Buenos Aires Things to Do Tips by mrtourne

Evita Museum Evita Review

If you want to get a good overview of Evita, the new Museo Evita is actually pretty interesting. Located in the Palermo neighborhood (about a block off Avenida Las Heras, across the Botanical gardens, on Lafinur), the site was one of the many houses that the peronist government expropriated from well-to-do families and turned into homes managed by the Fundacion Evita (in this case, a single mothers' home)

While some of the exhibits tends towards the adulation (especially the piping of speeches in some rooms through the sound system), there are enough artifacts around that show the other side as well (including some of the infamous reading manuals for first graders saying "I love Evita" replacing the traditional "I love my mom" phrases). The various exhibits track her childhood, her acting days and her rise to power, as well as some of the work done by her Foundation (it's interesting to see how her name made it onto everything that was handed out to the needy, so as to remind them where it came from) There's also some remainders of the activity of the house as a single mother's home (the kitchen for example), plus a number of newsreels that are played and show the demonstrations, speeches, etc. and give you a feel for the time.

Closed Mondays, only opens in the afternoons (from 2 to 7:30 PM Tuesday through Sunday) so plan accordingly. Entrance fee is $2 for Buenos Aires residents and $5 for tourists.

Address: Lafinur 2988

Directions: Palermo neighborhood - on Lafinur street, just off Avenida Las Heras. Lafinur ends at the Botanical Gardens so there's no way you can go the wrong way.

Phone: +54-11-4807-9433

Spanish courses at Universities

1) Universidad de Buenos Aires: Largest public university. They have intensive courses (4 or 8 weeks) and regular courses (17 weeks). Located downtown near Plaza de Mayo. Link

2) Universidad de Belgrano: One of the largest private universities. 4 and 8 week courses, 5 hours a day, 5 days a week. Located in Belgrano, a nice residential neighborhood, walking distance from Las Canitas which has tons of good restaurants and bars. Link

3) Universidad de Palermo: newer University but also reputable. They do have a Spanish for Foreigners program but hours, length and cost are not listed on the web site. Email them at international@palermo.edu - Link

4) Universidad del Salvador: Private, a jesuitic university that's been around for 50 years and my alma mater. Located near downtown in Barrio Norte. Courses are 4 weeks, 5 hours a day, 5 days a week. There's 3 levels so you'll have to inquire with them whether you can take all 3 in a row if you want to study longer.They have student residence options and can arrange for homestay as well (Belgrano does the same thing, I don't know about Palermo). Link

5) Universidad CAECE: Private university mostly centered around math and engineering (don't worry, the geek quotient in Argentina in general runs kinda low and I know some very attractive people who went there :-P). Located in Congreso, they have another location in Abasto and courses are given in both. Courses are 50 hours each. 6 levels of classes, so you can make a half year out of it. You can also get one-on-one classes by the hour. Link

Enjoy!

Address: See each university's site

Exposicion Rural Argentina - Rural Expo

One of the most traditional exhibits in Buenos Aires, the Exposicion Rural Argentina (Argentine Rural Exposition) brings the countryside to the capital for a couple of weeks every winter. I have fond memories of this exposition growing up - there's of course tons of cows, horses, sheep and other livestock on display and competing for prizes (about 2000 heads of livestock) , but there's also a fair amount of artisans displaying their products, typical foods from every argentine province, lots of tourism information for each province and interesting folk music shows.

This year in its 118th. consecutive year, the expo will run from July 22 to August 3rd. I recommend going on a weekday, it gets very busy on weekends as families pour in...

Address: La Rural - Avenida Santa Fe 4201( at Sarmiento)

Directions: Take the D subway line to Plaza Italia and you're at the door. Bus lines 152, 60, 59, 29, 41, 118, 168 and many others go through Plaza Ital

Website: http://www.exposicionrural.com.ar

A solace near downtown Puerto Madero and Catalina's Review

Puerto Madero refers to a fairly long area where the old docks used to function and where now (after a succesful recycling effort in the mid-90s) a variety of restaurants, bars and other business have set shop. The long explanade that connects all the buildings makes for a great walk on a warm summer night, and you can find every type of food ina very short span. There's also a couple of museum ships (the Fragata Sarmiento and Corbeta Uruguay) that are worth a visit.

For more info, there's a Tourist Info Center on Dock 1 (the closest to Avenida Cordoba) by the large crane, which is open from 10 AM to 2 PM and 3 PM to 6 PM

To access it, walk down Avenida Cordoba, past Avenida Alem and hang a right when you get to the water - the start of the restaurants and bars is right there and goes all the way past the Casa Rosada.

Website: http://www.puertomadero.com

Guided tours of Recoleta by historical society Recoleta Review

I just came across an interesting item on La Nacion (one of the largest papers in Buenos Aires). The Junta de Estudios Historicos del Buen Ayre (loosely translated as Board of HIstorical Studies of the Buen Ayre) gives weekly tours of the Recoleta cemetery focusing on history of its inhabitants, most famous monuments, odd facts and stories, etc. These tours are done on Saturdays and Sundays only.

The only catch - I think the tours are in spanish only, so if you don't know spanish you may be out of luck. For more information you can call the organization at the number below for dates and times, also no cost was listed in the article

Directions: Phone number:

Call from Buenos Aires: 15-4439-4106
Call from abroad: +54-9-1-4439-4106

Phone: 15-4-439-4106

Great murals in Galerias Santa Fe Recoleta Review

As you are strolling up and down Santa Fe Avenue, make sure to go into Galerias Santa Fe (I think it's between Montevideo and Rodriguez Pena, but not absolutely sure). The ceilings have some incredible frescoes from some of the most famous argentine painters of the mid-20th century such as Soldi, Battle Planas, Torres Aguero and Seoane. Check it out, it doesn't take that long.

Address: Avenida Santa Fe 1660

Great park Palermo Park Review

The Palermo park - also know as "Bosques de Palermo" - is a beautiful place to walk around when the weather is nice and sunny. Mostly enclosed between the Avenidas del Libertador and Figueroa Alcorta, it has a variety of attractions and a calming effect on the visitor (unless you go on a sunday in spring when everyone seems to be playing soccer ;-) ) On a weekday, walking through El Rosedal (the rose garden) or El Jardin de Los Poetas (the poet's garden, a sculpture and fountain garden with many quiet spaces to sit down and reflect) is a beautiful experience. It definitely will take you away from the buzz of the city. The planetarium of Buenos Aires is also here, and so is a tremendous fountain ("Monumento a los espanoles" or "Monument to the Spaniards") in the intersection of Aveinda del Libertador and Avenida Sarmiento

One last thing - if you have the luck to be around in October / November, please stop by to see the jacaranda trees in bloom, with their lilac flowers that fall and cover the red gravel paths...

As in any big city park, I would advise to be careful as dusk approaches, there have been some incidents lately, especially purse snatchings.

Address: Avenida del Libertador at Avenida Sarmiento

Directions: From downtown, take a cab down Figueroa Alcorta, turn down at Sarmiento and get off at Sarmiento and Avenida del Libertador