SPANISH CONVERSATION CLASS* (EVERY) Wednesday.
Next lesson: Wednesday 22nd July at 3:30pm @ the clubhouse.
Learn how to string your words together! Join us every Wednesday for an informal conversation class with a teacher from ELE BAIRES. RSVP encouraged.
FREE for members and $8 pesos for non-members.
Please RSVP by sending an email at BAevents@saexplorers.org and reserve yourself a place.

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FREE Truco Afternoon (Argentine Card Game)
Wednesday 22nd July @ 4.30pm in The Clubhouse (straight after conversation class)
Do you know how to play the Argentine card game called 'Truco'? It's a very cool game, full of subtle looks and signals between the different players that makes for an entertaining afternoon. Amauta Spanish School are sending some of their experienced representatives to the BA Clubhouse to teach you all. It's going to be a fun afternoon - delivered in Spanish, so more practice for you (with us on hand to translate as always) - and the best thing is that we've organised this activity to run directly after the Spanish conversation class on Wednesday. That means that you don't have to find time to come to the Clubhouse on another day and your Spanish will be nicely oiled to participate in the game too. How can you resist?!
Please RSVP by sending an email at BAevents@saexplorers.org and reserve yourself a place.

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FREE Events at Amauta Spanish School (with SAE Membership)
Federico Lacroze 2129 (Belgrano)
Theatre Class in Spanish
Monday 20th July @ 1pm

A complementary course about Argentina
Tuesday 21st July @ 4pm

Please RSVP by sending an email at BAevents@saexplorers.org and reserve yourself a place.

Caroline – The Brazil expert
Don’t forget that we have a Brazil expert in house at present. Send her an email with any queries to volunteerba@saexplorers.org or come on by the clubhouse and ask in person..... always a nicer way to do things!

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ADVERTISING WITH SAE!!!!
We are at present focusing a lot on advertising. This is because we have a new publication coming out (a guide book that we will be selling here in the Clubhouse) which will be full of tourist and expat advice that can’t be found in other guide books, because we’re writing it! It is first-hand knowledge, written by real expats who live here in BA and is therefore the most up-to-date information that can be found. If you want to advertise with us, making yourself known to expats and tourists who pass through our office or who live in BA, contact our Marketing Manager, Jessica Dufresne at baadvertising@saexplorers.org

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INTERN WITH US!
Over the past few months we’ve had some fantastic interns – Caroline Major (Brazil expert from London), Amelia Edwards (Events Manager from Philadelphia), Jessica Dufresne (Marketing Wizz Kid from Michigan) and the newest Caroline Stephenson from Wales, who seems to be dipping into everything that needs doing right now. We are a fantastic bunch and it’s a pleasure coming to the office every day. So, if you want some SAE experience and you feel you’ve got something to offer, get in touch with us at baclub@saexplorers.org

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Storing Luggage at The Clubhouse
Please remember that if you want to store or pick-up luggage you need to make an appointment with us beforehand via email. This is because we store all luggage at a different location and we will need to organise a time to meet. Email all luggage correspondence to baclub@saexplorers.org

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Poke us, befriend us.
Please visit our facebook page because it includes lots of stuff about events, contact details (that are up-to-date!) and more. Find us online at

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WE HAVE TELEPHONE CONNECTION!
Finally, the powers that be here in BA have managed to get around to connecting our telephone line and so you can now call us from anywhere the city on 5275 0137 (+54 11 and then the number if you're calling from outside Argentina or if you're using skype to call us). Also, if you need to make a local call to any landline here in the city you can do so from our office for FREE.

Italian Workshop for everyone @ ‘Il Ballo del Mattone’, Gorriti 5936
Thursday 23rd July @ 6pm
Want to practice or begin learning Italian? This could be the place. This event is open to everyone. Try it once, you might want to go back (as it is a weekly event). It seems to be free, but I’m not too sure. Check on the website for more details www.ilballo.com.ar

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Theatre – ‘El Borde Infinito’ @ El Teatro Anfitrión, Venezuela 3340
Saturday 25th July @ 9.30pm
This piece explores that fine line between dreams and consciousness; a piece that would definitely keep me up all night, thinking about its hidden meanings and how my life was represented within it too. How ironic!
Cost: 25 pesos

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Reggae and Reggaeton Sundays @ Berlin, Humboldt 1411
Sunday 26th July @ 8pm
This event is exactly what it says on the tin – an evening of reggae and reggaeton. If you miss the Caribbean sounds of the northern countries of South America, like I do sometimes, head on over and get on down!

La Poesia, San Telmo
La Poesia in San Telmo is an invitingly warm spot, away from the cold and the dark, with good food, a decent selection of drinks and walls covered with literary greats of the past.

