New bar in the city: L´Abielle

Located in Arroyo 872, this is one of the newest bars in Recoleta and also one of the most elegant and chic.
Politicians and top entrepeneurs are frequents clients.
Coctels prices are same price than any other nice bar, for example, a Baileys (I use it as reference because is what I usually drink) is $ 25 ars.

August: Pachamama month (and my birthday ha)

Who is She?



For the Quechua, it meant Mother Land. She is the greatest deity among the Peruvian, Bolivian and North-Argentine roaming people. Adán Quiroga explains that Pacha means universe, world and place, and its believed to have conveyed the idea of time or life cycle in earlier times. Mama means mother, and it defines the bond between the people of North-western Argentina (and generally of South-America´s Central Andes) with their land and their homes.



Pachamama must be honored by taking care of her and its fruits. And also celebrating every August 1. You start digging a small hole on the ground, but on the day before, because you cannot dig, or jump, or scream or trow stones on her day. And you ask her to forgive your mistakes and continue giving us her gifts. The hole is then filled to feed Pacha Mama, first with embers to perfume the Earth and then a stew (you should avoid fried or grilled food), then you offer her some of your wine or chicha, tobacco and yicta (dough made from potato and ashes with which you chew coca leaves). Everything we have is hers because she´s the one who gives it to us. Pachamama is the Earth itself. She is life itself.

COFFEE SHOPS! I loooovee them! :D

As a lover of coffee shops and a person that goes daily to them, I wanted to share with you this article about this "pasión porteña"

Index:Bares in Buenos Aires
How to distinguish a notable bar in five minutes…

Bares in Buenos Aires

Why do many people spend time in cafés in Buenos Aires?
The café is a “porteño” institution par excellence. This is the place where people can feel free at their ease, the perfect spot to dream with friends and find magical solutions to the country’s problems. It is here, better than another scenario, where people think that utopias are possible. Bars are very warm; How many love relationships have started there? How many people have had their first kiss?
On the other hand, some goodbyes and separations have taken place in these houses. The cafes are as life is, the light and the shadow, happiness and sadness, but always with the presence of a friend. Jorge Luis Borges said: “I think that one of the most important functions of the city is to bring the dialogue”, and cafes are the best solution to that. We could say that the Café is the friendship temple and thus, for that reason, its continuance.


Why are the cafés considered cultural patrimony?
Cafes are usually real references to the neighbourhoods. They are part of the usages and customs of the porteño society and its everyday history. Cafes are part of the town landscape, poetry and literature. Going to a café is very necessary for many writers in the process of their work. The bars, with their continuance, provide the fondest situations. There, the tangible and intangible cultural patrimony is always and daily present.


Why are the cafés in Buenos Aires different from those in other cities of the world?
Generally, in other cities, people go the café in order to drink something, have a work meeting or a quick date.
The porteño café is heir of those from Madrid and Paris. People can go to drink a coffee or aperitif, but also, they can read the newspapers or a book in no hurry. Besides, they can study or enjoy a concert, and of course, in many cafés they can play billiards.


Which characteristics were taken into consideration in the process of selection of notable bars?
According to the Act 35 of 1998, the “Comisión de Protección y Promoción de los Cafés, Bares, Billares y Confiterías Notables de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires” (Association for the promotion and protection of notable bars in Buenos Aires) was created. Pursuant to such rule, the following requirements to consider a bar as notable were established: antiquity and continuance; an outstanding architecture; situations of cultural value taken place in such bar; attendance of important characters and, of course, such bar must be a reference to the neighbourhood or zone
Thus, at first, 39 notable bars were chosen. Nowadays, 20 bars have been added to the list.
The selection is very extensive because people can find classic and prestigious cafes at international level as the Tortoni but also some typical bars of neighbourhoods such as the “12 de Octubre”, near plaza Almagro, or “El Progreso”, at Montes de Oca and California in the district of Barracas.


