Coffee Culture in Argentina

In our spanish classes, and even in this elebaires blog, we detail the cultural significance of Mate, and its place in the homes of all Argentines. Many of you have tried this national beverage with varied results and you may have even purchased a mate gord during your stay. For those of you who didn’t take to Mate so well, you may have been pleased to discover the thriving café culture in Buenos Aires. But what is coffee’s place in this society?

Many people choose to flock to Buenos Aires for the city's unique expression of European beautyand class with the Latino attitude of ease and an ability to enjoy. Nowhere is this better exemplified than in the cafés scattered generously along its streets. As many of you may have noticed, in Buenos Aires it is not common place to see Porteños (the name given to locals of Buenos Aires) walking with coffees. Unlike many parts of the Western world where the daily commuters are often spotted with their styrofoam Starbuck’s cups in hand, the Porteños prefer to linger over their coffees. So the next time you are in a café, notice those locals next to you either pouring over a newspaper, catching up with friends or simply enjoying the moment with a cortado (espresso with a dash of milk) and medialuna (croissant). So what can you expect of the coffee here in a predominantly mate-drinking society?

Well thanks to the Italian immigrants who flocked to Argentina in the late 19^th century, Argentina has enjoyed and sustained a coffee culture built on the espresso... you will be hard pressed to find filtered coffee here, or cafe americano as the locals aptly refer to it. What you will find however, are the delicious Italian coffee standards with some argentine flare. For your reference (and enjoyment) we have included a brief translation of coffees that you will see on an average menu:

Café* = espresso/ short black

Café en jarrito/ café doble = double espresso

Cortado* = macchiato/ espresso with a dash of milk (this is the most popular among the Porteños, be sure to give it a try while you’re here)

Americano = a shot of espresso diluted with hot water

Café con leche = latte/ flat white

Capuchino = cappuccino

Lagrima* = a lot of milk with a dash of coffee (depending on where you go, this could also be a latte)

Submarino = hot milk with a bar of melting chocolate that you drop in to create a hot chocolate to your liking

* These coffees can be made into doubles (cup size coffees) by adding a doble to the end of the name e.g. lagrima doble

Basically, whatever your coffee craving, this city can accommodate. So truly embrace the Porteño culture while in Buenos Aires, try a café and discover what kind of coffee experience you like. As a word of caution, be careful not to fall into the trap of accompanying every coffee with a delicious medialuna (croissant). They are sinfully addictive and too many may have adverse effects on your waistline (speaking as a former medialuna addict). We’d love to hear your thoughts, experiences and even recommendations. We’re always looking for an excuse to try another café! Share your thoughts on this blog or join us on facebook.

Baltimore Friends High School en Argentina 5

Día de Campo

¿Qué podés decir del gaucho? ¿Qué hacían? ¿Cómo vivían en la Pampa?

Todas esas preguntas ya tienen respuesta porque no solamente disfrutamos de un exquisito asado argentino, sino también aprendimos de historia y vivimos un poco ese pedacito de la cultura argentina.

Baltimore Friends High School en Argentina 4

Conocer Buenos Aires implica conocer todas las facetas de esta ciudad. Los chicos de Friends High School de Baltimore, también quisieron ayudar durante su experiencia de intercambio. Por eso el Viernes 10 de marzo visitamos nuevamente la obra de los maristas en Tigre para compartir una tarde diferente con los chicos que diariamente recurren al centro Capilla Champagnat.

Fue una tarde increíble: practicamos inglés, cantamos, jugamos al fútbol, compartimos la merienda y nos conocimos... hay mucho por aprender del otro siempre...

Gracias por recibirnos en Tigre!

Baltimore Friends High School en Argentina 3

Nada los detiene, nada los atemoriza... ni siquiera la ola de calor de estos días de marzo en Buenos Aires...

Después de nuestras clas

es en la escuela salimos para almorzar e

n Federico hoy... y con muchas ganas de conocer el destino donde dejaremos un poco de cariño, afecto, juegos, intercambio y dive

rsión partimos en subte y luego en tren a Tigre donde nos recibieron los Hermanos Jorge, Isaac y José María y nos presentaron todas las obras que se hacen en el barrio de Carupá.

Es interesante aprender a observar las cosas cotidianas y los hábitos de la gente de otra cultura.

Los chicos que participan de todas las actividades de la Capilla Champagnat en Carupá, nos recibieron con mucha alegría y se nos acercaron curiosos para saber de nosotros, ¡y nosotros queríamos saber de ellos!... Un poco de conversación y listo! Por eso ahora, compartí tus experiencias aquí!

Baltimore Friends High School en Argentina 2

Algunos momentos para recordar de la recorrida por el Centro Histórico, el almuerzo y la recreación del tiempo libre.

Baltimore Friends High School en Argentina 1

¡Hola!

Después de tanto viaje desde Baltimore con llegaron los chicos a Buenos Aires. Queremos mostrarles día a día nuestras actividades en Argentina. Los invitamos a comentar, a contar las experiencias y a escribir mucho en estas secciones. ¡Bienvenidos chicos!

Breaking away...

In the month of March (Marzo), we in Argentina are blessed with two extra long (4 day) weekends!!! This is the perfect opportunity to get out of the city and do some exploring. This time of year is ideal for all types of adventures; from the glaciers in the south to the waterfalls in the north. But if you haven’t come to Argentina for the cold, then this could be an ideal time to see the south. While temperatures are still averaging 15˚C (60˚F) and the sight of the glaciers on those clear blue days are made even more spectacular by the thundering sound of ice breaking off and tumbling into the icy waters below.

