Useful apps to make the most of Buenos Aires Buenos Aires is a metropolitan, energetic, diverse, and seductive city. It is a capital on a grand scale, though it can be a little complex and even daunting for the unprepared. Fortunately, almost everyone nowadays has a smartphone sat in their pocket which can be a…
Important factors which will determine your Study Abroad Success
The process of learning a language is a lot like an athlete training for a gold medal. There’s coaching, goal setting, hard work, determination, riding the ups and downs and modifying your strategies to get to the prize at the end. The Olympics have concluded in Rio for another 4 years and you’ve possibly been…
How to Learn Spanish in Argentina
My study abroad experience in Argentina I began learning Spanish over a month ago and figured it was now a good time to reflect on learning the language. As background, I grew up in the U.S. and studied Spanish until 8th grade. I then switched to studying Chinese for high school and university, living in…
Ways to Put Your Spanish Skills to the Test While Learning Spanish in Buenos Aires
Practicing Spanish in Buenos Aires Argentina As we are learning a foreign language, other than making sure we are grasping the grammar and applying them correctly in a classroom setting, we often feel like testing ourselves and trying to see how we actually fare in the real world. Able to interact with native speakers is…
Free Practical Alternatives to Learn Spanish
6 Alternative Ways to Studying Spanish Attending an intensive, structured language class is the number one way to improve your Spanish quickly. There is simply no substitution to putting hours into conversational practice, having a native teacher to help you with grammar and any difficulties you might have. But your efforts shouldn’t end when school…
From USA to Argentina Learning Spanish in Buenos Aires
Living in Argentina while Studing Spanish in Buenos Aires In three days, I will have officially been in Buenos Aires for two months! It’s not like I haven’t felt it coming, since that’s one of the first questions I get when striking up a conversation with locals: “How long have you been here?” It comes right after,…
Holidays Celebrations in Argentina
Holidays in Argentina are very important times to be around loved ones. While there are many holidays celebrated in similar tradition all around the world, there are some traditions that may be unique to Argentina. A good background to know before we get into the details of the holidays is that 92% of the people…
Discovering the Recoleta Cemetery in Buenos Aires
Recoleta Cemetery (Cementerio de la Recoleta) is often listed as one of the most beautiful cemeteries in the world. After spending an afternoon wandering through the cobblestone streets lined with tombs I would have to agree. Recoleta Cemetery is located in the prestigious neighbourhood of Recoleta, in the city of Buenos Aires. In the early…
Argentine Public Holidays for 2018: Discover What To Do, What To See and Where To Go
Argentines love their holidays, and in 2018 they will be blessed with 20 “feriados” or holidays. However for the tourist the thought of closed shops, closed restaurants, closed spanish schools and closed cultural centers doesn’t have the same thrill as it does to your daily Buenos Aires office worker. Don’t despair, there are many ways…
Dulce de Leche Argentine Alfajor: Story, Types, Recipe and more
Alfajores are an Argentine snack specialty, dating back to the early 19th century. They are extremely popular across the country and have grown to become a large part of the Argentine culture. For those of you who haven’t had the pleasure of trying one yet, a traditional home-made style alfajor consists of two buttery fluffy cookies with…
Your guide to grocery shopping in Buenos Aires
By: Bruno Martín Picanzo Ubal Grocery shopping in Argentina can be difficult. With inflation estimated at 25.6% this year – down from 40% in 2016 – there is a disparaging array of prices affecting every area of the economy in the country. Not surprisingly, however, this recurring phenomenon that has long become normal to locals…
Plaza Francia Market & Fair in Recoleta Fair & Market: Not your everyday flea market
If you’re not quite in the mood for being the travel-guide wielding foreigner at one of Buenos Aires’ many tourist locations, the Recoleta Market & Fair in Plaza Francia is a perfect way to spend a lazy Saturday or Sunday afternoon. Glittered with artisan stands and packed with porteño hippies, hipsters and tourists alike, the…
A Day of Escape from Buenos Aires to Colonia
Last weekend I joined the masses of gringos on the ‘Buquebus’ to Colonia in Uruguay, to escape cars, concrete and all the bustle of Buenos Aires. After a three-hour boat trip across the Rio de la Plata (main river through Buenos Aires) which included a fairly cheesy tango show, I arrived at Colonia. It is…
Buenos Aires Newspapers | Your Guide to Argentine Papers
If you are like me who enjoy reading the paper with a cup of coffee, you will not be lack of options here in Buenos Aires. Just off my head, these are some of the national dailies that you will come across in cafés all the time: Clarín La Nación Pagína12 Chrónica El Cronista (finance…
Sightsee Buenos Aires On A Double Decker
The Yellow Bus. Hop-on hop-off Buenos Aires City Tour. Whether you are visiting Buenos Aires for just a few days or a few months, you won’t go wrong by taking the yellow bus, or officially the Buenos Aires Yellow Bus https://turismo.buenosaires.gob.ar/en/article/city-tour-bus, as your first activity to get a feel of the city. It is a…
Argentine Empanadas – History, Recipes and Types.