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Some of the nicest things to order on the menu are the picadas. (A picada is a large board of meats, cheeses and olives, always served with bread and I think best enjoyed with a rich red wine!) There are a variety of picadas to choose from in La Poesia, offering the hungry guest different sizes and different combinations of meats, cheeses and olives. Mmmmm! You’ll always be served complimentary nibbles with anything you order, including different breads, nuts and chips (that’s crisps to all of those fellow Brits out there!).

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However, if stuffing your face so that you cannot move is more what you’re looking for, I suggest you order one of their hamburgers. This beast of a meal could probably feed someone for an entire day (o.k..... a little of an exaggeration maybe) and was served with salad, cheese and ham on top of the hearty serving of juicy beef that you’d be expecting. You can choose the type of bread that you want to wrap your burger in and service is very quick. Therefore, the fast-food nature of the burger lives on, but with much more satisfaction and size than anything you’d pick up in one of those cheap little outlets on Lavalle in the centre for example.

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The staff are also really nice; really friendly and full of Argentine charm – jokes and banter prevailed from the moment I entered (eating the remains of an apple and being told I couldn’t eat that in the restaurant – it was a joke.... I was more than welcome to finish my snack) – until the moment we left. The atmosphere and arrangement of the restaurant itself is also really attractive. There’s an overhanging upstairs balcony, where we decided to sit, exposed brick walls and roof beams and heavy wood tables and chairs. Everything speaks of tradition and festive cheer, prices are very reasonable and it’s very popular amongst Argentines and expats alike.

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For me, however, even though the food menu is extensive and good, I was quite happy polishing off a good bottle of red Argentine wine whilst munching on some salted peanuts – the decadent and the common in one foul swoop – and I felt so comfortable that I could have been relaxing on my sofa at home.

Don't forget to RATE me!.....see Editor's Note.

Gaia Art Gallery, Thames 1410 in Palermo

Last Friday night, the SAE Team accompanied by about 15 SAE members and invited guests, enjoyed some special treatment at Gaia Art Gallery in Palermo. The gallery has only been open for about a month and therefore we felt very privileged to be taken care of so well. On arrival we were given a free glass of wine (although coke was available to cater for all tastes!), an introductory talk by both the director and owner of the gallery and first hand information from the two artists featured in the gallery during our stay.

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The gallery (which is open until 10pm) is made up of two floors, the first dedicated to larger pieces (at present presenting work from Raúl Ponce and Carlos Tessarolo) and the second dedicated more to smaller prints, drawings and sketches, some of which are unframed. The upstairs floor also has a place to sit and relax whilst pondering over the art work on display and there are some excellent views out across Palermo Viejo, as the loft space is full of large windows, only working to further improve the ambience of the whole.

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The space on the first floor is clean and white and there is a fair range of work held within the gallery as a whole, so there should be something to interest everyone. The current director has been working in the gallery/art business here in Buenos Aires all his life, previously working in two other galleries in San Telmo and the Microcenter, as well as at times producing art work of his own too. His obvious expertise shines through and his welcoming attitude makes the whole experience at this gallery so much more memorable.

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The final thing to mention about this gallery is that they often hold wine and art evenings (generally on a Wednesday) which we at SAE Buenos Aires will most definitely be taking advantage of in the future. Therefore, keep your eyes on our events calendar or take a stroll pass the gallery for yourself. Either way, make some time to visit.

Don't forget to RATE me!.....see Editor's Note.

War of the Cafes – Cafe Martinez and Havanna
Before coming to Buenos Aires, one of the things I was told I had to do was find a Havanna Cafe (easily done!) and buy and coffee and one of their alfajores as a complement. (In fact, one friend was very insistent that I try the white chocolate with nut variety). As a person who enjoys taking advice, that’s exactly what I did. With respect to the alfajor, it was o.k. but I have since tasted home-baked alfajores in ordinary panaderias in the city that don’t have that synthetic produced taste and therefore, for me, are much more pleasing. However, the cafe itself was a little disappointing.

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The range of coffees on offer in comparison with one of the other large chains here in the city, Cafe Martinez, is surprisingly poor in my opinion. The menu in Cafe Martinez includes a far larger variety of coffees, teas, cappuccinos, frappuccinos, milkshakes, fruitshakes, salads, sandwiches, cakes and more. If you meet a friend for a coffee in Cafe Martinez, you really are provided with a choice, whereas in Havanna I felt far more limited and, if I’m honest, much less satisfied. Servings are smaller too. In truth, it seems that whilst the Havanna alfajores are celebrated, I’d rather buy one of the many cakes or cookies on offer in Cafe Martinez and I know that I will also feel much happier when my coffee or choice of beverage arrives at my table when dining in Martinez too.

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However, I’m open to persuasion and another point of view as always, so what do you think? Which coffee house wins The War of The Cafes???

Don't forget to RATE me!.....see Editor's Note.

