebrada de Cafayate.

Click the above picture to bring you to Cafayate photos gallery.

This week-end I’ll add # 5 and 6, San Antonio de las Cobres and Salinas Grandes.

After almost 3 years that I now live in Buenos Aires - yes this coming June, it’d be 3 years I’ve been enjoying my time in Argentina, yuhuu(!!) - I still can’t believe and or understand, how fast the streets of BA can get flooded when there’s a torrential rain. Like today for example. I swear, it was pouring rain in the barrio of Palermo, where I work, for about 2 good hours, tops 3 hours, with heavy rain pouring down. When we look from the office’s window down the street, we witnessed the exact same scene (without the cop though ;=))

I mean come on now, it’s not the first time that happens, and it’s not like all the barrios in the city are affected, only a few are damaged by heavy rains. And my question is why isn’t the city doing anything to fix this? BA laying over the river ok that’s one thing and sure does not help, but have the drainage systems revised, fixed, clean! I live in Belgrano, and such a flooding never occured since I moved here 3 years ago, as I was told they fixed the d. systems. So why don’t they do the same in the neighborhoods that really need it!? Today, the rain fell non-stop since early morning until about midday. During this time, almost 60 millimeters of water has been registered.

Following are picture taken from the newspaper LaNacion:

And the funniest one ;=)

Heads-up! A new portal about Argentina has been launched. The articles range from cultural, touristic, scientific to educational, sportive and economic events. Available in Spanish, Portuguese and English, the site main objective is to present Argentina for whoever wants to visit or invest in the country. The site is well done with beautiful multimedia photo galleries and up to date information: ARGENTINA.AR

Boedo is one of those neighborhoods where tourists don’t tend to go because somehow the tourist guides forget to mention it. Nonetheless, the barrio experience a cultural rebirth, hopefully bringing more people and tourists visiting this part of Buenos Aires.

Iant Mount from GoodAirs wrote an interesting article, that I’m including here:

Rebirth of a Bohemian Barrio
By IAN MOUNT
THE Boedo section of Buenos Aires was an artistic hotbed in the early 20th century, home to Argentine cultural giants like the writer Roberto Arlt and the tango lyricist Homero Manzi. But it drifted into anonymity after World War II, a low-slung, middle-class neighborhood whose famous soccer stadium was razed and turned into a Carrefour supermarket.

In the last few years, however, Boedo has experienced a cultural rebirth. As other bohemian neighborhoods like San Telmo and Palermo have been gentrified, independent theaters, underground restaurants and trendy bars have sprung up amid the skinny, century-old “chorizo” cottages that still define Boedo. The city has installed semi-figurative sculptures on many sidewalks, and tattooed artists now mingle with longtime residents who were teenagers during Boedo’s last boom.

Much of the resurgence can be attributed to the arts-minded Marín family, who moved to Buenos Aires from the Argentine city of Mendoza and opened several restaurants and cultural centers.
Boedo’s theatrical wings are on display at the Timbre 4, a 50-seat playhouse started by the playwright Claudio Tolcachir. Since 2004, it has been home to Mr. Tolcachir’s award-winning comedy “La Omisión de la Familia Coleman,” attracting celebrities like Francis Ford Coppola.

The barrio’s bohemian past has been discovered. Across the street from Pan y Arte is Cafe Margot , an old French-style cafe, replete with bow-tied waiters, black-and-white floor tiles and old cigarette signs, that draws a new generation of artists and writers.

And at the Monte de Piedad Museum (Boedo 870, 2nd floor; 54-11-4931-1605), visitors can see a recreation of the Cafe Biarritz, a famed leftist hangout that was located one floor below. The museum also traces the history of the Banco Ciudad from pawnshop to modern bank, with fascinating artifacts like a set of brass banisters that was bashed by angry customers in the aftermath of Argentina’s 2001 economic crisis.

The neighborhood’s boom is not restricted to Avenida Boedo. On nearby Avenida Carlos Calvo.

Boedo lacks interesting shopping, but there are a few exceptions. In a mall at the intersection made famous in the tango “Sur” is Almacén Porteño a tiny record store with an extensive collection of tango CDs (15 to 24 pesos), photos and sheet music. The tango-obsessed owner, Juan Carlos Bellini, also sells old tango LPs online (from $8).

The city’s current fad over puertas cerradas — restaurants in private homes — has also reached Boedo. Held at the home of a local chef, Máximo Cabrera, Kensho serves ambitious organic vegetarian dishes like ceviche made from tofu and oyster mushrooms.

After the meal, Mr. Cabrera and his wife, Guillermina Días, perform songs that sound like Sade with a techno edge — a fitting soundtrack for an old bohemian quarter finding a new voice.

Corner of Osvaldo Pugliese, Boedo y Carlos Calvo:

Another link worth reading is the one of Cherie from tangocherie, a Californian lady, whom I had the pleasure to meet, and who live happily in the barrio Boedo, wrote this posting: BARRIO MIO — BOHEMIAN BOEDO

Library Miguel Cané, Carlos Calvo 4300:

Café Margot, Pasaje San Ignacio and Av. Boedo:

Esquina Osvaldo Pugliese:

Pasaje San Ignacio:

All of you, Americans & Canadians, who may be interested in participating in a documentary, please read the following lines:

A producer from Buenos Aires is looking for US & Canadians living
in Argentina for a Documentary about “Water as unique resource” to be showed at
an International Fair in Spain later this year:

We’re looking for Males and Women aged 18-65 years old, from USA/Canada living
in Buenos Aires area. Don’t need to be an actor, since we’re looking for “real”
people (people from arounf the world sit in front of the camera and give
thoughts about the Water and its future as a natural resouce based on a brief
script and their personal opinions).

