SPANISH CONVERSATION CLASS* (EVERY) Wednesday.
Next lesson: Wednesday 26th August 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.
__________________________________

Gallery Hop with Ice-Cream and The Best Pizza in BA!
Friday 28th August @ 5.30pm
We are running another one of our successful gallery hops this week - modern art, oil paintings and sculptures. This time, we will be enjoying the delights of the Microcentro and throwing in some tasty food-stops along the way too. So, here’s the line-up:

1. Meet at the first gallery – ‘De Santi Galería de Art’ on Marcelo T. de Alvear 834 @ 5.30pm
2. Make a detour for some ice-cream – ‘El Vesurio’ (a traditional ice-cream parlour and chocolatier that has been serving up naughty delights since 1902)
3. Travel to gallery number 2 – ‘Leonardo Fanuelle Art Gallery’
4. Move on to gallery number 3 – ‘Centro Cultural General San Martín’
5. Finish up (for all those hungry members) at – ‘Guerin Pizza’ Avenida Corrientes 1368 (where we can decide whether we too believe it to be the best pizza in BA!)

10 pesos for members, 20 pesos for non-members
(not including the ice-cream or the pizza)
Please RSVP by sending an email at BAevents@saexplorers.org and reserve yourself a place.

__________________________________

FREE Events with Amauta Spanish School
1. “Argentina Regional” Complementary Course
Tuesday 25th August @ 1pm
2. Tango Class
Friday 28th August @ 1pm

Both events take place at Amauta Spanish School. If you are interested in attending the events (FREE to SAE members) please contact us at the office to find out how to get there.
Please RSVP by sending an email at BAevents@saexplorers.org and reserve yourself a place.

__________________________________

ADVANCED WARNINGS
We are now in a position to be giving a lot more 'basic' warnings for our events as a result of our gradual development in this area. Therefore, check out the following information and begin to bear it all in mind now ….

Thursday 3rd September – Wine tasting event 5:30ish. Venue to be confirmed
Thursday 10th September – Beer tasting 7.00ish. Venue to be confirmed
Saturday 12th September – Volunteer day, all day. Organisation to be confirmed
Thursday 17th September – Cooking class: Empanadas 6.00ish. Venue to be confirmed
Friday 25th September – Gallery Hop in San Telmo 5:30ish. Venues to be confirmed

ADVERTISING WITH SAE!!!!
If you want to advertise with us, making yourself known to expats and tourists who pass through our office or who live in BA, there are a number of affordable options available to you including web space, newsletter banners or classifieds and printed publications that we distribute through BA and from our office in the Microcentro. If you have any queries, contact our Marketing Manager, Caroline Stephenson at baadvertising@saexplorers.org
___________________________________
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), Caroline Stephenson (the bonnie Welsh lass who has recently accepted the advertising baton from the Michigan Kid) and Kat Mowbray – our newest addition who has a canny knack for getting stuff for free! 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
___________________________________
Do you have a product you would like to sell?
Our Clubhouse here in BA is a good place to sell stuff. Why???? Because people pass through here all the time. We are willing to set up an agreement with anyone interested in selling something (for example, if you make great bags, jewellery or you want to sell some art) whereby we take care of the sales for you in exchange for receiving a small percentage of the purchase itself. Interested??? Email us at baclub@saexplorers.org
___________________________________
Storing Luggage at The Clubhouse – THE STORAGE VENUE HAS CHANGED!!!
Please remember that if you want to store or pick-up luggage you need to make an appointment with us beforehand via email. Our luggage store location has changed and it is impossible to simply pop by and collect things stored or drop stuff off. We need to be given notice to avoid causing you unnecessary stress. So, please...... Email all luggage correspondence to baclub@saexplorers.org AHEAD OF TIME!
___________________________________
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
___________________________________
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.

SAE members only get a FREE dental check-up with these guys.
They also offer cosmetic treatments, including cleaning, bleaching, porcelain veneers, and more. Toothaches and broken teeth can be a thing of the past, particularly with the emergency care they provide too. Make sure that you ask them for insurance reimbursement. On top of all that, they have English speaking dentists and staff! and are recommended by Time Out BA and the Calgary Herald.
CALL NOW 4828-0821 to make an appointment today
Uruguay 292 9º B, Downtown Buenos Aires
www.dental-argentina.com
info@dental-argentina.com
Send them an e-mail and put *SAE FREE CHECK-UP* in the subject heading.

