Boo Rain´!

So we didnt go to Carnaval last weekend. It was cloudy, overcast, and rainy the whole weekend up there, and, seeing as we´re staying at a campsite, we decided to call it off. We´re now going this weekend and should be leaving tomorrow around 3pm or so. So, once again, pictures will follow in due time.

Patrick

ps- Isma, are you from Buenos Aires or the USA?


Capital Federal, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Carnaval!!!

It´s just been confirmed, I´m heading to Argentina´s largest Carnaval celebration this weekend in Gualeguaychu!!!

I´m going with the cousin of a university friend of mine, and his five good friends. He invited me a long time back when we had a party at the house and he just came through on his offer. I´ll be heading to the WAY south suburbs tomorrow to stay at my friends house for two nights, and then her cousin, who lives in the same city, will come pick me up and we´re off!!!

Here are some pictures that I found on the internet.

Capital Federal, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Publicidades de Argentina

Ever since I arrived in Argentina, I´ve noticed that they have great commercials. Seldomly do you see a car commercial, the very type of commercial that pollutes US television. Commercials here are just genuinely good, well thought out, and perfectly executed. I´ve compiled a small sample of the commercials from Argentina that I like.

These first ones are from the Buenos Aires Film Festival. All of them have the punch line, "If it´s not for you, it´s not for you." You´ll see what I mean.

Commercial for the Buenos Aires Film Festival. Making a joke of the people who look too far into art or movies to seem sofisticated. The painting is supposed to be the "the saddest painting in the world" but the guy in the orange just doesn´t seem to find it that sad.



This one has three guys with moustaches talking about "what it´s like to have a moustache." The first guy says having a moustache is like lighting a torch, and they all agree. The second says its like grabbing a frisbee, and they all agree. The third guy says that, for him, it´s always been like the color blue. They all full-heartedly agree. The fourth guy says it´s like being a Viking warrior, galloping on his horse, with tempest wings. They all touch their moustaches, trying to feel something Viking-ish, and then they find out he has a fake moustache.



Amazing Budweiser commercial. Here is the exact script of what happens.

"A young man goes to the fridge for a beer and is surprised by a man in a cowboy outfit accompanied by a white horse. He introduces himself as the young man's imaginary friend from when he was a kid, and is disappointed that he has real friends now and no time for imaginary ones. The young man plays along and opens a pretend bottle for him, but the cowboy says that there is no such thing as imaginary beer, and opens and drinks a bottle of Budweiser from the fridge."




Capital Federal, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Asado at Eugenio´s

A couple days ago, Miguel, Eugenio´s cousin, returned from a month in Australia. To celebrate his return, and to also wish him off as he heads back to Mar del Plata, his city, we decided to have a get together. Instead of having it at our place, Eugenio´s parents are in Paris for awhile, so we decided to have it at his place.

About 12 people were there in total, Anabel and myself, along with friends of Pablo and Eugenio. The night was filled with amazing meat, as usual, lots of wine and fernet, and plenty of laughing. We started out with a great salad of greens, tomatoes and onions, followed by choripan, which is Argentine sausage, eaten on a little baguette. After that, the meat started flowing, lots and lots of it. The last food was something I´ve never had before, but was absolutely amazing. Red peppers, sliced in half and grilled. However, when you´re grilling them, you crack an egg and put it into the pepper half. They look like overeasy eggs inside the pepper and are amazing. Definitely going to make these when I get back.

As the night continued, we snacked on the leftovers and hung out around the dinner table for hour upon hour. This is the common asado. No one was itching to go out, or looking to get drunk. We all just happily sipped on our drinks and talked the whole night. On top of it all, Eugenio has a gorgeous 4th floor terrace at his place, which is nicely hidden away in the Almagro neighborhood. A clear sky and 70 degree temperatures accompanied us the entire evening.

Back in November, when I was apartment searching, I was really hoping to find a group of Porteños to live with, so I could spend my last three months perfecting my slang, drinking fernet and coke, and having tour guides of the city at my disposal. It appears I found exactly that.

Eugenio Monitoring the Meat

The Parrilla


Eugenio Cooking
The Group

Anabel and I



Capital Federal, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Playing Against Argentines

Yesterday I went to play soccer with my roommate Pablo and some of his friends from high school...today, I can´t walk.

Wow, am I sore. Back in the day, circa 1997, I was really good at soccer. However, times have changed...especially when you´re playing against Argentines who grew up with a soccer ball at their feet. I did my best to attack the ball and keep up with the game, but any bystander would have definitely noticed the foreigner amongst the locals. After 60 minutes of running in 85 degree weather, on a breezeless day, on an astroturf field, my body hates me.


Capital Federal, Buenos Aires, Argentina

New Neighborhood Journey

So I decided to go for a bike ride into a new neighborhood today, Saavedra. I´ve been looking at this park on my city map for a long time, and I´ve really wanted to go. Today was warm with a breeze, so I decided to pack up my mate, termo, some reading material, and a chicken sandwich, and I was off for some exploring. Here are some of the snapshots from my journey, in chronological order.


Here is the map of Capital Federal, Buenos Aires. I live inside the red circle and the parks that I wanted to visit are inside the blue circle.

The Colegiales Train Station
Old Men Playing Tejo, Bocce of Argentina
Very Nice Neighborhood

Same Neighborhood
Cruising on the Bike
Parque Saavedra
Cool Beetle
Church in Parque Saavedra
Train Station Belegrano "R"


Capital Federal, Buenos Aires, Argentina