Sunday in San Telmo y La Boca

San Telmo is the oldest barrio of Buenos Aires.  Today we went to the market that runs every Sunday.  It is a huge market, spanning almost a mile of streets.

Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice

Algunas Pinturas

Guitara

San Telmo Street (side street off market)

 La Boca was the next neighborhood we visited.  Boca is widely regarded as the most "unsafe" neighborhood of Buenos Aires, but boasts the 'El Caminito', which is the street with the famous colorful houses.  It is also home to the Boca Juniors, one of the most well known soccer clubs in the world - Maradona anyone?

El Caminito

Outdoor Cafe in La Boca 

Another great weekend in Buenos Aires!  The heat continues, although it hasn't been horrible.  Surprisingly my apartment stays relatively cool at night, even without air conditioning.  However, I am excited for things to cool off a bit, and I'm told it will get a little cooler starting around mid-February, when the temperatures really get enjoyable (and right in time for my sisters to come to BsAs!!!).  I hope everyone is staying warm as best they can in Minnesota.  Sending all my love, I miss you all so much!

xoxo

Some Buenos Aires Graffiti

Spend 5 minutes here, and you'll see loads of graffiti, by and for the people of Buenos Aires.

Recognize him?

What Does a Homemade Argentine Meal Look Like?

Honey NutO's, Leche y Vino Tinto

Probably not what you were expecting.  On the days that I don't spoil myself with wonderful restaurants, I will have to live the life of a cheap student (weird to be a student again).  Don't judge me with the meal, and I do recommend cereal followed by a glass of wine.  This Malbec really accented the Cheerios nicely.

Disclaimer: I am on a 'blog high'.  Please do not expect the posts to continue this often, for you will be disappointed.

Brunch in Belgrano

To end the weekend we ate brunch in Belgrano, un barrio de Buenos Aires.

The restaurant is called 'Mooi'.

Algunos marmeladas y mantequilla

Cafe con Leche

Pan

Yogurt Casera con Granola y Fruita

My roommate and I took the bus to Belgrano to enjoy a delicious brunch.  The bus costs about $1.25 pesos a trip.  The current exchange rate offers about 4 pesos to one dollar, so it is a about .30 cents to take the bus.  I won't get into detail with the bus system now, but to quickly summarize it in one word: confusing.  More on that some other time.

Belgrano is a nice neighborhood in Buenos Aires.  The homemade granola was very good, and it was a nice change of pace from the Empanada, Pizza, Beef diet that I have divulged in the past 9 days here.  The restaurant accepted credit cards - which is always nice.  Not all restaurants accept credit cards, which can make things a little tricky.  People here also do not like breaking 100 dollar bills.  100 pesos is really not that much money, about 25 dollars.  But, they do not like breaking these larger bills here, and sometimes you really have to make sure you purchase something at a place that will.  Otherwise you are stuck with the 100 until you have to make a larger purchase.  Oh the Argentine life!

Un Asado Argentino

Last weekend I was able to try some Argentine Barbeque, or Asado.  On Saturday, we were invited to a home in Palermo for a BBQ, dinner, drinks and dancing.  The home was gorgeous.  Three levels, amazing furniture and decor.  The backyard had an amazing built in grill, with a pool and patio as well.  The home was owned by an Argentine family who was vacationing in Italy, and their nephew was staying there.  It was fun to meet many Italians, some French, and lots of Argentines.  I have to say, I have really enjoyed meeting the Portenos that I have met so far.  They have all been very friendly and welcoming to Argentina!    The asado was a variety of different meats, and was quite delicious.  Cheers to delicious food y vino!

Besos,
Maggie

Bienvenidos a Buenos Aires!

Well, I made it.  I arrived in Buenos Aires on Friday, January 14th, around 8 am.  I arrived to my apartment at about 10 am.  I walked into my apartment, sat down in my tiny little room, and thought to myself, "holy shit, I am actually in Buenos Aires".  As you can imagine, a lot of planning and anticipation goes into moving your life to another continent.  The planning began this summer, officially, but my goal of going back abroad had been lingering for quite some time.

Now that I'm officially a resident of Buenos Aires, it is a little unbelievable.  The first weekend here was spent in the following ways:

1). Trying to recover from lack of sleep (I've never been good at sleeping on airplanes).
2). Trying to grasp that I am actually here, in BsAs ('holy shit').
3.) Meeting new people left and right.
4.) Going out to the club and leaving when the sun was rising (Do not plan on doing this often).

It is pretty crazy that the Portenos (the people of Buenos Aires) are able to stay out until 6, 7, or even 8 am. Yes, 8 AM!!  They do not arrive at the 'clubs' until about 2 am.  If you get there before 2 am, you're likely to get in for free.  Needless to say, this is a difficult adjustment, considering the bars in Minneapolis close a las 2 de la manana.  Ahhh, what is that you see?  That is Espanol.  My new first language.  I will be forcing myself to speak in Spanish as much as possible.  Which brings me to my next run down, my first week here.

I began my intensive Spanish classes at IBL, (International Bureau of Language), which has been helpful and interesting.  It is a school with people from all over the world.  I have an Italian man, Polish woman, two Brazilians, one American, and one girl from Holland in my class.  It is has been a great way to meet people, and we are all there for the same goal: to learn Spanish!  I have to say, I was a little nervous about my Spanish, but it has, for the most part, stuck with me (phew).  These classes are from 9-1 pm, with a 20 minute break in between the 4 hours to get coffee y descansar.

After the Spanish classes, I have a 2 hour break in the day.  At 3 begins the Seminar at UADE, or, Universidad Argentina de la Empresa.  The seminar has been very interesting thus far.  I am taking the seminar with other Americans, who are here in Buenos Aires through 2 different business schools - one through Duke, and the other through Michigan.  They will be here just for the seminar, getting credits towards their MBA's at their respective business schools.  These are long days, but we have been learning interesting information about the rocky past of Argentina's economy, and the uncertainties of it's future.

Alas, it is the weekend once again.  This evening I am going to a soccer game (hopefully am not forced to play) with some Portenos that have organized the match, through the language school.  Unsure what the rest of the weekend will bring, but surely more discovering of this gorgeous city!

I miss Minnesota!

Besos,

Maggie