Cheap Passage to Uruguay with the Colonia Express
This is an amazing deal and I cannot believe that it has taken me this long to find out about it! We must give credit to Jess, our Marketing Manager here at The BA Clubhouse, as she is the lady behind the sacred find. Basically, if you book a ferry ticket with Colonia Express more than 20 days in advance, you can travel for the bargain price of 39 pesos each way, which when you compare with the normal prices advertised in the Buquebus Terminal is just beyond belief. The link for the offer is below.

http://www.coloniaexpress.com/ar/default.aspx

Therefore, if you are an expat like me and every 3 months you need to hop over the border to Uruguay in order to renew your visa, this is a deal not to be missed. Failing that, you can also head down to Migraciones, located next to the Buquebus Terminal, where you can renew your visa for a price of about 150 pesos without actually having to leave the country at all. However, you can only do this once. Once you’ve renewed your passport once using this system, you won’t be able to do it again. Such is life!

Don't forget to RATE me!.....see Editor's Note.

Palabras, Palabras!
Copado/Copada is an adjective meaning 'cool'.

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LAST WEEK’S QUESTION.......What is ‘matambre’? Matambre is a cut of meat that Argentines enjoy as part of their various picadas, available in many restaurants and always served along with cheeses, olives and other meats. The matambre is flat, thin and lean. Try it!

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THIS WEEK’S QUESTION.......What is ‘Cafe Tortoni’?

Answers to: buenosairesclubhouse@saexplorers.org

Next week, I'll publish the answer....Ooooo!

Last week, Graham Newell sent us a fantastic photo album that featured different iconographic views of BA in my opinion. This week and for the next few weeks (in support of our very own SAE exhibition opening at The Clubhouse) we are going to feature a photograph that one of us lovely SAE ladies have taken ourselves. This week, it’s my turn. So...... Tracey Chandler (me!) gives you The Salt Lakes, Coro, on the peninsula of Venezuela. This is one of, if not my absolute, favourite photographs from my travels in South America. Not only for the lighting and the memories attached, but also for the sheer power of the approaching storm that is apparent even through the camera lens. Enjoy!

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To enter our weekly competition, simply send in your pics to my email address buenosairesclubhouse@saexplorers.org (please put PHOTO COMPETITION in the subject heading) and be sure to include a little info about the photo along with your details so that we can give you credit.

Interested in putting a classified ad in this e-newsletter? Our e-newsletter goes out to over 2500 people weekly, in and around Buenos Aires. Contact SAE’s Jessica from the BA Clubhouse at baadvertising@saexplorers.org for more information.

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Looking for a place to stay????
SMALL BEDROOM WITH PRIVATE BATH IN LARGE, SUNNY PALERMO-RECOLETA APARTMENT. FULLY FURNISHED, WIFI, WASHING MACHINE, CABLE.
AR$1400 PER MONTH
CALL REBECCA 15-6416-2219 or email me @ rhinely@gmail.com

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Learn Spanish with AMAUTA SPANISH SCHOOL
Finally in Buenos Aires! AMAUTA brought over 12 years of experience in Spanish Language and cultural study from Peru to Argentina. Exacting standards and engaging teachers put AMAUTA at the top of its class. Beautiful location with garden and terrace. Amazing discounts for the opening of the new locations ánd, we give away THREE ONE WEEK SPANISH COURSES per week, totally for free! Write now and you might be the lucky one. Till June 30th only. Also special discounts at our Cusco location.

www.amautaspanish.com, info@amautaspanish.com, www.spanishschoolsblog.com

or visit us: www.facebook.com/people/Amauta-Spanish/1500927779?sid=0&ref=search

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FOR SALE
The SAE shop has expanded! Guide books from $15 pesos to $80 pesos (Lonely Planet South America on a Shoestring $60 pesos), Hiking Maps of Patagonia and road maps of Buenos Aires are now available. Come by to see more, or email us: baclub@saexplorers.org

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EXPAT INFO
www.livinginargentina.com is an online publication for expatriates in Argentina. It is written in English, Spanish and French. It covers almost everything that an expat might need to know and offers some interesting articles to read at the same time. Check it out!

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LANGUAGE CLASSES
Learn Spanish with Elebaires!!!
We offer a variety of intensive Spanish courses for all levels in both private and group classes! All Elebaires teachers are university accredited and will do everything they can to help you meet your linguistic goals. Contact us via email at info@elebaires.com.ar or visit our website: http://www.elebaires.com.ar.

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TOURISM
BA: Mallory Outdoors - Located in Palermo, Mallory offers a plethora of camping and ski equipment as well as custom knives and outdoor clothing. Stop in and browse the selection and receive a 10% discount on any purchase with your SAE member card. English and Spanish spoken.
Open Monday-Friday 10:30-21 and Saturdays from 9-15