Which is the oldest café in the city?
Porteño Cafes started to appear at colonial times. Most of them were located in the surroundings of Plaza Mayor, today Plaza de Mayo. Among others, we can enumerate “Café de la Comedia”, “De los Catalanes” and “De Marco”, meeting point of Mariano Moreno, Manuel Belgrano, Juan José Castelli and Bernardo de Monteagudo the nights before the “Revolución de Mayo” in 1810.
The oldest café in full swing is the “Tortoni”, founded in 1858, at the corner of Esmeralda and Rivadavia. In 1880 it was moved to Rivadavia 1826. In 1898 the entrance on Avenida de Mayo (the other side of the block) was opened with the number 825/29.


Has the function of the City’s cafés changed?
The city is a cell that changes constantly. It is necessary to have a balanced view of civic and intellectual readiness to rescue those cultural properties (such as buildings, green spaces, pieces of art, etc.) that play an important role in our collective memory and patrimony. Approximately 25 years ago, all the cafés got modernized, unified their styles and put a lot of plants, absurdly in some cases. Thus, they lost their personal styles that had made them different (except from La Giralda and El Gato Negro). Nowadays, a greater authenticity is being searched in order to rescue the original situations.
The essential function of the cafes has been kept, with the noticeable changes because of the present fashion and technology. Anyway, “know-all and suicide people” (as the tango says) still frequent these places but obviously they do not wear broad-brimmed hat and “lengue” (a kind of handkerchief).


Nowadays, do porteños spend more or less time in the café than before?
It depends on the kind of café, its location and the age of regular clients. Those coffee houses with billiard tables keep their style(36 Billares, Richmond, etc.). The neighbourhood cafés (such as Café de García, Margot, El Banderín, etc.) have their regular customers. Many of those located at downtown are always full of people (London City, La Giralda, Tortoni, etc.). However, nowadays, the literary meetings have decreased, even though some cafes (such as Bar de Cao, Margot, Tuñón, etc.) are the exceptions which prove the rule.


Which is your favourite café?
It would be unfair to mention only one. I like to have breakfast early in the morning at the Tortoni, with all its paintings and history. I like to: drink a coffee at Le Caravelle on Lavalle almost Maipú at the afternoon, meet with my wife at El Gato Negro while feeling the smell of the recently ground cinnamon, eat a sandwich at El Progreso and we will feel lucky if its owner, Mrs. Licinia, sings an Asturian song. At Thursday, Friday and Saturday night, I like to share a great “picada” with amigos at the Café de García, and at any moment I like to visit “La Buena Medida” at Suárez and Caboto, in front of “Plaza Solías” where the glorious Boca Juniors team was founded; eat a sandwich of marinated pavita at the Margot while we chat with the poet Rubén Derlis or the artist Juan Manuel Sánchez. Finally, I would enjoy drinking a cup of white coffee with croissants at Carlitos, along Carlos Calvo at Saavedra corner.





How to distinguish a notable bar in five minutes…

One person sits down, asks for something and in five minutes that person could appreciate if he is in a notable bar or not. We come in the café. We choose a table. We sit down. Observing quickly the place, we have an almost accurate idea of the architectonic space and its qualities, including its equipment (furniture and ornaments or documents: poetry, paintings, photos and dedications written in many cases by its customer and/or friends). The most important point in order to get a conclusion is the quality of the dish or drink chosen. The attention of waitress may be an advantage or disadvantage. In few minutes, taking into account the sounds and noises, and after watching the movement, routines and how the customers act, one person can appreciate the personal character of the café and realize how notable the bar chosen is.






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*Horacio Spinetto: architect. In 200X he wrote a book called “Cafés in Buenos Aires”, in which he pays a tribute to these temples of friendship.

Buenos Aires is among the 10 top cities in the world to visit in 2010 :D

http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/worlds-best-cities-2010/8

RYANAIR: FLY FOR FREE IF YOU STAND UP!

Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary told Sky News the low-cost airline was considering ripping out the back few rows of seats on some flights.

Passengers would be able to sit on bar stools, similar to the buffet carriage on trains, or stand up for flights lasting less than an hour and a half.

"We might take out the last five or six rows and say to passengers 'Do you want to stand up? If you do you can travel for free'," Mr O'Leary said.

The company has asked Boeing to look at the possibility of converting its planes or delivering a new fleet with "vertical seating".


