November 17, 2015
It’s no Westhampton Lake, but it’ll do. This small lake in the middle of Buenos Aires has geese, ducks and other fauna, is just about the same size as Westhampton, and, on a nice day you, can roller-blade and bike-ride around it. The only real differences are the tall palm trees surrounding it and, of course, it’s hemispherical difference.
It’s quickly becoming the summer in Buenos Aires and the palm trees finally make sense. Before recently, temperatures ranged from high 40s in July to low 70s around Halloween. Now, two weeks into November, we are hitting 80 consistently! The foliage here is uniquely a mixture of oak and palm trees that blend together beautifully…especially now that it’s warming up! (BTW, that’s what their school buses look like)
This is my morning coffee view. Now that it’s so nice out, every morning, I drink my cup of coffee on the balcony and listen to the hustle and bustle of the city.
Walking to a bus stop the other day in a part of the city I don’t often go, I passed this great little park where everyone was enjoying the sun and the nice summer climate. Parks like these are common all around Buenos Aires and I love stumbling across them.
Leave a Comment » | 
Dan in Argentina, Fall 2015 | Tagged: Argentina, Nature, Sightseeing | 
Permalink
Posted by Dan H.
November 5, 2015
The word “porteño” is what you call someone from Buenos Aires. As the weeks and months pass, I am feeling more and more like a true porteño. Recently, a bunch of my friends and I took a cooking class on traditional Argentine foods. We made empanadas, beef stew and a dulce de leche desert. It was one of the best meals I’ve had here! And it tasted even better knowing I had kneaded the dough and stirred the stew. This, among others, was a cultural experience for which UR reimbursed the cost.
Also like a true porteño, I recently took a day trip to Delta del Tigre, a small residential town north of the city, in the province of Buenos Aires. This area is made up of a bunch of islands separated by narrow canals, streams and rivers. You can take boat taxis to different islands, have a picnic and just relax. Here’s a picture of me being awkward on a small bridge connecting two close islands.
I, being my true porteño self, also experienced the beauty of an Argentine asado recently. An asado is the equivalent of the American cookout. My host family invited me to their first asado of the summer. As meat cooked on the huge grill, a fragrant smoke filled the room! Along with regular steaks and chorizo sausages, I tried (and subsequently did not enjoy) cow intestines and blood pudding… but of course, as a porteño, I had to try.
Comments Off on Dan In Argentina: A True Porteño | Dan in Argentina, Fall 2015 | Tagged: Argentina, Culture, Food, Friends, Host Family, Sightseeing, Travel | Permalink
Posted by Dan H.
October 26, 2015
To my Auntie Donna, who always jokes there’s no way I go to classes because I have so much fun abroad, here’s proof on the contrary. Well, I guess all this proves is that I’ve stood in front of the school… but trust me, I’ve entered the building as well. The University Torcuato di Tella was founded in 1991 and recently moved to this building in March 2013. The very modern building with cement floors and big glass doors and windows stays (aesthetically) true to its industrial roots as an automobile factory.
Di Tella, as students commonly shorten the University’s name, is known for its business and architecture programs. All located under the roof of one main building, other programs of study include political science, law, history and international studies. The school has about 1,200 undergraduate students. I, along with the other Richmond students here, am in direct exchange with di Tella and UR which means students from Buenos Aires are currently in Virginia studying on our campus.
This is what almost every classroom at di Tella looks like: very simple with concrete floors, white tables, white walls, a projection screen and one of those cool sliding whiteboard things. This is the room in which I have my Argentine Literature class. I am also taking a Latin American Cinema course and a class called Dictatorships and Militancy in the Southern Cone (Argentina, Chile and Uruguay) During the 1960’s and 70’s. I have enjoyed all of them so far.
