Argentina, Nigeria take advantage

BEIJING, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Star-studded Argentina is likely to dominate Group B, while Nigeria, Greece and South Korea may compete for another ticket to advance to next stage in the upcoming 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa.
Although the qualifying campaign for the finals is full of twists, Argentina is still among the favorites to contend for the World Cup trophy. Coach Diego Maradona may find it hard to pick up the ideal starting eleven, as there are so many outstanding players within the team. And Maradona's ability to combine the great players may decide Argentina's fate.
La Albiceleste boasts a luxurious forward line that could be possibly made up of Diego Milito, Lionel Messi and Gonzalo Higuain, and the substitutes are Carlos Tevez, Sergio Aguero and Martin Palermo. Veteran Juan Sebastian Veron will marshal the midfield and captain Javier Mascherano formed a solid barrier, Jonas Gutierrez and Di Maria are likely to threaten the rival from two flanks. Walter Samuel, Martin Demichelis, Gabriel Heinze, Nicolas Otamendi are the defensive choices, and Sergio Romero may be at the goal.
Argentina's biggest problem is that Maradona hasn't figured out a reasonable system to make the whole side run well, especially in the midfield. After Juan Roman Riquelme left the team, no one could do as well as Riquelme in controlling the rhythm and keeping order of the passes and moves. Maradona now relies too much on Veron, and the latter's form will determine the performance of the whole side. Maradona needs to fix his tactics and formation as quickly as possible.
Argentina will meet Nigeria, before playing South Korea and Greece. The first game is the toughest one. With a win, the Argentines may feel easy to get past the group stage.
For the rest three teams, Nigeria enjoys big advantage in individual technique, South Korea and Greece both are good at disciplined play. Nigeria is more experienced and skillful in the competition.
After a disappointing CAF African Cup of Nations tour, Nigeria invited Lars Lagerback to take Amodu Shaibu's coach position. The Swede is asked to teach the Nigerian players, who always lacks sense of responsibility and honor for the national team, to learn how to play heart and soul under united teamwork.. Lagerback has vowed to only use those who really want to play for the national side, and will make use of the Nigerians' technical edge to full extent.
Super Eagles has sharp shooters like Chinedu Obasi, Obinna Nsofor, Obafemi Martins, Osaze Odemwigie and veteran Nwankwo Kanu. In the midfield, Chelsea's Mikel Obi will play the key role. Joseph Yobo and Taiye Taiwo lead the back line.
Nigeria's individual play up front may pose big trouble for the Greeks and the South Koreans.
Greece has been regressing since their Euro 2004 myth, with some key players retired, the Greeks had to rebuild their defensive system.
The 71-year-old Otto Rehhagel adopts a system of well-organized defense and sharp counter-attacks. Liverpool's Sotiris Kyrgiakos will be the rock in the central back, while Cltic's Giorgos Samaras, Hertha Berlin's Theofanis Gekas and tall Angelos Charisteas make the forward line. Georgios Karagounis is the playmaker in the midfield, and his long range blast is a deadly weapon.
South Korea will fight for a ticket with the excellence of their European-based stars. Manchester United's multifunctional winger Park Ji-Sung will play an influential role in the midfield, Celtic's Ki Sung-Yong and Bolton's Lee Chung-Yong and Kim Nam-Il give strong support for their captain.
In the front, AS Monaco's Park Ju-Young, Lee Dong-Guk and veteran Ahn Jung-Hwan may produce the gunpowder.
Huh Jung-Moo's "Taeguk Warriors" always display a high-intensity style. Their strong mentality and super stamina may cause trouble for the other teams. But the South Koreans will need enough luck to get through to last 16.

2 Volcanoes Erupt in Central, South America

(AP) Explosive eruptions shook two huge volcanoes in Central and South America on Friday, forcing thousands of people to flee their homes and disrupting air traffic as ash drifted over major cities.

Guatemala's Pacaya volcano started erupting lava and rocks Thursday afternoon, blanketing the country's capital with ash and forcing the closure of the international airport. A television reporter was killed by a shower of burning rocks when he got too close to the volcano, about 15 miles south of Guatemala City.