If you are interested, or known any who might be, please contact me at:
luis.reggiardo@gmail.com

More detailed info about the project here:

The movie is a short documentary feature about the Water, the actual state of it on countries around the globe and the thoughts of global citizens about its future. Its going to be featured for 3 months on the International Expo Zaragoza 2008 - Water and Sustainable Development. From 14th June to 14th September - ( http://www.expozaragoza2008.es/).

It is not endorsing anithyng except the concerns of common citizens about the water ad a unique resource. You’ll be able to review the script but mostly your personal thoughs are what is going to count, script is just a guide.

At the website you’ll get a best idea of what the Expo is about!

Expo Zaragoza 2008 is an International Exposition regulated by the B.I.E., the French abbreviation for the International Expositions Bureau (Bureau International des Expositions).
The first international exposition took place in London in 1851. Since its success, numerous expositions have been held all over the world, including the Paris Exposition of 1889, which gave birth to the Eiffel Tower. As these events increased in number, a clear need arose to control their frequency. Thus, the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) was created in 1928.
Universal Expositions are held every 5 years on a site with no area limitations. They last 6 months and address a general theme. An example of this type of exposition is the Seville “Expo 92″.
International Expositions, such as the one planned for Zaragoza in 2008, are held over 3 months on a site of no more than 25 hectares. They address a specific theme, which in this case, is “Water and Sustainable Development”.
In Paris on 16 December 2004, Zaragoza (Spain) was elected the host city of the 2008 International Exposition, beating out the other candidates, Thessaloniki (Greece) and Trieste (Italy). This event will coincide with the bicentennial commemoration of the Siege of Zaragoza (1808) and the centennial celebration of the Hispano-French Exposition of 1908.

All -

I was happily surprised to receive an invitation to join the Taringa Fest 2007 which will take place on the 27th in Buenos Aires. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to attend, since I’m already in France for the Xmas holidays, but Taringa organizers kindly invite 5 of BA daily/weekly readers :)!! So please whoever of you is interested to go to the Taringa fiesta on the 27th, please let me know, sending me your name/last name, and DNI so that they can add you on the guests list. For more details, check out the party flyer down below.

TARINGA FEST 2007!
JUEVES 27 DE DICIEMBRE - 24hs.
BARHEIN - Lavalle 345, Capital Federal

El próximo Jueves 27 de diciembre, desde las 24 Hs, se desarrollara en Bahrein la fiesta de Taringa.net ¿que es Taringa? es una de las comunidades on line mas grande de Latinoamerica, con mas de 260.000 usuarios, y con la mayor perspectiva de crecimiento y proyeccion para los proximos años.

El proximo Jueves 27 de Diciembre celebraremos en Bahrein junto a la gente que conforma la comunidad Taringa y junto a todos los que quieran acercarse y festejar con nosotros, en una fiesta donde se presentaran reconocidos musicos, dj´s y veejays de la escena local, que garantizaran calidad musical y variedad de estilos, ya que habilitaremos las dos pistas del lugar que albergaran tematicas musicales diferenciadas.

En la pista XXS Room, estaran al volante los deejays Tato Piatti, Nico Purman y Jorge Savoretti, que desarrollaran sus dj set pensando en aquellos que disfrutan de los generos de musica electonica actualmente mas reconocidos, hablamos de techno, minimal y electro.

En el Funky Room, sera el escenario de musicos y productores que en formato live, expondran innovadoras fusiones musicales que alternaran y entremezclaran generos como dub, reggae, breacks, cumbia electronica, reggeaton y mash up, lo que detonara un coctel musical altamente bailable !!! Se presentaran Villa Diamante, King Koya + El Trip Selector + visuales de Vj Cuco, Le Mutant (Julian Gomez + Catalina en visuales), Marcelino y Dj Cucho junto a un mc.

Cada presentacion, estara acompañada por diferentes veejays que fusionaran sus imagenes en tiempo real. Contaremos con la participacion de Nina Plez, Gisela Faure, Urano13 y Martin Scatonne.

// Line up //
XSS ROOM > Pista techno // minimal // electro
Tato Piatti
Nico Purman
Jorge Savoretti

Veejays Gisela Faure // Urano13

FUNKY ROOM > Pista dub // mush up // reggae // cumbia electronica // Reggaeton
Villa Diamante
King Koya + El Trip Selector + visuales: Vj Cuco
Le Mutant (Julian Gomez + Catalina)
Cuchodubsystem [ARMY OF DUB] + MC
Marcelino

Veejays Nina Plez // Martin Scatonne

Entradas anticipadas:
* $20
* $40 con remera de Taringa!

Pueden comprase por:
- Shop Taringa! http://shop.taringa.net/
- Ticketek http://www.ticketek.com.ar/show.asp?code=TARINGAFEST

Más información sobre los artistas:
DJs: http://www.taringa.net/posts/patrocinados/982738/Quién-es-quién-en-la-fiesta-de-Taringa!.html
VJs: http://www.taringa.net/posts/patrocinados/988093/Quienes-son-los-VJ-de-Taringa-Fest.html