29.4.10

VERDULERÍAS




Verdulerias are vegetable shops located on almost every block. When you see so many, it can be a little overwhelming to know which one to choose from. Some of them only sell veggies while others contain a carneceria, selling carne/pollo (Beef/chicken). Occasionally you can find one with a deli counter selling cheese/sandwich meat. You can also pick up your eggs here, for much cheaper than the supermarket.

There are several different factors that go into where to buy your vegetables.


1.Freshness
2.Convenience
3.Product

4.Price

5.Friendliness!


I say friendliness because especially when you are not from here you might not know all the words for all the veggies yet. Plus, in Argentina some of the food words are different than in other Spanish speaking countries. Palta is avocado which many of us know as aguacate. In my experience, it’s always nice to have a friendly person who can understand that you are still learning.


Also, the locals tend to ask for the product from a distance ‘one lettuce please…. and so-on..’ but, again, when you are still learning the words it can be a challenge. You can appear rude when you do it differently but when you have a nice person they understand.


On the etiquette on grabbing the veggies or asking, I know that the locals always ask and never grab. At this point, I have my regular vegetable shops and they know that I am very serious about my food and I will pass up what I need if they can’t provide me with the best quality product. So occasionally, I grab my product. But be sensitive and wait to grab the products! You will be forced to practice your Spanish. Or point!


Also, don't assume that you will always find what you are looking for. It much easier here to cook based off of what is available vs. what you need. One day I went to 10 different shops looking for rosemary. WHEW!


But still, these shops are one of my favorite things about Buenos Aires.

20.4.10

poema




Romantic stars float over the humid air and crooked tiles
grand trees tower high above the concrete jungle protecting
the millions making love and listening to music


(on Buenos Aires ) by: Molly Probst.

17.4.10

El Ateneo






El Ateneo is a bookstore in Buenos Aires located on Avenida Santa Fe 1860 near Callao. From the outside, it would be possible to walk past it without realizing the incredible treasure that lies beneath. Inside is a grand old theater.

Through the rows and rows of books, you can stand in the middle of the shelves and imagine the great history of this gorgeous place. When it opened in 1860, this theater hosted famous Tango shows, many musicians and theatrical shows.

In the early 1920's a man named Max Glücksmann bought the building and began to broadcast his own radio station, Radio Splendid. In 1926, he then converted it to a cinema and by 1929 was showing the city’s first shows ever presented with sound. The last movie played here was American Beauty by Sam Mendes.

After a major renovation Buenos Aires resurrected this gem into a relaxing get-away amongst the hustle and bustle of the downtown life.

There is a small selection of English books, there is a music section in the basement and a fantastic café located where the stage used to be. You can also find a seat in one of the old theater boxes on the side of the stage.

16.4.10

Helado/Ice Cream





I am a sucker for a scoop of ice cream. Basically, I could eat a little ice cream every day. I love it. It is definitely my favorite desert of all time. Here is Buenos Aires they help me curb my craving at just about every other corner.

Ice cream! It’s homemade and delicious! You can order a range of sizes to a little cone to a big bucket for you house. Also almost all deliver! We are always calling for a bucket after a nice big meal at a friends house.

I could not even begin to tell you all of the flavors but here are my favorites:
Chocolate de mousse, Dulce de leche con brownie, Crema Almendra(almonds), Crema rusa....mmmm!

They usually have a wide selection of dulce de leche and chocolate. They also have lots of fresh fruit ice creams.

The cream and milk in the country is different than the U.S. I don’t know what is different in regards to the pasteurization process make a huge difference in the taste and quality of this ice cream. It also makes a difference with whipped cream. It is amazing.

Fun fact! Eggs and some milk products are not sold out of a fridge at the supermarket in Argentina.

9.4.10

Things about me!


Life is a journey. Each person is given a different one but it isn’t that simple. Then it’s what that person does with each journey. Are they positive? Are the negative? Do they criticize others or themselves? What world were they born into? What land? What kind of family?

After the dice has been rolled and you are given your journey with your mind and your actions, then it’s how you see life. It’s your experience. Your opinions. Your journey.

My journey has been interesting. I am always thinking. I am always gathering data. My mind is like a sky with stars and the stars are ideas. Sometimes it’s hard for me to organize them.


Things about me.

I am lucky.
I am grateful.
I am open.
I am happy.
I am loving.
I am intrigued.
I am very curious.
I am questioning.
I am serious.
I am silly.
I am hungry.

Join me on my experience. Please help guide me in my journey. I welcome your opinion, even if it is negative. But please help me to learn more about Argentina rather then criticize. Thank you for reading.

***I am getting close to my first POST in Spanish!!

5.4.10

San Telmo: Sunday/Domingo














Last weekend was Easter. It is a long weekend here in Argentina. Most people are off work from Thursday through Sunday. Everyone is back to work on Monday.

Yesterday, since it was just a normal day for me. I finally went to check out the street market in San Telmo. It is every Sunday. There is a little music, food, art and tango. It runs down Defensa Street starting near the pink house all the way down past San Juan Street.

Just search: San Telmo street fair‎
Google map: http://maps.google.com.ar/

If you are looking to purchase or take a nice photo of a tango dancer this is the place. I am glad that I waited to go because being able to talk the people down on purchases is important.

I bought a very soft hand woven scarf for 30 pesos (originally 40 pesos) and cheapo gloves that you would find in Walgreens for 5 pesos (they wanted 15 pesos).

Great people watching!