_____________________________________

2. Say Hueque
Say Hueque is an independent travel company for independent travellers. They offer a variety of packages and tours and can help organise the perfect trip for you. They can also help you find accomodation, anything from a hostel in Iguazu to a boutique hotel in Calafate. Visit the fun and friendly English-speaking staff in the Say Hueque's offices:
Downtown: Viamonte 749, 6th Floor, Dept. A
Palermo Soho: Guatemala 4845, 1st Floor, Dept. 4
www.sayhueque.com
SAE Members get a 10% discount and a FREE bottle of wine!!!

Optica Festival
27th - 29th August 2009 (various galleries across the city)
This annual festival stretches across Argentina, Bolivia, Spain and France. However, for a few days this week, it makes its mark in BA. There is a creative fusion between image and sound to tantalise the artistic minds of many, adding to the cultural flavour of BA's already enigmatic arts scene.
For more information, email: lola.linares@opticafestival.com

__________________________________

Buenos Aires Tango Festival
Until 31st August 2009 @ Corrientes 1530, Piso 8
This festival hosts FREE dancing displays at various venues city wide, as well as exhibitions and classes for anyone who is willing to put on a pair of dancing shoes and grace the floor.
For more information, email: info@mundialdetango.gov.ar
or phone: +54 (0) 11 4393 0290

__________________________________

Cine Argentino Mudo @ The Malba
22nd, 27th and 29th August @ 8pm
Why not take yourself off to see some Argentine film whilst you're in town. Considering there are three opportunities to see some this week, you should be able to fit it in to your schedule somewhere if you really want to.
The Malba can be found at Av. Figueroa Alcorta 3415 , Capital Federal
Telephone: +54 (0) 11 4808-6500
www.malba.org.ar

Garbis, Armenian Restaurant in Palermo (Tel: 4511-6600)
Garbis, at Av.Scalabrini Ortiz 3190 in Palermo, is a divine little space.... truly. On my most recent visit, I am not ashamed to say that I pigged out on the ‘menu libre’ that they offer, even though on a Saturday evening this little deal comes in at its most expensive pricing at 60 pesos; a price that I would not normally even dream of at present. However, as an all-you-can-eat of cold and hot dishes, breads, desserts and other small delights to pick at, my friend and I were spoilt for choice and I simply could not resist.
___________________________________

Naturally, the ordinary menu is still available on a Saturday night and each dish comes in at around 20 pesos. Also, the portions are plentiful and so the evening does not have to be an expensive one. Having said that, I really would recommend the ‘menu libre’ on the first visit; if only so that you are able to taste a little of everything. That way, on your return, you can order the dishes that you enjoyed the most. The range is amazing and so trying a little of everything is worth it in the end.
__________________________________

My favourite dishes included their falafel (very nice yoghurt sauce served alongside too), the kebabs (an amazing mixture of beef, chicken and pork), the hummus with homemade pitta bread may be simple but still features highly in my recommendations and, finally, I would recommend a mixture of everything served on the cold plates bar. Stuffed vine leaves, lots of different salads, toasted aubergines (or egg plants if you will!), couscous and coleslaw with dried fruit. Mmmmm! Mmmmm!
__________________________________

Let’s not forget about the fantastic varieties of desserts that a middle eastern establishment will provide too. I amazingly found room for five different types of baklava (the combination of pastry, nuts and sweet sticky stuff is always going to draw me in!) and the ever present dulce de leche ice-cream. However, if typical desserts of the region really aren’t your thing (though I cannot believe how they wouldn’t be), cheesecake and fresh fruit desserts were also part of the selections on offer.
__________________________________

Four hours later, after an hour of letting our meal pass through our food pipes at the very least, let alone actually making their way into our stomachs for true digestion to begin, we left Garbis feeling thoroughly satisfied and very, very fat. If you’re looking for an evening of complete and utter decadence, this restaurant should be at the top of your list. The best thing about it, I hear you ask?...... It’s about five minutes away from my flat! Just bragging!

Recoleta Cultural Centre
Even though at present there are some pretty full-on reconstruction works going on out front, the Recoleta Cultural Centre is well worth your visit. There is always something of interest going on, both free events and others where you have to pay, although the price is never what I’d call expensive. The centre covers dance, theatre, photography, film and theatre, as well as art exhibitions across various mediums and more.
_________________________________

Situated almost directly next to Recoleta’s famous cemetery, the culture centre is also an ideal place to visit as part and parcel of a whole day out in BA. On Fridays through the Sunday, there is a busy artesanal market in front of the centre where independent stalls sell different kinds of hand-made goodies – handbags with various different designs are one of my favourites – and so you can visit the cemetery, wander around the market, take a coffee or a little snack in any of the nearby food stops and then catch some culture towards the end of the day in the cultural centre. Itinerary planned!