In the village of Calderas, close to the eruption, Brenda Castaneda said she and her family hid under beds and tables as marble-sized rocks thundered down on her home.

"We thought we wouldn't survive. Our houses crumbled and we've lost everything," Castaneda said while waiting for rescue teams to take them to a shelter at a nearby school.

Meanwhile, strong explosions rocked Ecuador's Tungurahua volcano, prompting evacuations of hundreds of people from nearby villages.

Ecuador's National Geophysics Institute said hot volcanic material blasted down the slopes and ash plumes soared 6 miles above a crater that is already 16,479 feet above sea level.

Winds blew the ash over the country's most populous city, Guayaquil, and led aviation officials to halt flights out of the Pacific port and from Quito to Lima, Peru.

Neither of the eruptions was expected to disrupt airports in neighboring countries like Iceland's Eyjafjallajokul volcano did in Europe.

In Guatemala, the ash billowing from Pacaya has been thick and falls quickly to the ground, unlike the lighter ash that spewed from the volcano in Iceland and swept over much of Europe, disrupting global air travel, said Gustavo Chigna, a volcano expert with Guatemala's institute of seismology and volcanos.

In Ecuador, the ash cloud drifted out over the Pacific Ocean and was tapering off Friday evening.

Sandro Vaca, an expert at Ecuador's National Geophysics Institute, said Tungurahua's latest eruption was not in the same league with Iceland.

"The ash stretched for hundreds of kilometers, while the plume of ash from the volcano in Iceland covered nearly all of Europe for thousands of kilometers," Vaca said.

In Guatemala, at least 1,910 people from villages closest to the Pacaya volcano were moved to shelters. Some 800 homes were damaged in the initial eruption late Thursday. A second eruption at midday Friday released ash in smaller amounts from the 8,373-foot mountain, according to the Central American country's Geophysical Research and Services Unit.


(AP Photo/Moises Castillo)
The unit reported an ash plume 3,000 feet meters high that trailed more than 12 miles to the northwest.

(Left: The San Vicente de Pacaya church in San Vicente Pacaya, Guatemala is backdropped by smoke from the Pacaya volcano on Friday, May 28, 2010.)

In Guatemala City, bulldozers scraped blackened streets while residents used shovels to clean cars and roofs.

The blanket of ash was three inches thick in some southern parts of the city. The government urged people not to leave their homes unless there was an urgent need.

The capital's La Aurora airport would be closed at least until Saturday, said Claudia Monge, a spokeswoman for the civil aviation agency. Flights were being diverted to Mundo Maya airport in northern Guatemala and Comalapa in El Salvador.

The television reporter who was killed, Anibal Archila, had appeared on Channel 7 broadcasts standing in front of a lava river and burning trees, talking about the intense heat.

David de Leon, a spokesman for the national disaster committee, confirmed his death.

The most active of Guatemala's 32 volcanoes, Pacaya has been intermittently erupting since 1966, and tourists frequently visit areas near three lava flows formed in eruptions between 1989 and 1991.

In 1998, the volcano twice spewed plumes of ash, forcing evacuations and shutting down the airport in Guatemala City.

Eruptions at Tungurahua, 95 miles southeast of the Ecuadorean capital of Quito, buried entire villages in 2006, leaving at least four dead and thousands homeless.

Tourist route traces footsteps of 'Che' Guevara

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — In life, Ernesto "Che" Guevara fought to overthrow a corrupt, capitalist elite. In death, he is spawning his own tourism industry — soon to include a three-country "Che Trail."

Tourism officials in Argentina, Cuba and Bolivia are collaborating on a historic route that will allow Guevara buffs to retrace the footsteps of the Argentine medical student turned revolutionary in Cuba who was killed in a failed mission to foment an uprising in Bolivia.

Bolivia's vice minister of tourism, Marco Antonio Peredo, said Wednesday that the international "Caminos del Che" trail will include sites where Guevara was born, fought and died.

Officials say they are being sensitive to Guevara's legacy, long ago co-opted by T-shirt vendors the world over.