El Calafate is typically the base for this type of exploration, situated centrally between many glaciers with its own airport. While flights leave regularly from Buenos Aires through LAN Argentina or Aerolineas Argentinas, they are not always reliable, so don’t plan your trip too tightly or you might be in frantic rescheduling. The town of El Calafate is quaint and has undergone rapid development as a result of the increased interest in the quickly disappearing glaciers. The town is full of souvenir stores but be prepared to pay tourist prices for them!

The main attraction is the Perito Moreno Glacier, situated 85km (53miles) from El Calafate (a magnificent drive). Options of viewing the Glacier range from a lengthy walkway with many picture-perfect vantage points or a boat trip to get you closer to the action. Another breath-taking experience is the Upsala Glacier, reached from El Calafate by boat, with its surrounding old-english estancias. The Upsala Glacier is losing approximately 200m of ice a year, and has been the Greenpeace poster for Global Warming effects.

In the area, the spectacular Fitzroy Mountain can also be visited. These attractions are disbursed over quite a wide area and can be reached only by car or bus. There are a number of companies offering day trip to these sights and for those more daring, there are a number of car rental companies in downtown El Calafate.

All in all, El Calafate offers a clean break from the big smoke, Buenos Aires. Its fresh air, wide open spaces and once in a lifetime view will quench the thirst for an outdoor adventure and can be achieved comfortably over four days. For these upcoming long weekends, consider an escape to the greener pastures of El Calafate.

For those electing to stay in the city, or those looking for a different adventure, stay tuned for what Elebaires has on offer. These alternatives will be announced in the coming weeks and are sure to please.

Lonely Planet: Recognition for a job well done!

Planning for a holiday abroad can be incredibly time consuming and mentally exhausting as endless options for a variety of experiences appear in our google searches. In times like these, we look for those familiar names, those sources of clarity in times of confusion. A source synonymous with travel and adventure, an organization ready to guide you on any journey is none other than the Lonely Planet.

For over thirty years, they have done the leg work for us, often saving us from the disastrous restaurant experience undoubtedly followed by a painful bout of food poisoning; the well-situated hostel that does not consider cockroaches a household pet; and of course how best to spend our time whilst on our individual adventure. For years they have provided us with this support and they haven’t let us down yet. In fact, they have recognized Elebaires as a premier Spanish language institute in Buenos Aires in their most recent edition of the Lonely Planet Guide for South America. A well-earned reflection of the quality of the programs offered at our school. We are incredibly proud of this achievement and would like to recognize the efforts of all our staff and students for making our program unique.

We know how difficult it can be organizing a trip to a foreign country. At Elebaires, we are here to make that a little easier for all of you with our variety of accommodation alternatives and city excursions to make sure you maximize your time in Argentina.

Learn Spanish after classes at Elebaires!

What do we do after classes? ¿Qué hacemos después de clase?
Caminamos por la ciudad, andamos en bicicleta por los barrios más verdes, comemos un poquito y tomamos mate!
Summer time is ideal to live Buenos Aires outdoors, join us!
Weekend trips? Sí! Salimos a Mar del Plata en Enero, disfrutamos el sol, la playa, el día y la noche!!!
Aprendemos español y vivimos una experiencia en Elebaires! Diplomas? Muchas felicidades a todos los estudiantes de Enero!!!
Gracias a todos los estudiantes que compartieron con nosotros tan buenos momentos, visitá nuestro álbum de facebook para ver más!

A Face Lift: Puerto Madero

In the late 1800s, Puerto Madero , a newly developed port along Rio de la Plata, was an engineering landmark and the city’s solution to the challenge of accommodating the numerous cargo ships. Ten years after construction was complete, Puerto Madero was made obsolete as bigger cargo ships made entering the port an impossible feat. Fast forward through 100 years of neglect and Puerto Madero has now become one of the trendiest neighbourhoods in Buenos Aires.

The west bank, with its old red-brick buildings, offers the authenticity of the old, with the comforts of the new. Restaurants across the west bank of Puerto Madero, cater primarily to the tourists who flock to the waterfront to enjoy the fresh breezes, a sturdy sidewalk (not to be taken for granted in Argentina), and of course, a juicy argentine steak. Puente de la Mujer (Women’s Bridge) is the most recent addition to the connectors between the east and the west. Designed by Spanish architect, Santiago Calatrava, Puente de la Mujer encapsulates the modern outlook of the city.

While the west bank has maintained the portside exterior, the development across the east bank could be likened to Shanghai (okay, severe exaggeration but you get the point) with high-rise office buildings and new apartments making the cityscape almost unrecognizable. While the wide avenues are certainly a consistent feature in Buenos Aires, the feel of this neighbour is eerily similar to those found in the States. Further across, the Ecological Reserve offers a safe haven for the exercise junkies to get their weekly fix with bicycles and joggers dominating the paths, however it also offers a variety of local flora for those interested in a slower-paced experience.

The good news is that while Puerto Madero has undergone a face lift, the locals are still the same. You’ll still see Argentines sweating it out on the pavement, or trying to soak in that last bit of sunshine, or ever-so-coolly sitting at the corner cafe with a cortado (macchiato). Whatever it is you are looking for, Puerto Madero certainly offers a sweet escape from the chaos that surrounds it. While in Buenos Aires, be sure to witness the change that is going on as the city begins to shake off the old and embrace the new.