As a passenger you have a clear choice when you decide between British Airways and Ryanair. And, it seems, the airlines are just as far apart if you're an employee.

Business presenter Anna Jones on Ryanair's spat with BA
A Ryanair spokesman stressed the non-seating plan would have to be given the OK by the Irish Aviation Authority.

But Mr O'Leary shrugged off suggestions the move was a cost-cut too far.

"Why is this any different to what happens on trains where you see thousands of people who cannot get a seat standing in the aisles, and it happens regularly on the Underground," he said.

Mr O'Leary said he got the idea from the Chinese airline Spring, which said it could squeeze 50% more passengers on board and cut costs by 20%.

Ryanair has proposed a number of headline-catching plans to save cash.

A "fat tax" - charging heavier passengers more to fly - caused anger, as did similar initiatives to cut the number of toilets on flights and charge people to spend a penny.

The company announced on Friday it had carried 5.84 million passengers in June, 13% more than a year earlier.

Low-cost airline easyJet said it carried more passengers during June than over the same period last year.

But British Airways said on Friday that it carried 5% fewer passengers in June, while its planes were 79.6% full, compared with 81.4% a year earlier.

15 Free Museums until August 1st for children under 18

La Milla de los Museos Buenos Aires es un paseo cultural entre Palermo y Retiro que integra 15 destacados museos de la Ciudad. En vacaciones de invierno, los menores de 18 años tienen acceso gratuito a la entrada general de los museos que forman parte del circuito.


Retirá tu pasaporte de la Milla de los Museos, completalo y canjealo por entradas para funciones especiales de El Principito en el Planetario y Fuerza Bruta.

Los pasaportes se encuentran disponibles en cada uno de los 15 museos que integran la Milla de los Museos. También podés descargarlo desde aquí.

En cada museo que visites te sellarán el pasaporte. Una vez visitados todos, podrás canjearlo en el Centro Cultural Recoleta.

Museos participantes:


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Torre Monumental
Plaza Fuerza Aérea -Frente a Estación Terminal Retiro - Retiro
www.museos.buenosaires.gob.ar

Exhibe muestras de fotografía contemporánea y piezas documentales sobre la historia del monumento. El mirador, ubicado en el último piso permite apreciar la ciudad desde los cuatro puntos cardinales.

Horarios: lunes a domingo 11 a 18h
Entrada: gratuita


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Museo de Arte Hispanoamericano Isaac Fernández Blanco
Suipacha 1422 - Retiro
www.museos.buenosaires.gob.ar






Horarios: martes a viernes 14 a 19h / sábados y domingos 15 a 19h
Cerrado: lunes
Entrada: $3 /Residentes $1
Visitas guiadas organizadas: sábados y domingos 15 y 17h


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Museo Ferroviario
Av. Del Libertador 405 - Retiro

Antiguo galpón de cargas reacondicionado. Integran su patrimonio diversos objetos, como la maqueta original de la estación Once; la verja de hierro de la estación Parque del Ferrocarril Oeste, vajilla del coche presidencial, telégrafos, teléfonos, cornetines, campanas, uniformes de personal, muebles, relojes, juegos de cocina, lavatorios decorados y muebles de coches de pasajeros.

Horarios: lunes a viernes 10:30 a 16h
Cerrado: sábados y domingos
Entrada: gratuita


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Museo de Arquitectura y Diseño de la Sociedad Central de Arquitectos
Av. Del Libertador 999 - Retiro
www.socearq.org/marq/

Creado por la Sociedad Central de Arquitectos con el objetivo de preservar, exhibir y difundir el patrimonio arquitectónico urbano nacional e internacional.

Horarios: martes a domingos 14 a 20h
Cerrado: lunes
Entrada: $1


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Palais de Glace - Palacio Nacional de las Artes
Posadas 1725 - Recoleta
www.palaisdeglace.org

Conformada, principalmente, por los Grandes Premios y Primeros Premios Adquisición del Salón Nacional de Artes Visuales. A esto se suman los frescos realizados en el interior del edificio por la escuela de Alfredo Guido en 1934 y otras adquisiciones y donaciones nacionales e internacionales.
Exhibición de ganadores y seleccionados del Salón Nacional de Nuevos Soportes e Instalaciones y Fotografía. /


Horarios: martes a viernes 12 a 20h / sábados y domingos 10 a 20h
Cerrado: lunes
Entrada: gratuita
Visitas guiadas organizadas: sábados y domingos: 16 y 17,30 hs.


