Many publishers have the same or similar books, so it does take some time to go through the whole fair.  Although the majority of publishers are Latin American, there are publishers from other countries that sell books in their country’s native tongue.  There are also various publishers that specialize in specific areas, such as languages or science.

Something that the majority of the public tends to miss are the variety of round tables, discussions, book signings, and other events that take place.  These provide a great opportunity to learn more about literature in Argentina and the rest of South America.

A few things to keep in mind:

- try to stay away from the fair on weekends, or you will likely run into long line-ups to get into the fair, in addition to long line-ups at every exhibitor.  The best time to visit the fair is during the day Monday to Friday, or on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday evenings.

- the best way to visit the book fair is to make a day out of it.  Go early, and take your time working your way through the different exhibits, sit down for a coffee, and then keep browsing.  Its not an event you can expect to enter and leave in a short amount of time.

- many publishers offer huge discounts on the the last weekend of the event.  Be sure to attend those days if possible, although try to go right at the beginning of the day.

- if you are a student, you get free entry, so bring your student ID!

- Clarin and La Nacion also have their own exhibits, and you have the chance to purchase all of the special books that they see throughout the year in their newspapers.  Sometimes they are classis books, encyclopedias, books about science, reference books, kids books, etc.  and they are always very cheap!

When: April
Where:  La Rural
Why:  A massive selection of books for great prices.
More Info:  http://www.el-libro.org.ar/

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Southfest is one of the three major electronic music festivals held in Buenos Aires, and because it is smaller than Creamfields or the SAMC, it tends to have a better vibe.  The event takes place in Costa Salguero, which is where many different electronic music events take place. It is nicely set-up for these events, and offers great sound and visuals.  It is also easy to access.

For more information such as dates, DJs, and prices go to: http://www.southfest.net

When: Varies every year
Where:  Costa Salguero
Why:  One night with some of the world’s top DJs

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For more information, check out the BAFICI website:  http://www.bafici.gob.ar/home/web/en/index.html.  You will find schedules and descriptions for all movies and events, and they are available in English.  You can even purchase your tickets online, to ensure you get a spot in the theatre.  Some of the more popular movies sell out well in advance, so it is recommended that you purchase your tickets in advance.

When: End of March/Beginning of April
Where:  Various movie theatres
Why:  Great chance to see some of the best independent films from around the world

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El Ateneo was built in 1919 by the architects Peró and Torres Armengol, at the request of Max Glücksman, an Argentine Entrpeneur and a pioneer in the music recording industry. He first made his money importing recording machines and records, which he then used to build the Teatro Gran Splendid.

Not only was the theatre home to some of the top music performances of the time, it was also used by Max to broadcast his radio show, and later to record records for some of the tango greats, including Carlos Gardel and Jose Razzano. The theatre was later used as a cinema, before being converted into one of the world’s most beautiful bookstores.

The bookstore still looks exactly like it did in it’s day, other than all the books.   There is a beautiful fresco painted on the domed roof, there is an open curtain lining the stage, and you can see all of the mouldings decorating the entire theatre, including the private boxes,where chairs are located so you can lose yourself in your favorite book.

Although the bookstore is quite large, the selection is nothing special, and if you are looking for English books, there isn’t much to go through. However, there is a true feeling of historical grandeur, and wandering through this bookstore can make your mind run wild.

There is also nice cafe on what used to be the stage, where they often have life piano music in the afternoons. The food is not great, but the desserts are tasty, and the coffee is excellent.

Bottom Line: Whether you want to just take a peak or relax in a great atmosphere, this is definitely worth a visit.

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Alejandro Christopherse was a famous Argentine architect who spent many years studying at the Beaux Arts de Paris, and as was common at the time, built the Palacio Anchorena using many influences of French architecture.  Although not as large or extravagant as the Palacio Paz, the palace nonetheless a remarkable piece of architecture, and gives one a glimpse into the life of upper-class Argentina in the early 1900s.

The palace is only available to be viewed by tours, which are done in both English and Spanish.  However, check the website or call first, because the dates and times change frequently, and sometimes a few months can pass where they will not offer tours.

Bottom Line: If at all interested in Argentine history, French architecture, or nice palaces, this is worth a visit.

Palacio San Martin
TEL: 4819-8092
mail: ana@mrecic.gov.ar

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The palace is quite stunning inside, and still contains all the original furnishings.   It is definitely worth a tour if you have time while visiting Buenos Aires.  Tours are about about 1 hour long, and are offered in both English and Spanish, though the English tours are only twice a week.  The tour goes through the major rooms, explaining what they were used for, and you will also learn about some of the art.  The tours are very well-done, and it gives you a fascinating glimpse into life of the upper class Argentines in the early 20^th century.  There are not self-guided tours allowed.

Bottom Line: Definitely worth a visit if you’re interested in seeing one of the most ornate palaces in Buenos Aires, and learning some Argentine history while your at it.