"We aren't looking to commodify him — he's not a product that's for sale," said Diego Conca, who coordinates Argentina's portion of the Che trail, inaugurated last year. "His journey transformed him, and we think that following this route can also be transformative for tourists."

Attractions in Argentina already include Guevara's birthplace of Rosario, his family's mate tea plantation in Misiones and other places where Guevara rode by motorcycle on his path to becoming a leftist revolutionary.

Guevara went to Cuba in 1956 to fight alongside the Castro brothers, and later led a small band of guerrillas in Bolivia, where he was captured and killed in 1967.

Bolivia's tourist route follows Guevara's path through the jungle to Higuera, the town where he was killed, and Valle Grande, where he was buried with six other fighters until 1997, when the bodies were exhumed and taken to Cuba.

Interest in Guevara has increased as Latin American countries celebrate the bicentennial of earlier revolutions that led to independence from Spain. Leftist administrations in Argentina and Bolivia also have broken down taboos associated with Guevara, who inspired both armed insurrection and state repression.

In Argentina's independence celebrations this week, President Cristina Fernandez hung a portrait of Guevara donated by Fidel and Raul Castro in the Gallery of Latin American Patriots in the executive mansion.

"People all over the world ask us for more information," Conca said. "Each month there's more interest, and now with Bolivia, we think there will be even more."

Montevideo, Buenos Aires, most livable cities of South America

In its presentation Mercer says that South and Central America witnessed a decline in quality of living between 2008 and 2009. Political instability, economic woes and energy shortages have been the main obstacles to increasing quality of living in the region. High levels of crime also remain a major problem.

“Of all the cities in this region, Caracas (Venezuela) saw the greatest decrease in quality of living. This can be partly attributed to the tension between Venezuela and neighbouring countries increasing in the past few years. In addition, water rationing was implemented in November 2009 as a response to water shortages, and the availability of consumer goods decreased as a result” said Slagin Parakatil, a Mercer researcher.

Another area plagued by problems in quality of living is Lima. Political instability increased, and the prime minister of Peru resigned after clashes that occurred in the Amazon resulted in more than 50 deaths.

Mercer annually measures ten key categories and 39 factors in more than 221cities worldwide. Categories include political and social environment, medical and health considerations, public services and transport, economic environment, housing, recreation, schools and education and socio-cultural environment.

This year, Mercer added another qualifier, ecological quality, based on water availability and water cleanliness, waste removal, quality of drainage systems, air pollution, noise and congestion.

The top Mercer Quality of Life in South America begins with Buenos Aires which nevertheless ranks 78 at world level; Montevideo (79); Santiago de Chile (90); Monterrey, Mexico (98); Brasilia, (104); San Jose de Costa Rica, (106); Asunción, Paraguay, (108).

However Montevideo figures top of the South American list when it comes to ecological quality.

At world level Vienna retains the top spot as the city with the world’s best quality of living, Zurich and Geneva follow in second and third position, respectively, while Vancouver and Auckland remain joint fourth in the rankings.

Germany’s Düsseldorf, Frankfurt and Munich, together with Berne, Switzerland and Sydney, Australia complete the list.

“Quality of living standards remained relatively stable on a global level throughout 2009 and the first half of 2010, but in certain regions and countries the economic recession had a noticeable impact on the business climate,” according to Mr Parakatil.

This year’s ranking also identifies the cities with the best eco-ranking: Calgary is the top of this index, followed by Honolulu in second place and Ottawa and Helsinki in joint third. Wellington in New Zealand (5), Minneapolis (6), Adelaide (7) and Copenhagen fill the next four slots, while Kobe, Oslo and Stockholm share ninth place

Colombian beauty queen-cum-model arrested in Argentina on drugs charge

Argentine Police have arrested a Colombian model, who was accused of leading a drug-trafficking gang that persuaded pretty young women to smuggle cocaine to Mexico.

She had been evading Argentine police for five months, The Telegraph report.

