Subte Metro Subway

First the public transportation is amazing in Buenos Aires. The subway is called Subte and it is a wonderful way of traveling if you don't want to deal with the stop-go of the colectivos haha.
It was actually my second time using a subway. My first time was when I used the Metro in Paris, France.

The subway can be either a good experience or a terrible one.

1. You could be robbed
2. You can watch the performers on the Subte
   
3. People sell an array of items on the Subte stickers, pens, hair clips, and whatever else you need
4. Know your spot before you get on the Subte

The reason I'm doing this blog is because every time I think about the subway I can't help but to think about Elaine, from the sitcom Seinfeld, experience on the subway. ONLY twice have I had her thoughts while riding the Subte hahahahah! Please watch the video!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vyq9MMcLsv4

The Renowned Dance

So yes, I never did a blog about Tango!
Terrible, I know but here goes it...

Tango is a very precious gem of Argentina.

Funny thing about it is that Tango didn't become popular until it went to Europe and became famous there! It was born in the Río de la Plata area and is spoken about in numerous poems of famous writers like Jorge Luis Borges who is also from Argentina! When I first came to Argentina the only experience I had with the dance of Tango was from movies like "Shall We Dance" and "Take the Lead". One of my good friends in Texas told me that I HAVE to learn Tango so I could teach her hahaha.

My first week in BA, Gaby, one of API Buenos Aires helping hands took our group to La Viruta which is off in Palermo Viejo. La Viruta is a modern milonga which are places where Tango is danced solely usually. However since it is modern and not traditional other dances are danced later in the night like Rock & Roll, Swing, little bit of Salsaaaaa WOOT! At a traditional milonga ladies sit and if man wants to dance there is a sort of eye contact that must me made first...then they just know it's time to dance. It was so much fun to learn the first simple steps...it kind of stunk that I didn't know everything that was being taught because of spanish haha. Overall, we had a wonderful time!





My next experience with the infamous Tango was when, my buddy, Patrick and I stumbled upon an amazing Tango band called El Afronte in the center of San Telmo Feria. We liked them so much we wanted to see them actually play and watch some Tango too. Pat and I enjoyed some wine, I danced some Tango with some old ladies, and listened to a wonderful band. Also, we got the amazing chance to meet the lead singer, Marco Bellini! He was a pretty funny and we had some good conversations about the tour he we about to go on in Europe and the band show we was actually their last.
Lucky us!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2svCHk9ZO4

My final experience was getting the chance to see the Tango Buenos Aires Festival! This was a week long festival before the World Cup of Tango. My girl from the Bronx, Cristal, and I went to watch an orchestra play and see a huge group from young to old dance Tango. In August, every year, this event brings together a whole community of note worthy musicians, incredible dancers, and entrepreneurs who work on Tango-related activities all year long.
Long live Tango and the influence it has on the generations to come :^D

Giving a helping hand

Hola chicos!

I apologize for giving y'all some late blogs but times have been BUSY lately here in Argentina. Lets talk about some exciting community work I got to be apart of with Academic Programs International (API).

At the end of October, the Baires group the chance to participate in helping the computer out! He visited a barrio (neighborhood) of Buenos Aires called La Boca. This place is known for the Argentina's favorite local futbol team, the Boca Juniors, and known by tourists is the colorful strip of apartments called El Caminto. All of that in mind, this neighborhood is extremely poor. It isn't for anyone... not just foreigners...to be there late at night.

We took a stroll through El Caminito and went to this small shop to an organization called Porteñitos or little porteños. This organization does some amazing things!
1. They reach out to the unemployed and children in the community and teach them how to cook traditional dishes like empanadas and alfajores.
2. They paint these boxes that show the colorful El Caminto
3. They sell their home made alfajores! YUMMMMM!
These profits don't go to themselves but goes a back to the community!


Now, our job in helping this awesome organization was to repaint a shop that is around block from the original shop. This (soon to be repainted) place is where some of the classes occur for the children and adults. I think we spent basically all day painting and luckily got some lovely snacks/lunch to motivate us to keep work! Also since I am the tallest person at day, my duty was to get all the hard-to-reach spots hahaha.

Lunch!!!! Pizzzzzaaaa!

Tall man's work!

The colors, of course, were royal blue and bright yellow = Pride of La Boca! We truly enjoyed this amazing opportunity to help out the people who do so much for Buenos Aires especially La Boca. Hope is something Porteñitos are able to keep alive through every action they do!

Bright yellow!

*Cool blue*

Painting away!

Hard at work or hardly working? haha

Finish product!

El Tigre...not the tiger

El Tigre is a town in Argentina were everything is on the water just about! El Tigre is situated on the Paraná Delta. The neighborhoods are located on islands in the Delta. Early in the morning, we took the train in Belgrano to take all the way to Tigre. Once we arrived, the plan was to go rowing! I haven't done this since my times in Boy Scouts. We rowed with Club Nahuel.Our row boat had a few issues with rowing together hahah but its all good! And rowed or in spanish (remar) to el museo de Sarmiento. Next, we took a colectivo but on water!!! It's called Lancha-colectivo.

Going through neighborhoods on the water bus, one can notice something interesting....
No... not that we are riding a water bus
No... not that people's houses are on islands
No... not that you don't see anything cars
Sí...You can notice that everyone's house has a name... not really an address.
The house we were going to for lunch and relaxing by the river is called El Pato! This family graciously made us el almuerzo y la pasteles!!!

We spent the rest of the day relaxing and exploring en El Pato :^)
Luck for us, it was suppose to rain and it turned out to be a beautiful day!

Lancha-colectivo!

Riding the colectivo!
(Erin, Carmen, Patrick)

El Pato

Mueso de Sarmiento

The wonderful set up for lunch!

Our row boat... intense stuff!

Grande mate hahah!