Discovering the Argentine Empanada After the meat and pizza, a trip to Buenos Aires is not complete without empanadas. Every region of Argentina has its own special recipe which, the locals will assure you, is better than any other empanada out there. The modern empanada is believed to be a derivative of the Indian samosa.…
Where To Enjoy a Pint of Craft Beer in Buenos Aires
Best Craft Beer in Buenos Aires While here in Buenos Aires it may still be easier to find a Quilmes or Brahma at your typical Argentine watering hole, the microbrew craze that is sweeping other parts of the world is certainly starting to take hold in the bar scene of Buenos Aires. As an avid…
The Best Guide to the Iguazu Falls in Argentina
WEEKEND TRIP TO IGUAZÚ FALLS Unlike Anything Else in the World No trip to Argentina is complete without a visit to Iguazu Falls, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site and 2011 was named one of the 7 Wonders of the Natural World. There are few sights more awe inspiring as Iguazu Falls. Stretching almost…
Top it up for Argentine Oscar win!
Argentine film ‘El secreto de sus ojos’ (The Secret in Their Eyes) won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film last night! It is directed by Juan José Campanella. The thriller is set in the early 1970s Argentina. The story unfolds in the country’s main federal courthouse, where an investigator discovers co-workers torturing suspects…
5 Pain-free Ways to Improve Your Spanish
5 Simple Ways to Improve Your Spanish in Argentina As a fellow busy expat, teaching English in Buenos Aires, I know that it can be easy to fall into the trap of limiting your daily Spanish intake to “un café con leche, por favor.” When you are surrounded by eager Porteños who want to learn…
Running in Buenos Aires | Where to Run in Buenos Aires
A runner’s first impression of Buenos Aires is usually as a huge city with busy overcrowded streets and potholed footpaths covered in the remnants of dogs visits. By no means a running friendly place, but don’t hang up your trainers just yet. Read our tips on running in Buenos Aires to discover places to run…
The Story of Milanesa – Learn How To Make it & Recipes
The Real Argentine Milanesa When you think of meat in Argentina most likely the first thing that comes to mind is parillas and asados. Which is for a very good reason because it’s done great and it’s a part of the culture. When you think of places in the world known for meat it’s a…
Where Was the Birth spot of Mafalda
May be I am a little slow or just didn’t pay enough attention, I just realized that the reason the cute little Mafalda statue sitting on a bench at the corner of Defensa and Chile in San Telmo is because she was born there! Well, of course, not literally at the street corner but she…
Temaikén
Buenos Aires has a zoo in the city but actually not too far from the city, there is another zoo, or more accurately a bioparque called Temaikén (http://www.temaiken.com.ar). It is only an hour bus ride from Plaza Italia and the bus will drop you right off at the entrance. Compare to the zoo in the…
How to Spot a Fake
How to Spot Fake Argentine Pesos Unfortunately, many visitors to Argentina end up with fake pesos notes. Some of these are excellent forgeries others are really quite poor but if you haven’t handled the money before you don’t know how to tell the difference between the real thing and a fake. Students at Vamos Spanish…
Buses in Buenos Aires | Ultimate 101 Guide to “The Colectivos” in the City
Buenos Aires is a very well-connected city by public transport. Among all the means, I prefer taking the colectivos (buses) the most. I always told newcomers that the colectivos are like cheap tour buses to see the city. In fact, they could easily be the cheapest. For just AR $9 (US$0.45), you can go from one end of the…
An Argentine Tradition – Eating Gnocchi On The 29th
Argentine ñoqui Tradition Not having much luck (financially) these days? May be because you didn’t eat ñoquis (gnocchi) on the 29th last month! Yes, here in Argentina, we have a tradition (or some say, superstition) of eating ñoquis on the 29th of every month for luck. Like many cultural customs here, this tradition stems from…
Fashion Insiders in Buenos Aires