Angie Sanclemente Valencia had been hiding out in Buenos Aires since December, when airport police caught the 21-year-old with 121 pounds of cocaine in her baggage boarding a flight to Cancun.

According to the paper, six other alleged gang members were also arrested, and they claimed that Colombia’s former “coffee queen” was the group’s ringleader.

Argentina’s media had dubbed Sanclemente the “Narco Queen,” but two officials involved in the case said that her specific role in the smuggling organisation is yet to be established.

“When they organised the trafficking of cocaine to Mexico, she participated in the meetings,” said one source.

Police were able to establish Sanclemente’s identity because she had made quite an impression upon her arrival in Argentina, flying first class with a Pomeranian dog, another official said.

Sanclemente has declared her innocence on Facebook, where she posted pictures of Buenos Aires dated after Interpol issued a warrant for her arrest, and her mother arrived in the country weeks ago to help with her defence.

Sanclemente is a native of Barranquilla, Colombia. (ANI)

Diego Maradona promises to run naked through streets of Buenos Aires

Diego Maradona has promised to run naked through the centre of Buenos Aires if Argentina win the World Cup.

The Argentina coach made the promise during a radio show. The unpredictable Maradona was speaking a day after Argentina defeated Canada 5-0 Monday in their final warm-up match before the World Cup.

"If we win the World Cup, I'll get naked and run around the Obelisk," he said, referring to the tall monument that marks the centre of the city and serves as its most famous landmark.

Maradona's response came after a reporter asked him in the interview what he would do if his team returned to Argentina with their third World Cup title.

In the same interview, Maradona said he had to explain to Lionel Messi why he did not play against Canada.

Messi is the reigning FIFA player of the year, but sat out the match to protect him against any possible injury.

"If something would have happened to you in that match, I'd have been kicked - you can imagine where," Maradona said.

Maradona has the luxury of choosing between some of the world's best forwards. In addition to Messi, he can use Carlos Tevez, Gonzalo Higuain, Diego Milito, Sergio Aguero and Martin Palermo.

Argentina plays in Group B, opening against Nigeria on June 12. The team also faces Greece and South Korea.

Home away from home: Apartments Buenos Aires

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Argentina Travel – Buenos Aires, Mar del Plata, Iguaz Falls (Rick Chapo)

Argentina is on the way back from the economic crisis of the last few years. If you are looking for a travel destination, Argentina is amazing and cheap.

Economic Woes

While Argentina has unlimited beauty, it also has unlimited corruption. The massive corruption finally lead to an economic crisis at the turn of the century. With the currency devalued and jobs hard to find, Argentina was a decidedly dangerous place for travelers. At one point, the country was going through Presidents faster than I go through coffee. At one point, the country went through five of them in a month! Wait, that might not be such a bad idea. Regardless, things appear to have stabilized and the country is back on the travel map. So, what’s to see?

Buenos Aires

Prior to landing in Buenos Aires, you are strongly encouraged to glue your jaw shut. Buenos Aires is a city of jaw-dropping beauty. In many ways, you will feel as though you have magically been transported to Vienn
a. The European impression is overwhelming. The city is elegance itself. If you’re a meat eater, make sure you experience one of the steak houses. You won’t be disappointed.

Mar del Plata

You’ve been doing sit ups, right? The Mar de Plata is the hot beach area. Literally. Damn hot, sometimes. If you wish to pursue a little melanoma research, this is the place. If you prefer to pass on the cancer research, you can hit the Mar de Plata Aquarium, play golf on five different courses. The area is also rife with discos.

Anniversary of the First Independent Government in Buenos Aires and the Bicentennial of Argentina

Friday May 18, 1810

Viceroy Cisneros attempted to conceal the news from the people; however, the rumour had already spread throught Buenos Aires. He decided then to give his own version of the facts through a proclamation, while trying to calm down the Criollos. He asked for allegiance to King Ferdinand, but popular unrest continued to intensify. Despite being aware of the news, he only said that the situation in the Peninsula was delicate, but did not confirm the fall of the Junta.