Getting ready for class today, I decided to have a little photoshoot. These are the materials I have for my Dictatorships class. We recently read the popular Rodolfo Fogwill novel “Los Pichiciegos.” It is about a fictional group of Argentine military deserters during the Malvinas War, better known as the Falkland Islands War, between Argentina and the United Kingdom in 1983. Although a good read, I enjoy our other readings more which regard the history and the current memory of the topic. It is interesting to study how history is presented and how people remember these negative and sometimes traumatic events.
Comments Off on Dan in Argentina: Putting the Study in Study Abroad | Dan in Argentina, Fall 2015 | Tagged: Academics, Argentina, History, Host University | Permalink
Posted by Dan H.
October 8, 2015
The day after the Supermoon, I saw an farcical article about how people’s photos from the night before were blurry and underwhelming. While most of mine can be described equally, I think this one is pretty cool. I went to the Planetarium in Buenos Aires with a couple of my friends to see this rare moon. With live music, a big projection of the moon up close, and about 15,000 other people, we had a really amazing experience we’ll be able to reminisce about in 2033.
On top of Palacio Borolo, an office building designed and built during the early 20th century and inspired by Dante’s “Divine Comedy,” lie some of the greatest views of Buenos Aires. From the top lighthouse, you can see the famous Eva Peron mural, the Obelisk, and the Congress building (see next photo). A 6 pm tour of the palace gets you to the top perfectly as the sun is setting over the city.
While the view of the Congreso is cool from the top of Palacio Borolo, the ground view is nice too. Once, while driving past the Plaza de Congreso and admiring its beauty, my cab driver agreed that, yes, it is nice on the outside, but remarked that what happens on the inside is not always so pretty. Yikes!
A day trip to Colonia, Uruguay is a must for any extranjero in Buenos Aires. An hour ferry ride to the opposite shore of el Rio de la Plata brings you to the gorgeous Spanish colonial town where alley ways with river views like this are the norm. A nice lunch and an excursion to a typical, quaint, Latin American church is basically all the town has to offer, but it is a great change from the hustle and bustle of the streets of Buenos Aires.
Back in Argentina, I have finally made it to a soccer game! On a brisk Saturday night, San Lorenzo hosted Rosario for an overtime game that ended in a 2-2 tie. The stadium was packed with the most dedicated fans I have ever seen…or heard. Throughout the entire 2 hours or so, the fans sang on the top of their lungs. Truly, the simple, alcohol-free stadium, even without a scoreboard, fills with Spanish rhythms and rhymes for the entirety of the game, creating a contagious energy I’ll never forget. My dad joked that it was obvious a vocal audition wasn’t required before being permitted entrance.
Comments Off on Dan in Argentina: The Latest in Buenos Aires | Dan in Argentina, Fall 2015 | Tagged: Argentina, Culture, Nature, Sightseeing, Sports, Travel | Permalink
Posted by Dan H.
September 23, 2015
Ahh, el Tango… The Tango is not only a seductively romantic dance but also a popular type of music. In Buenos Aires, although the Tango may be becoming antiquated to everyday culture, it is still very much alive for the tourists and those authentic porteños (residents of Buenos Aires) who wish to maintain the tradition. I went to a traditional milonga where the locals go to dance, and it was amazing. The sounds of the accordion and violin create the perfect backdrop to the most beautiful dances you can witness.
As one might expect in Latin America, the fruit is very fresh. At the bottom of my apartment building is a fruit and vegetable shop. Every day, my host mom buys fresh vegetables for that night’s dinner and fresh fruit for the next morning. Every day, when I get home, I always peer over and smile at the vibrant colors and amazing smells!
From the steps of the Central Bank, you have a beautiful view of the modernity of great skyscrapers and the history of the Casa Rosada (Pink House). The Casa Rosada holds the executive offices of the President. I toured the building and got to see all its beauty inside and out. While some old wallpaper held small stains and the original floors looked a little beat up, these imperfections added to the authenticity of its history. Interestingly, the building is pink because at one point it was believed that, to protect against the summer humidity in Buenos Aires, it was good practice to preserve the exterior walls with a mixture of lime and cows blood.