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Centro Cultural Recoleta
Junin 1930 - Recoleta
www.centroculturalrecoleta.org

Inaugurado en 1979. Cuenta con 27 salas de exposición en las que se presentan
muestras de artes plásticas, conciertos, teatro, danza, performances, música
electroacústica, expresiones videográficas, etc.

Horarios: martes a viernes 14 a 21h / sábados y domingos 10 a 21h
Cerrado: lunes
Entrada: gratuita


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Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes
Av. Del Libertador 1473 - Recoleta
www.mnba.org.ar

Su patrimonio incluye obras de arte argentino e internacional desde la Edad Media hasta el S. XX. Posee esculturas románticas y góticas, obras de Tiépolo, El Greco, Goya, Rodín, Manet, Monet, Van Gogh, Degas, De Chirico, Kandinsky, Picasso, Tápies y de los argentinos Morel, Pueyrredón, De la Cárcova, Sívori, Malharro, Fader, Guttero, Quratella Manes, Pettoruti, Quinquela Martín, Berni, Spilimbergo, Deira, Distéfano, Alonso, Benedit y Seguí.


Horarios: martes a viernes 12:30 a 19:30h / sábados y domingos 9:30 a 19:30h
Cerrado: lunes
Entrada: gratuita
Visitas guiadas organizadas: Martes a viernes de 12:30 a 19:30h


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Museo del Automóvil Club Argentino
Av. Del Libertador 1850 - Palermo
www.aca.org.ar

En el museo se exponen vehículos de fines del S. XIX y principios del S. XX en excelente estado de conservación y piezas afines a la época. También se pueden ver los automóviles que fueron utilizados por los grandes automovilistas que tuvo nuestro país.

Horarios: lunes a viernes 10 a 17:30 h
Cerrado: sábados y domingos
Entrada: gratuita


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Museo Nacional de Arte Decorativo
Av. Del Libertador 1902 - Palermo
www.mnad.org

Su Patrimonio incluye obras El Greco, Corot, Fragonard, Manet, Boudin y Fantin Latour. El Mobiliario europeo data de los S. XV-XIX. Completan su acervo esculturas, porcelanas, cerámicas, piezas de orfebrería, tapices y libros de colección.

Horarios: martes a domingo 11 a 19h / miércoles, jueves y viernes 16:30h
Entrada: $5
Gratis: martes
Visitas guiadas organizadas: Miércoles, jueves y viernes 16:30 h


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Museo de Arte Popular José Hernández
Av. Del Libertador 2373 -Palermo
www.museohernandez.org.ar






Horarios: miércoles a viernes 13 a 19 h / sábados, domingos y feriados 10 a 20 h
Cerrado: lunes y martes
Entrada: $1



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Museo Metropolitano
Castex 3217 - Palermo
www.museomet.org.ar

Posee diferentes colecciones, entre las que se destacan el conjunto de fotografías que pertenecieron al archivo del Diario el Mundo, la colección de grabados de Leonardo Da Vinci (impresos en Milán en 1784), documentos fotográficos, biográficos y bibliográficos de diversas ediciones de Saint-Exupery. Posee una biblioteca especializada en temas latinoamericanos.

Horarios: lunes a viernes 14 a 20h / sábados 14 a 18:30h
Cerrado: domingos
Entrada: gratuita


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MALBA
Figueroa Alcorta 3415 - Palermo
www.malba.org.ar





Horarios: jueves a lunes 12 a 20h / miércoles 12 a 21h
Cerrado: martes
Entrada: $15, gratis: miércoles
Visitas guiadas organizadas: Lunes, jueves, viernes, sábados y domingos 17 h.
Miércoles 16 h.


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Museo Evita
Lafinur 2988 - Palermo
www.museoevita.org

Propone a los visitantes un recorrido por los distintos momentos de la vida de Evita, recreados mediante modernas técnicas de museografía, a través de los cuales podrán conocer su vida y fragmentos de la vida nacional de aquellos días.