For more information on tour times and prices, visit: http://www.palaciopaz.com.ar/

Palacio Paz
Circo Militar (Plaza San Martin), Retiro
Av. Santa Fe 750
Consultas 4311-1071 /79 int. 147
visitas@palaciopaz.com.ar

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The lagoon is surrounded by a long road, where you will find people doing all kinds of sports – walking, jogging, roller-blading, biking, playing roller-hockey (yes, roller hockey in Buenos Aires!), or just wandering around.   The path is 1.7 km long, and is marked every 100M, making it a great place to go running.  You can rent bikes and rollerblades, so those that don´t have their own can still take part in the activities.

There is also plenty of grass, so it is ideal to lie in the sun or have a picnic.  The park is full of beautiful trees, including palm trees, and is very picturesque.  Should you feel like eating something, the road is lined with parillas, and mini-kiosks.

If all of these weren´t reason enough to go, there is also the Eduardo Sivori museum with a little café in the back.   The museum is usually free, although they will sometimes charge up to $2 pesos depending on what the exhibit is.   The exhibits are always rotating, and are a combination of paintings, sculptures, and drawings, usually with a modern art style.

Bottom Line: One of the nicest parks in the city.  If you want to spend some time in the sun, this is the place to go.

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1. Cockroaches – Buenos Aires is packed full of cockroaches.   The are easily seen dead on the street, or running around the sidewalks, weaving between the chaotic pedestrian traffic.  They are also found in most people´s living areas, and probably in most restaurant kitchens (not a pleasant thought).   When looking at an apartment for rent, it can be difficult to know if it is infested with cockroaches.  However, make sure you check out the building as you go to the apartment, and as you are leaving.  You will want to check if it is clean, and same goes for inside the apartment.  Especially furnished apartment.  You can also ask the landlord if the building has regular fumigations, which are quite common in BA.  If you have a chance, ask the previous tenants if they’ve had problems with cockroaches.
2. Black Mold – Buenos Aires is warm and humid, and bathrooms are often poorly ventilated.  It is common to find bathrooms that don´t have windows , further exacerbating the problem.  In Argentina, if there is black mold, it is common for someone to come in, paint over the mold, and pretend it never existed.  Unfortunately for the following tenants, this can be a serious health hazard.  Painting over black mold is not an effective way to get rid of the problem, and black mold is a serious health hazard.  Check the bathroom, and make sure that one, there is currently no black mold, and two, it doesn´t look like it has been painted over.  You may want to check the ventilation of the bathroom as well, because if you end up living there, you could have problems preventing black mold from appearing.
3. Water pressure – most people don´t think of this, because it´s not that common in North America to find an apartment with horrible water pressure.  Here, it is very common, especially with the hot water!  Make sure to check the taps in the kitchen and the bathroom, especially the shower!
4. Does it have heat and air conditioning?  You will freeze your ass off in the winter if you don´t have a heater, unless your in a building that has heating, and you are surrounded by heated apartments.  You can buy little space heaters, but they cost a lot to run.  Maybe you don´t mind walking around your house in a heavy sweater and a blanket at all times, but if you, you may want a place that has a gas heater. Try to find one that has exhaust to the outside, otherwise you will be breathing in small amounts of gas.  That being said, Buenos Aires get VERY hot and VERY humid in the summer.  For some, a fan may be enough, but be ready for 30C nights.   If not, make sure the unit has air conditioning.
5. Self-Defrosting Fridges – it is likely you´ve never seen a fridge that does not automatically defrost.  Here, they are still quite common.  If you are renting a furnished apartment, you may want to check what kind of fridge it is.  If it does not defrost automatically, it will be up to you.   This usually has to be done every 1 to 2 weeks, and can lead to a huge pool of water in your kitchen!   If you are renting an unfurnished place, you will need to buy your own fridge.

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Taking place at midnight on New Year´s Eve in La Plata is “la quema de muñecos,” which translated into English means “the burning of the dolls.” Residents get together to burn and watch as their neighborhood’s giant papier machée creature, filled with fireworks, goes up in flames. For a short amount of time, La Plata turns into a smorgasborg of color, noise, and smoke, as the residents of La Plata kick of their new year in style.

Source: Wikipedia

So how did it start? It may not surprise you to hear that it had to do with football….Legend has it that over 50 years ago, the president of the Cambaceres football club built a monument in honor one of the team´s football players, who had been instrumental in his team’s recently won championship. (The idea was most likely based on the burning of the Falles in Valencia or perhaps the burning of Judas, which takes place in many Latin American countries on New Year´s Eve). A good two decades later, this turned into a popular yearly tradition, where residents from different neighborhoods would work together to build their own paper giant, and set it on fire on New Year´s Eve.

As this tradition continued to gain popularity, there surfaced a competitive edge, and it has now turned into a competition to make the best paper giant. There are now over one hundred groups that participate, and there is an official contest for the best creation. Most years have some sort of unofficial theme, often the result of a blockbuster movie. For example, 2009 contained lots of dolls of characters from Harry Potter. In the past, it has also been common to make a copy of a politician or a well-known sports figure.