The Colon Theater is ranked as the third best concert hall in the world. Its acoustics are unmatched and its beauty is ridiculous. I am unsatisfied with the photos I got inside because they do not properly display the grandeur of the building. I plan to go back with my friends from UR and we’ll be sure to get a group pic!
Comments Off on Dan in Argentina: Playing the Tourist Role | Dan in Argentina, Fall 2015 | Tagged: Architecture, Argentina, Art, Food, Music, Tango, Theater | Permalink
Posted by Dan H.
September 10, 2015
Starting off with the least impressive of this week’s photos, here’s a picture of me, slightly misted. Last week, my mom and stepdad visited me in Buenos Aires, and we decided to take a side trip up north to Iguazu Falls in the corner that brings together Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay. My mom was excited to see these magnificent falls after reading that, upon experiencing them, Eleanor Roosevelt’s reaction was simply, “poor Niagara!”
It is hard for me to write a caption for this photo because it’s simply just beautiful. And no, that’s not a praise of my photography skills. They say a picture speaks 1,000 words, so I’ll just let you enjoy this one and hear whatever those words are.
After exploring all these amazing falls during a quick hour and a half downpour in the rainforest, my mom, stepdad and I ventured down a path of steep, wet stairs to our boat ride. We were already soaked to the bone from the rain so figured why not get dunked in the waterfalls?! The mist I mentioned before was old and forgotten by the time we were approaching some of these massive waterfalls. It was so cool and by far the best part of the day.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdeKwGL9n0Y&feature=youtu.be
Our first stop was the largest of all the falls. They call it the Garganta del Diablo, or the Devil’s Throat. It is almost 270 feet tall, and its U-shape spans almost 500 feet! The mist was real. Every so often an uproar of shrieks would fill the area after particularly large spurts of mist. Notice the birds flying in and out of this waterfall. It reminded us of a scene straight out of “Jurassic Park.”
On our way out, we saw two other tourists looking into the trees so naturally we stopped and stared. To our surprise, we saw this little monkey. I am by no means a zoologist but he does look like the Capuchin monkey from “Night at the Museum” so I named him Dexter. But hey, it turns out (according to Wikipedia) that Prego monkeys are native to the area, and they are a type of Capuchin.
Comments Off on Dan in Argentina: Iguazu Falls | Dan in Argentina, Fall 2015 | Tagged: Argentina, Iguazu Falls, Monkey, Rainforest, Sightseeing, Travel, Waterfalls | Permalink
Posted by Dan H.
August 31, 2015
Known as the location of the Casa Rosada (where the president works) and for its weekly demonstrations by human rights groups, the Plaza de Mayo is at the heart of the city. This statue, the oldest monument in the city (1811), stands tall (more than 60 feet) in the center of the Plaza as a commemoration of the May Revolution of 1810 which began the Argentine War of Independence.
From 1946 to 1952, Eva Perón was the First Lady of Argentina. With large murals like this and a recently minted 100 peso bill on which she appears, her influence and popularity are still evident today. Notably the first politician’s wife involved in campaigning, her charismatic and sympathetic personality gained her and her husband, Juan Perón, much popularity. She was born in the rural parts of the country as an illegitimate daughter of Juan Duarte’s second family, left for Buenos Aires at age 15 and rose to fame in radio and cinema before entering the political world with her husband. After 6 years as First Lady, she passed away at the age of 33 to cancer.
I realized I had not shown a photo of my school yet! So here it is, la Universidad Torcuato di Tella in all its glory! The former automobile plant is now a modern university. The school is named after the Italian immigrant of the same name who earned his wealth inventing a bread baking machine. I am taking three classes this semester about Argentine literature, the dictatorships of Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay, and Latin American cinema.
Comments Off on Dan in Argentina: Miscellaneous Adventures | Dan in Argentina, Fall 2015 | Tagged: Architecture, Argentina, Eva Perón, History, Monuments, Plaza de Mayo, Politics, Universidad Torcuato di Tella | Permalink
Posted by Dan H.