Eating Llama
In the north of Argentina it is customary to eat llama and very tasty it is too. This probably seems a very alien idea after having spent time in the country's capital. Porteños tend not to eat llama. The proverbial beef remains the classic staple meat dish available in the country's metropolis. However, in the northern regions of Salta and Jujuy, for example, llama is very popular.
____________________________________

In fact, it is so popular that there are many ways in which it is used and many different dishes on offer to try. Sometimes, llama meat is used as the meat ingredient for 'locro' (a thick, hearty stew, made using chick peas and yellow in colour). Other tasty snacks such as 'tamales' make use of the meat and in some of the more pricier restaurants it is possible to find 'llama steak' on the menu too.
___________________________________

Stringy and a little chewy in texture, the llama meat is very lean and a very good source of protein. I have become quite a fan and in some respects prefer it as an alternative to beef. Flavoured with chilli, spices or lime, llama dishes proved to be very tasty during my recent South American adventure and I do feel saddened to know that I won't be able to eat more of the stuff for a while.
__________________________________

Therefore, once moving on from Buenos Aires, do take on board some other Argentine customs which are perhaps not so porteño and feast on a little lean and luscious llama.

Crossing Borders
O.k. Maybe this one isn't entirely specific to Buenos Aires, however, if you are travelling Argentina and plan on crossing into Bolivia (not something too far beyond the realms of belief) then my past experience may well be useful for you.
____________________________

La Quiaca is the Argentine border town and Villazón is the Bolivian equivalent that you'll find yourself in when you cross to the other side. It is recommended that you do not aim to walk across the border and leave the relatively safe confines of the bus station at La Quiaca until the sun has risen. The walk is about 20 blocks and there are some no-good characters waiting for tired and unsuspecting travellers while the world is still in darkness.
____________________________

Having said that, waiting at the bus station in La Quiaca is not such a fantastic experience either. My advice?....... Time your journey well. Waiting in the freezing cold station for about an hour until the only café opened at about 7am was not fun. There´s nowhere to sit, it's very crowded and the buses that take you to the border are also some of the worst in terms of comfort in South America (in my experience). The only good thing about the solitary café, when it did open, was the very old coal heater (featured to the right). It was the stuff made for gods! Amazing what a difference the small things in life can make when the chips are down.
____________________________

Equally, one story of a Dutch guy who was making this crossing recently holds a lesson for us all. He was first befriended by a guy who walked across the border with him and then stopped by two other guys pretending to be border police. The three of them were working together and, to cut a long story short, managed to rob him of his wallet and camera without him even noticing. Very clever work.
_____________________________

My fellow British pal and I took a taxi to the border in broad daylight after stocking up on some medialunas and coffee in the café with the heater made for gods, crossed the border with ease, enjoyed a coca tea in another café in Bolivia's Villazón (yes, we drank and ate a lot!) and managaed to get a bus straight out of there within the hour. However, we did wait for the sun to rise (even though it was ridiculously cold!) and we didn't make any new 'friends' along the way. So let that be a subtle reminder to you all.
_____________________________

Any more questions about the crossing that you might have, send me a line at buenosairesclubhouse@saexplorers.org

Palabras, Palabras!
In USA they say ‘bangs,’ in Venezuela they say 'pollina,' in Chile they say 'chasquilla,' but in Argentina they say 'flequillo.' All four mean 'fringe' (ie: the word we use in Britain to describe the part of the hairstyle found covering your forehead). Why do you need to know such stuff?....... Well, who knows when you're going to want to get a hair-cut on your travels and I would hate to think that the style had gone wrong because of miscommunication!

--------------------------

--------------------------

LAST WEEK’S QUESTION.......Who is ‘Anthony Flags ’? Anthony Flags is the direct translation of ‘Antonio Banderas.’ Ha ha! We love direct translations. We’re soooo funny at SAE, right?!

--------------------------

--------------------------

THIS WEEK’S QUESTION.......What are ‘Tamales’?

Answers to: buenosairesclubhouse@saexplorers.org

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