Saturday May 19

During the night of May 19 there were further discussions at Rodríguez Peña house. It was requested to Viamonte to call Saavedra, who joined the meeting. There was a number of both military leaders, such as Rodríguez, Ocampo, Balcarce, Díaz Vélez, and civil ones such as Castelli, Vieytes, Alberti or Paso. It was decided to make Belgrano and Saavedra met with senior alcalde Juan Jose de Lezica, and Castelli with the procurator, Julián de Leyva, calling for support of the cabildo. They wanted to ask Viceroy to open a cabildo, saying that if not granted, it would be demanded by the population itself. During the Revolution Leyva would act as a mediator for both sides, being both a confident of Cisneros and a trusted negotiator for the moderate revolutionaries

Sunday May 20

Lezica sent Cisneros the request he had received, and he consulted Leyva, who favored the making of an open cabildo. Before deciding, the Viceroy summoned military commanders to come forward at seven o’clock in the evening at the fort.

There was a new meeting at Rodriguez Peña’s home at midnight, where the military leaders explained the events that took place. Castelli and Martín Rodríguez were sent to the Fort for a new interview with Cisneros. The guardians let them pass unannounced, and they found Cisneros playing cards with brigadier Quintana, prosecutor Caspe and aide Coicolea. Castelli and Rodríguez demanded an open cabildo and Cisneros reacted in anger, considering their request an outrage, but Rodriguez interrupted him and forced him to give a definitive answer. After a short private discussion with Caspe, Cisneros reluctantly gave his consent to the creation of the open cabildo. It would be opened on May 22.

On the same night there was a theatre production on the theme of tyranny, called “Rome Saved”, which was attended by many of the revolutionaries. The police chief tried to convince the actor not to appear and, with the excuse of being ill, to replace the work with “Misanthropy and repentance,” by the German poet Kotzebue. Rumors of police censorship spread quickly, so Morante came and performed the work planned, in which he played Cicero. In the fourth act, Morante made a patriotic roman speech, talking about Rome being menaced by the gallus and the need to have a strong leadership to resist the danger. This scene flared the revolutionary spirits, which led to frenzied applause to the work. Juan José Paso stood up and shouted “¡Viva Buenos Aires libre!” (“Long live free Buenos Aires!”), which produced a small fight with other people present.

After the play, the revolutionaries were called once again to Peña’s house. They learned the result of the last meeting, and were unsure if Cisneros really intended to keep his word. As a result, they decided to organize a demonstration for the following day, in order to ensure that the open cabildo was celebrated as decided

Monday May 21

On May 21 invitations were distributed among 450 leading citizens and officials in the capital. The guest list was compiled by the Cabildo, trying to guarantee the result by selecting people that would be likely to support the Viceroy. For this, they prepared a list a guests taking into account the most prominent residents of the city. However, the revolutionaries countered such move by making a similar one on their own: Agustín Donado (French and Beruti colleague), in charge of printing the invitations, printed many more than requested and distributed the surplus among the Criollos. By the night, Castelli, Rodríguez, French and Beruti visited all the barracks to harangue the troops and prepare them for the following day.

Tuesday May 22

According to official acts, of the 450 invited guests at the open cabildo, only about 251 attended. French and Beruti, commanding 600 men armed with knives, shotguns and rifles, controlled access to the square, with the aim of ensuring that the open cabildo had a majority of Criollos.

The meeting lasted from morning to midnight. There were two main positions, those who argued that the situation should remain unchanged, supporting Cisneros in his office of Viceroy, and those who believed they should form a Junta to replace him, as in Spain; and a measured one between both. The promoters of the change did not recognize the authority of the Regency Council, arguing that the colonies in America were not consulted in its formation. The debate also covered, tangentially, the rivalry between Criollos and the peninsular Spanish, as proponents of keeping the Viceroy considered that the will of the Spanish should prevail over that of the Criollos.

In the Open Meeting, after intense discussion, a vote was taken, but given the extent of the sessions that day, and the lateness of the hour, she left her ballot for the next day.