Horarios: martes a domingo 11 a 19h
Cerrado: lunes
Entrada: $12 no residentes
$ 3 residentes


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Museo del Planetario de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires Galileo Galilei
Av. Sarmiento y Belisario Roldán - Palermo
www.planetario.gob.ar





Horarios: lunes a viernes 9 a 17h / sábados, domingos y feriados 15 a 20h
Entrada: gratuita


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Museo de Artes Plásticas Eduardo Sívori
Av. Infanta Isabel 555 - Palermo
www.museosivori.org.ar





Horarios: martes a viernes 12 a 20h, sábados, domingos y feriados 10 a 20h
Cerrado: lunes
Entrada: $1
Gratis: miércoles y sábados
Visitas guiadas organizadas: Sábados y domingos a las 17 y a las 18 h.



Especializado en Arte Argentino, sus colecciones están integradas por pinturas, esculturas, dibujos, grabados y tapices desde de la primera mitad del siglo XX hasta la actualidad.

Referente de la divulgación astronómica y científica de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Posee pequeñas rocas lunares, restos de meteorito, láminas, fotografías, infografías, maquetas, videos y globos. Se destaca el Planetario Copernicano de 1901.

Dedicado al arte latinoamericano del siglo XX, que posee un acervo único en el mundo y que desde sus orígenes se ocupó de las principales tendencias y movimientos que caracterizan al arte de la región en todos los soportes. Reúne pinturas, esculturas, dibujos, grabados, collages, fotografías, instalaciones y objetos de artistas desde México y el Caribe hasta la Argentina.

Conserva, investiga y difunde el arte popular argentino. Su patrimonio abarca artesanías tradicionales y contemporáneas. Además de su colección de platería posee piezas de alfarería, cuero, fibra vegetal, madera, etc.

Posee el patrimonio público de platería colonial sudamericana más importante de Iberoamérica. Comprende piezas de arte religioso y secular. Su pinacoteca abarca desde la época colonial hasta entrado el período independiente. También exhibe piezas de mobiliario y ambientaciones de los siglos XVIII y XIX.

http://vacaciones.buenosaires.gov.ar/milla_museos_buenos_aires.htm

MARADONA no longer the coach of Argentina

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) -- Diego Maradona was given the boot as Argentina's soccer coach before he could resign.

His stint as coach of the Albiceleste ended far less successfully than his time as a player with the national team. The Argentine Football Association, which hired the former star in November 2008, said Tuesday that his contract will not be renewed. The decision came 3½ weeks after his team, led by star Lionel Messi, was eliminated from the World Cup with a humiliating 4-0 loss to Germany in the quarterfinals.

"Diego shut himself off to any change," executive committee member Luis Segura said on Argentine television. "Diego has all the right to do what he wants. But so does AFA."

The federation had offered Maradona a four-year contract through the 2014 World Cup, but Maradona said he would do so only if his entire staff remained.

That was unacceptable to AFA president Julio Grondona. He had asked for several assistants to be replaced, including Maradona's close friend Alejandro Mancuso. The federation said its executive committee unanimously decided to not keep Mardona.

AFA spokesman Ernesto Cherquis Bialo called the decision "very painful" but said there was no way to solve the impasse.

"The president said that there was a significant difference between what AFA wanted to achieve and Maradona's aspirations for the future," Cherquis Bialo said. "There was a wide gap, and it was impossible to narrow it."

The spokesman hinted, however, there might be a role in the future for a man with an unpredictable history.

"This marks the end of a first chapter with Mr. Maradona," Cherquis Bialo said. "The doors to this house, as always, will be open to him."

Youth team manager Sergio Batista was appointed interim coach for the Aug. 11 exhibition at Ireland, which will be followed by a Sept. 7 home exhibition against world champion Spain. Possible permanent successors include two club coaches in Argentina: Alejandro Sabella of Estudiantes and Miguel Russo of Racing.

Asked about the full-time coach, Cherquis Bialo said: "The people who were in the meeting have no name in their imaginations. It has just been announced that the contract with the coach will not be renewed. And so, a new stage begins."