Love fashion and want to practice your Spanish? There are quite a few prominent fashion bloggers right here in the city that will let you take a look at fashion through the eyes of a local. They talk about the local trends both on the runway and out in the streets, and also offer exclusive…
Your Guide to Dakar in Argentina
The first day of the new year brought with it to Buenos Aires the start of the Dakar Rally. It is only the second time the adventure race has been held in South America and thousands of Argentines lined the street of the city center to cheer the drivers on. With the backdrop of the…
Good Eats in Argentina: Gaucho-style Asado
Argentina is famous for its tasty beef not just because of the quality of the meat itself but just as importantly, the method of cooking them. The Argentine asado (barbeque) uses sheer dry heat from the charcoals and then the key is slow cook the meat. Most of the parrillas (steakhouses) in the city offer…
Best Areas to Bike Around in Buenos Aires
The Argentine winter is quickly drawing to an end and here at Vamos Spanish we’re already thinking about warmer weather and enjoying sunny days in the city. My personal favorite way to get out and explore the city is by bicycle. Whether using the City’s bike share program, EcoBici http://ecobici.buenosaires.gob.ar/, or maybe you found a…
Top 5 Argentine Food Staples
Popular Argentine Food Staples A versatile food that can be an entire breakfast meal, an afternoon snack, a complement to your coffee, and something to grab along the way to class, these delicious pastries are an Argentine staple. Soon enough, eating a medialuna seems less like indulging in a half-croissant (and the calories that come with…
Argentina’s Sweet Tooth Part I – The Chocolate Category
Argentina’s Sweet Tooth You are here in Buenos Aires. You came to see the city, get to know the culture, dance a little tango and try new food, right? But by now you might have already tried the beef, the empanadas and the alfajores. What are you going to do now? Don’t fear, dear reader,…
The Story of The National Flag of Argentina
Argentina National Flag La Bandera, the flag, is one of the most important patriotic symbols for a country and usually, it also has a rich history behind it. If you have ever wondered the story behind the light blue and white Argentine flag, why sometimes there is a sun and sometimes not, then there is…
Salsa Sundays in Puerto Madero
Salsa in Buenos Aires Once upon a time, on a Sunday evening, I was strolling along the reserva in Puerto Madero. Just another regular night in Buenos Aires, right? Suddenly, there was music coming from a distance, and as I kept walking, it seemed to be closer and closer. And then I saw…
After Office in Buenos Aires
If there is one thing I have learned about nightlife in Buenos Aires, it has to be that Porteños never pass up on a chance to celebrate– even if its something as small as celebrating the end of the workday. With this in mind, it’s not surprising that Buenos Aires has a robust post-work social…
American Food in Buenos Aires Argentina
It’s no secret that Buenos Aires is a meat lovers paradise and cooks some of the best steaks in the world. As the leading consumer of beef in the world per capita, Argentines are experts in grilling a phenomenal asado on the parrilla. You haven’t truly immersed yourself in Argentine culture until you get the…
Amazing family reunion after 33 years of searching!
Read about the tearful reunion of a father and his son, who have been reunited after a 33-year search. Francisco’s mother was arrested during the military dictatorship, gave birth in a detention center before he was adopted by another family who never told him of his origins. Abel, the father, is part of the Grandmothers…
Easter Celebrations in Buenos Aires
Argentina as a whole is a very religious country. According to the CIA Factbook, roughly 92% of all the inhabitants are Catholic. Although only a fraction of this percentage actively practise their faith, it nevertheless illustrates how popular the idea of religion is here. That is why the week of Santa, or Holy Week, is…
2018 Lollapalooza in Buenos Aires
Lollapalooza is a music festival that originates from the United States, it was created in 1991 and has undergone various revivals since then. It first expanded into South America in 2010 when the festival was staged in Santiago, Chile. The following year there was a festival in Brazil and in 2014 Buenos Aires hosted the…