Wednesday May 23

The debate took all day, and the vote counting took place very late in the night. After the presentations, a vote was taken by the continuity of the Viceroy, alone or associated, or dismissal. The voting lasted for a long time, and decided to dismiss the Viceroy by a large majority: 155 votes to 69.

At dawn on May 23 a document was released, stating that the Viceroy should end his mandate. The authority would temporarily fall into the Cabildo, until the designation of a government Junta.[67] After completing the open cabildo, notices were placed at various points throughout the city that reported the creation of the Junta and the call to deputies from the provinces, and called to refrain from attempting actions contrary to public policy.

Thursday May 24

On the 24th the Cabildo, following a proposal by the liquidator Leyva, interpreted the results of the open cabildo and formed the new Junta, which was to be maintained until the arrival of deputies from the rest of the viceroyalty.

The provisional ruling junta which included Cisneros, Creole leader Juan Jose Castelli and commander Cornelio Saavedra was created.

Friday May 25:

The citizens of Buenos Aires did not want former Viceroy Cisneros to continue in any capacity in the new government, so the original junta had to be disbanded. Another junta was created, with Saavedra as president, Dr. Mariano Moreno and Dr. Juan José Paso as secretaries, and committee members Dr. Manuel Alberti, Miguel de Azcuénaga, Dr. Manuel Belgrano, Dr. Juan José Castelli, Domingo Matheu and Juan Larrea, most of whom were creoles and patriots. The junta declared itself rulers of Buenos Aires until such time as Spain was restored. The junta would last until December, 1810, when it was replaced by another one.

Cheap Holiday Vacation In Buenos Aires

Most people suffer the thrills as well as frills of Disneyland or Walt Disney World, though the little similar to journey as well as exploring latest things. If we have been an explorer, we will suffer the poor legal legal legal legal legal holiday eighth month in Buenos Aires. You will find most excellent restaurants, attractions as well as the nightlife is exciting. You will see chronological architecture, aged cobble streets as well as the areas important steel houses. Plan your poor legal legal legal legal legal holiday eighth month to Buenos Aires in the tumble or the open when the continue is usually perfect. You will find most attractions to see as well as things to do when we revisit the area.

When we revisit Buenos Aires, we will wish to see the Mixed Market additionally called the Mercado de Pulgas. It is the outrageous flea marketplace sort of marketplace where we can find roughly anything we competence be seeking for. The Art Garden or Jardin Botánico Carlos Thays is the botanical grassed area with pleasing flowering plants as well as plants from around the world. The Cementerio de la Recoleta is the luminary tomb as well as usually the chosen of the area have been buried here. This is the renouned traveller captivate in Buenos Aires. With so most things to do as well as see, we will wish to save the little time for the nightlife.

The Bahrein is where we will find drum as well as drum party upon the weekdays, though it heats up upon the weekends with multi dance floors as well as places to censor divided as well as usually watch the excitement. If we wish to see something amazing, the Deep Blue is usually that, all blue. It is the fantastic club with the blue bar, blue walls as well as the little good times. If we have been seeking for the little fast-paced parting, the Milión or the Mansion Party is where we will find the DJ in the vital room, or lay out upon the patio as well as glitter out over the gardens. Three floors suggest pleasing bedrooms all with their own design.

Your poor legal legal legal legal legal holiday eighth month will find we enjoying the cuisine from Bice for the little pasta or Biwon for the little Korean cuisine. Some of the finer restaurants have been El Desnivel as well as El Obrero. Not usually will we suffer the food, though additionally the story as well as ambience is additionally enjoyable. If we have been seeking for the most appropriate beef in Buenos Aires, the La Cabrera or Elephant Eating has the most appropriate meats around the area. They have been grilled to soundness as well as come with salads, appetizers as well as dessert.

If we devise your poor legal legal legal legal legal holiday eighth month around the final week of Feb as well as the commencement of March, we competence suffer the Buenos Aires Tango. You will see the little of the excellent dancers from all over the universe we do their chronicle of the tango. You will find which the selling is glorious as well as the hotels have been elegant, though your poor legal legal legal legal legal holiday eighth month is usually starting, we will not wish it to end. It is the commemorative eighth month for the complete family. You can additionally suffer alternative areas around Buenos Aires with the accessible transport they suggest for all tourists upon vacation the area.