The 49-year-old Maradona became Argentina's coach in November 2008, replacing Alfio Basile and taking over a team he led to the 1986 World Cup title and the 1990 final.

He had little coaching experience, and his team absorbed two of the worst losses in the country's history: a 6-1 rout at Bolivia in World Cup qualifying and the World Cup defeat to Germany.

Argentina attacked with flair in South Africa, with Messi setting up scoring strikes by Gonzalo Higuain and Carlos Tevez. Maradona, dressed on the sideline in a gray suit, was an enthusiastic cheerleader, but that could not compensate for his team's tactical deficiencies. The loss to Germany exposed frailties on defense and lack of midfield speed.

Messi, widely regarded as the game's best player, left with World Cup without scoring a goal. Maradona never explained why Messi -- he was left to roam the field on his own -- wasn't scoring.

"Nobody ever told me where to play. So I shouldn't have to tell Messi where to play, either," Maradona said.

Maradona, who has fought cocaine and alcohol addiction, grew up in a Buenos Aires slum, and his escape from poverty has endeared him to many. But he has worn out his welcome in other quarters.

Maradona ruffled the government of President Cristina Fernandez, who twice invited the coach to meet with her. But cabinet chief Anibal Fernandez said Maradona failed to respond or answer the phone, forcing the president's secretaries to leave messages.

Fernandez had been openly supportive of keeping Maradona as coach, and one legislator has proposed building a monument to honor him.

Two weeks ago, the federation offered Maradona the chance to extend his contract. But Maradona put off meeting with Grondona to travel to Venezuela at the invitation of a friend -- President Hugo Chavez.

Maradona's relationship with key individuals in Argentine soccer also was tense. He barred federation leaders and businessmen with commercial ties to the organization from practices in South Africa while allowing reporters to enter.

Still, Maradona had many supporters.

"I want Maradona to stay," Interior Minister Florencio Randazzo said Tuesday in an interview on radio La Red. "We will support his decision. If he leaves we will miss him."

Added team trainer Fernando Signorini: "I have no doubt they didn't want him. Maradona is like a stone in the shoe of power."

Copyright 2010 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.



Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/soccer/07/27/maradona.out.ap/index.html##ixzz0uwSWmX00

VOTE FOR THE IGUAZU FALLS!

The Iguazu falls is the only finalist from Argentina to be one of the 7 wonders of nature.

Vote for us! :)

http://www.new7wonders.com/community/en/new7wonders/new7wonders_of_nature/voting

Argentina Legalizes Gay Marriage

The Argentinian congress voted to approve a law allowing same-sex marriage on Thursday, making Argentina the first in Latin America to grant same-sex marriages all the rights of heterosexual unions.

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: July 15, 2010


BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) -- Argentina legalized same-sex marriage Thursday, becoming the first country in Latin America to declare that gays and lesbians have all the legal rights, responsibilities and protections that marriage brings to heterosexual couples.

After a marathon debate in Argentina's senate, 33 lawmakers voted in favor, 27 against and 3 abstained in a vote that ended after 4 a.m. Since the lower house already approved it and President Cristina Fernandez is a strong supporter, it becomes law as soon as it is published in the official bulletin, which should happen within days.

The law is sure to bring a wave of marriages by gays and lesbians who have found Buenos Aires to be a welcoming place to live. But same-sex couples from other countries shouldn't rush their Argentine wedding plans, since only citizens and residents can wed in the country, and the necessary documents can take months to obtain. While it makes some amendments to the civil code, many other aspects of family law will have to be changed.

The approval came despite a concerted campaign by the Roman Catholic Church and evangelical groups, which drew 60,000 people to march on Congress and urged parents in churches and schools to work against passage. Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio led the campaign, saying ''children need to have the right to be raised and educated by a father and a mother.''

Nine gay couples had already married in Argentina after persuading judges that the constitutional mandate of equality supports their marriage rights, although their validity was later challenged by other judges. Congressional passage now removes that doubt.

As the debate stretched on for nearly 16 hours, large crowds held rival vigils through the frigid night outside the Congress building. When the final vote came, cheers and hugs broke out among the bill's supporters, with police keeping them separate from frustrated opponents who prayed and held rosaries.