August 19, 2015
This weekend, I went to Chile with a bunch of Richmond friends! We stayed in Santiago, skied in the Andes and lunched in Valparaíso. Bergen, Lauren, Sam, Jackie, Ben and I did a lot of planning and had a lot of luck to result in an amazing trip. Despite an unintentional hour of cross-country skiing across the mountain and a delayed flight, everything seemed to fall right into place.
Santiago was an incredible city. Compared to Buenos Aires, it has a lot more nature. They have sky scrapping palm trees, large patches of green grass and a wall of massive mountains surrounding the city. The view from our (*clears throat*) “penthouse” apartment perfectly displayed the city’s landscape with the amazing Andes backdrop. Here, in Plaza de Armas, the historic (1748-1800) architecture of the Metropolitan Cathedral of Santiago contrasts lovely with a modern office building.
Valparaíso, Chile is one of the country’s largest port towns, receiving more than 10 million tons of goods annually. The city is known for its large hills filled with vibrantly-colored houses and funicular railways. The quaint town was relaxed on a Sunday afternoon and was filled with street vendors, artisans and boutique shops. This artwork gives you a sense of the masterfully-painted and historic city.
When traveling on a budget, sometimes direct flights aren’t the best option. Four of us had a 10 hour layover in Mendoza, Argentina. Seems horrible, right? Not exactly. We traveled an hour from the airport to Potrerillos, a small town at the base of the Argentine Andes. If you ask me, this beautiful lake and the breathtaking views of snow-capped peaks was a pretty incredible solution to our layover situation. Shout-out to our taxi driver, Daniel (no relation), for making it all possible.
El Mercado Central in Santiago was expansive beyond belief. It was the same size as a Costco, and with the amount of vendors as a major state fair. The fresh fish and fruit were displayed gorgeously. As the shopkeepers run around to sell their produce, customers enjoy the smells, taste-tests and people watching. Of course, when in Chile, I made many “it’s chilly in Chile” jokes and was excited when I saw chili peppers.
Comments Off on Dan In Argentina: …and Chile | Dan in Argentina, Fall 2015 | Tagged: Adventure, Argentina, Culture, Food, Friends, Nature, Sightseeing, Travel | Permalink
Posted by Dan H.
August 3, 2015
Buenos Aires, a major metropolis, has all the bells and whistles when it comes to public transportation. While some of these bells and some of these whistles may not always be perfectly polished, they still ring and…whistle. In Boston, it’s the T; in London, it’s the Tube; and in Buenos Aires, it’s the Subte. I have only explored “Linea D,” apparently the best line in the city, but I have to say, it’s the best for a reason. So far, the subway is 10/10 in my book.
In sixth grade Spanish class, we learned about city terms. “Semáforo” means traffic light. “Rascacielos” was a fun one to say meaning skyscraper. And “autobús” is bus. Well, not in Argentina. Here, the busses are called “colectivos.” Why? I have no idea. Regardless, there are about (not even exaggerating) 160 different bus routes, each with its own fleet of identically colored colectivos. It’s can be confusing but at least there’s always a bus for anywhere you want to go! You have to be careful though because they often start driving before the doors are shut!
The Spanish word for bike is “bici” and the city of Buenos Aires has recently been trying to go green and promote bike riding. Yellow bikes like this one are all over the city. The riders mostly ride in the designated bike paths (which are on almost every street) but sometimes they’re right in there with the traffic next to the huge “colectivos.” I haven’t signed up to take advantage of this free bike share yet but I will soon!
While running to my last appointment before obtaining my student Visa, I stopped for a moment to appreciate the beauty of this bike, its shadow and my favorite word ever: “café.” We love a good café in Buenos Aires. As the winter weather turns each day from gray to sunny, sights like these will become more common and I can’t wait!
Comments Off on Dan in Argentina: Traveling Around Bs As | Dan in Argentina, Fall 2015 | Tagged: Argentina, Culture, Public Transportation, Travel | Permalink
Posted by Dan H.
urtravelogues.com 