If you decide to spend your New Year´s in La Plata, it is pretty much impossible to miss the event. The only problem is that there is no central spot where the paper giants are lit on fire – this is performed throughout different parts of the city. One of the most popular is on 77th St, between 13th and 14th, but there are now so many different ones that they are not hard to find.

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When someone thinks about the food in Argentina, beef is always the first thing to come to mind. Argentine´s claim it is the best in the world, and so do many foreigners. My personal opinion? It is excellent, but it is not the best in the world. I have tried steaks that are just as good in North America, where there is also some excellent, high quality beef. However, one of the great things about the beef here is high quality beef is easily accessible, and is not too expensive, especially when compared to other food prices. However, just like anywhere, the more you pay, the better the quality, and there is certainly meat that is not worth eating here.

You will find that Argentine beef is definitely a little different than beef in other parts of the world. First of all, in most parts of the world, the cattle tend to be grain fed. Here in Argentina, they have lots of space and the cattle is generally grass fed. Grass fed cattle usually has less marbling, and grows slower, meaning the beef that you eat is older. However, I´m not an expert on the process of Argentine beef, but somehow, they have beef with lots of marbling, and it is very very tender. Some rib eye and filet mignon steaks here practically dissolve in your mouth, and have a delicious buttery flavor!

The beef is nearly always cooked on BBQ using different types of charcoal, which gives it a nice smoky taste. They do not season the meat here, other than a little bit of salt. Be prepared for plain beef, there are no steak rubs here! I am quite fine with that, because the beef is so good, and it does have a great BBQ’d flavor. However, if you like a little flavor added to your meat, the beef here is served with Chimi-Churri, which is a mixture of spices, vinager, and oil. It is always served on the side, and is up to you if you want to put it on your steak!

Some of the cuts of beef here are different, so many times there is no exact translation. Here is a list of the most common, in Spanish and English, and I explain what each cut is like.

Ojo de bife (Rib-Eye) – this is my favorite cut of meat. It is usually fairly tender, well marbled, with excellent flavor.Bife de Lomo (Filet Mignon) – the most expensive cut, also the most tender. Should have very little to no fat. Flavor is good, but not as strong as some of the other cuts. In general, one of the best things you can order on the menu. Filets here in Argentina are deliciously tender!

Bife de Chorizo (new york strip loin) – a good Argentine bife de chorizo is prettty hard to beat.  This cut is from the same part of the cow as a strip loin, so you can expect a juicy and very flavorful cut of meat.  There is some marbeling, and if you get a cheap cut, it can be really fatty.

Vacío (flank steak) – this is a delicious cut of meat and it is not available in most parts of the world. It is a thin cut of meat, from the flank, and has a thin layer of fat on both sides. A good quality vacío is tender, flavorful and very juicy, contains no fat (other than the layer surrounding it.   Argentines love this cut (it is a must have at an asado), especially how the outside gets crispy when cooked slowly over coals.  It is also an interesting cut for foreigners because it is usually a cut they have never tried.  It is important to get good quality vacío, or you could end up with a leathery piece of meat, with more fat than anything else.

Asado/Asado de Tira (short/cross cut ribs) – they are served differently than in North America, as the ribs are cut very short. There is not usually a lot of meat around the ribs, but they are quite flavorful. Another staple that is always served at an Argentine asado.

Asado de Costillar (beef rib) – this is not a common cut in Argentine, but if you can find them, they are delicious! The meat is very tender and juicy, and without too much fat. They are usually preferable to the standard asado de tira, because they are far meatier!

Matambre (similar to a flank steak) – a tougher cut, but can be very juicy and flavorful.  It can be found in various thicknesses, and is often served with a layer of fat on one side.  It is similar to a flank steak,  but comes from a part just beside it.  This cut is not usually found in North America.

Colita de Cuadril (rump steak) – this is the tail end of the rump. Great cut, can be done on the BBQ, or makes a great roast in the oven. Flavorful, very juicy, and very little fat.

Bola de Lomo (knuckle) – located just beside the colita de cuadril, this is the most common cut for milanesas and for lomito sandwiches.  It is a decent cut and can be found very cheap in Argentina.  It is juicy, fairly tender, and does not contain much fat.

Tapa de Nalga (top inside round) – Located beside the Bola de Lomo off of the cows leg near the kneecap.  A very cheap cut, it is somewhat tough.  Is mostly used in stews.

Peceto (eye of round) – comes from the very top of the cow’s rump.  This is a great cut usually used for roasts, but is also sometimes cut into medallions to be served as milanesas.  It is a bit tough, but has good flavor and very little fat.

Entraña (skirt steak) – a bit tough, but very flavorful and juicy. This is a fairly common piece of meat for Argentine asados.

Bife Angosto (strip loin) – located along the back of the cow, from the back ribs to the rump. Lots of marbeling, and usually one edge is covered in fat. A cheap option for beef, and usually a bit tough.

There you have it, the major cuts of Argentine Beef. There are still some other cuts, if you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment and I will answer what I can.

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