''Marriage between a man and a woman has existed for centuries, and is essential for the perpetuation of the species,'' insisted Sen. Juan Perez Alsina, who is usually a loyal supporter of the president but gave a passionate speech against gay marriage inside the Senate chamber.

But Sen. Norma Morandini, another member of the president's party, compared the discrimination closeted gays face to the oppression imposed by Argentina's dictators decades ago.

''What defines us is our humanity, and what runs against humanity is intolerance,'' she said.

Same-sex civil unions have been legalized in Uruguay and some states in Mexico and Brazil. Colombia's Constitutional Court granted same-sex couples inheritance rights and allowed them to add their partners to health insurance plans. Mexico City went further, legalizing gay marriage and launching tourism campaigns to encourage foreigners to come and wed.

Argentina now becomes the first country in Latin America to legalize same-sex marriage nationwide, granting gays and lesbians all the same rights and responsibilities that heterosexuals have. These include many more rights than civil unions, including adopting children and inheriting wealth.

Gay rights advocates said Argentina's historic step adds momentum to similar efforts around the world.

''Today's historic vote shows how far Catholic Argentina has come, from dictatorship to true democratic values, and how far the freedom to marry movement has come, as twelve countries on four continents now embrace marriage equality,'' said Evan Wolfson, who runs the U.S. Freedom to Marry lobby.

Wolfson urged U.S. lawmakers to stand up ''for the Constitution and all families here in the United States. America should lead, not lag, when it comes to treating everyone equally under the law.''

Gay activists in neighboring Chile hope Argentina's milestone will improve chances for a gay marriage law currently in committee in their own Congress.

''Argentina's political class has provided a lesson to the rest of Latin America,'' said Rolando Jimenez in Santiago. ''We hope our own countries and political parties will learn that the human rights of sexual minorities are undeniable.''

The Meal of the moment: Havanna Alfajores

Condé Nast Traveler offices, April 12, 2010, 1:30 p.m.
Photo: Ferran Moreno Lanza / CC BY 2.0

What is Moveable Feast having for lunch today? A crumbly, gooey, chocolate-dipped, fantastic mess of an Argentine cookie called an alfajor. Our choice: Havanna brand (we admit, partly for the metallic packaging), next to impossible to find in the States, but worth the search for its layered textures. Your teeth break through the semi-hard chocolate shell, then your tongue fills with lumps of sugary dough, and then, finally, the caramel seals it all into your mouth, so you can close your jaw and mix the three together with every chomp. Lucky Texans can score a box at Central Markets from May 15-25, when the stores will celebrate Argentina's bicentennial by selling Quilmes beer, flaky empanadas drizzled with chimichurri, and, of course, alfajores. For those who aren't within driving distance of a Central Market, you can order alfajores through Foodzie, our favorite online artisanal marketplace.

What´s the entry fee or reprocity tax that people from US, CANADA and AUSTRALIA have to pay at the Ezeiza Airport?

When entering the Argentine territory, any citizen from Australia, Canada, and the US shall now have to pay a “reciprocity tax" (this is not a Visa). The Argentine Government has
established this entry application fee in an amount equal to the fee any Argentine citizen must pay when applying for a Visa to visit such countries.

When entering Argentine Territory, the nationals of the following countries must pay a "reciprocity fee":

Australia: U$D 100.- (single entry)
Canada: U$D 70.- (single entry)
USA U$D 140.-

Or its equivalent in Argentinian pesos. Rates subject to modifications based upon reciprocity.

The payment of this "reciprocity fee" is not a Visa since Argentina does not requiere visa to nationals of the mentioned countrys when traveling for tourism or business purposes.
The Argentina Govermment set this entry fee on equal amounts to those Argentina citizens must pay when requesting a Visa to travel to those countries.

Forms of Payment: Argentine Pesos, United States Dollars, credit/debit cards, Traveller´s Checks.

Courses and Classes

. Spanish Classes or Lessons
. Polo classes
. Tango Classes or lessons
. Folklore Classes
. Cooking classes

Tours and Travel arrengements

If you are interested in daytrips or in travelling around the country, I can work with you to discover together which option will fit best your requirements and I will help you with the bookings including transportation and all related services. Some options are:

. City Tours
. A day in the countryside in an Estancia
. A day of Polo in the Countryside
. A day trip to Tigre
. Trips to Iguazu Falls
. Trips to Salta
. Trips to Bariloche
. And much more

Transportation

If you are flying to Buenos Aires internationally, you will arrive to Ezeiza International Airport located 34 km (20 miles) west of downtown Buenos Aires or to Jorge Newbery if you took a domestic flight, as well as those from Uruguay; this airport is located in Costanera Norte, just 20 minutes from the city centre. I can set up your car service to drop you off or pick you up at the airport. Do you prefer to rent a car and to have it ready at the airport waiting for you and to drive yourself wherever you want? I can help you set that up as well.

One person of the staff of the company of the transfers will be outside the custom area with a sign of Buenos Aires Concierge and below you will find your name as well.
The person of the staff will be next to the stand of Taxi Ezeiza in the main hall and he will walk you to meet your designated driver .
The transfer in is u$s 38 dollars and the transfer out u$s 35 dollars, from 1 to 4 people.

Arts and Leisure

Do you find hard to get tickets? I can help you to get tickets for football matches, tango shows, theatre events, plays performances at the Teatro Colon, polo matches, concerts, VIPs passes for discos and shows, to make your restaurants reservations and more.

Companionship and Socialization

My services are ideal if this is your first time in Argentina and it doesn't matter if you are travelling alone or with a group of friends, I can help your stay memorable. Maybe you prefer to meet locals or someone to give them good advice, take you to typical restaurants and not just the touristy places or even to share a meal in a typical porteño home. I can take you to the hippest disco clubs, bring you to tango or folklore shows or go to a Milonga. I can bring you to theatre events, concerts, performing arts events or even the cinema. I can join you or if you prefer to do it by your own, simply meet you and give you some advice.

I also work with a group of professionals that offer the following services:

. Real State Consulting
. Legal Advice (Notaries, Lawyers, etc)
. Interior Decorating
. Photographers
. Interpreters and Translators
. Personal trainers
. Massages
. Chefs
. Catering
. Personal shoppers
. Grocery Shopping
. Cell Phone Rental

Accomodation

I will help you find the accommodation that best suits your requirements needs and budget. I will refer you to apartment rental companies or apartment owners without adding any fee to their original prices so you will pay exactly the same if you book through me or directly with them. The biggest difference will be that I will be able to give you my personal opinion about these properties and the location of the property and if I don’t know a particular hostel, hotel or apartment; I will take the time to go there, check it out and give you the positive and negative aspects of each place and my feedback.

So, what’s your preference? A hotel? An apartment? A Bed and Breakfast? A Hostel? or a room in a house/aparmet sharing the place with some locals? Send me an email with the type of your preferred accommodation and specify your dates, budget and the total number of guests that are in you party.

Services

I work with several providers that I personally tried and you can choose between several options. After enjoying wonderful meals, outstanding Tango shows, spend a day in different estancias and taste their asados, train with personal trainers, meet with nannies, etc. you will find in my web some of the services that I offer.

If you don’t speak the language...
If you want to maximize your time in Buenos Aires...
If you want to live the local experience...

Count on me!

Anything you would like to do, any ideas you would like to share with me...
We can make it possible!

About Me

I have studied tourism at El Salvador University. Since I remember, I have always loved to travel, to make new friends around the world and meet new cultures. I worked in hotels, travel agencies and the last 5 years I have been working for a company that rents luxury apartments for tourists as office manager and coordinating the concierge service department and at the same time I organized events and work like PR for different companies and discos.

Welcome

Let me introduce myself! My name is Mariela and I will be your hostess in Buenos Aires. This project began after traveling all around the world and finding out that the best memories I brought home from my trips were always related to the wonderful experiences my local new friends shared with me. I got to know more about each culture, to enjoy their meals with their original flavors and be part, at least for a few days, of each place I visited. That's why I decided to offer a service that allows all the visitors to enjoy Buenos Aires like a porteño!