Tremor's Search for Sounds

Recently the musician Leonardo Martinelli, creator of the band Tremor, crossed the span of the country (Buenos Aires to Santiago del Estero, Argentina) in a bus in search of a new sound and a special instrument, the sachaguitarra.

We sat down with Leo and asked him to tell us about the journey.

Tell me the story of this trip, this instrument. Where did it come from?

LEO: I discovered the existence of this instrument a few years ago on a trip to Santiago del Estero. La Sachaguitarra was created by the luthier and musician Elpidio Herrera in 1971. Despite the instrument's 39 year history, he says that no more than 3 exist in the hands of musicians other than himself and his son Manolo. The instrument is like a small guitar, but the body is made from a large gourd called a porongo. It has a small opening in the front where you insert a small bow, like with a violin, except it’s only 12 centimeters long. The Sachaguitarra sounds like a guitar, charango and violin. That sound was immediately interesting to me and I began to imagine the possibilities of making music with it.
Tremor's Search for Sounds

What is it that attracted you to this instrument and sound?

I was attracted to the same thing that attracts me to folklore: the feeling and sensibility, but charged with a harshness, with a certain roughness. Those who have listened to Tremor know that we like to play with textures and what is usually considered noise. The Sachaguitarra is related to the violin, but it’s a crude instrument with lots of character.

Tell me more about the instrument and the man who made it.

Don Elpidio lives in Villa Atamishqui, in the province of Santiago del Estero. He still lives in the house where he was born and spent all of his life. I went to look for the instrument on a non-stop 39-hour trip. We spent the time I was there sitting on the patio of his house, playing music, chatting, and sharing wine.

Tremor Sachaguitarra 2 from Whats Up Buenos Aires on Vimeo.

Elpidio has a young spirit and is a person that still looks for new sounds and wants to perfect his creations. I’m attracted to people that don’t restrict themselves to what they have already done. And above all, it grabs your attention when you see things in a person of his age that you don’t find in anyone of my generation.



How do you see Tremor’s future?

At the moment we’re working on what will be Tremor’s third album. What I can say is that the sound is changing, that there are many new instruments. In addition to the Sachaguitarra, we are experimenting with Mapuche instruments and with using the human voice like an instrument, among other things. I think that our new album is going to be more emotionally direct, but more musically complex. I see an intense future with powerful sounds.

Street Food Buenos Aires - Whats Up?

By Dan Perlman

One of the first things that gastro-tourists notice about Buenos Aires, after they're done rushing in for their requisite platters of massive steaks, is the lack of street food. Most major cities have vendors who wander the streets with small carts, or park their wagons in strategic locales, selling everything from local specialties to a cornucopia of ethnic imports.

When I first arrived in BA, I came to the conclusion that locals simply don't like to eat standing up, nor grab something quick to take back to the office. And it is true that lunch is a more leisurely affair here than in many world capitals, with business back-burnered or perhaps discussed over a bottle or two of wine. But, there is fast food, and its not just eaten by adolescents, and there are spots where standing to eat is commonplace.

One of the issues, I suppose, is the narrowness of the streets in the central business district. There's simply nowhere for a cart to be that would be safe for anyone involved. But parks are a good bet, and there is more green space in Buenos Aires than almost any other major city in the world. Often, admittedly, these offer a very limited selection of items - hotdogs or hamburgers, perhaps a milanesa (breaded cutlet) sandwich. Caramelized nuts are popular snacks. But that's not lunch.

There are spots in the more working class neighborhoods, and the one that most visitors see is San Telmo, where, while not cart-based, there are little hole-in-the-wall parrillas, or grills, dotted throughout the zone. These spots are little more than a standup lunch counter, where workers on a quick break cram in to grab a choripan (sausage sandwich), a vacipan (flank steak sandwich) at any of a dozen spots, or huge slice of pizza and BA's classic fainá (chickpea bread) layered atop at a traditional joint like Pirilo, along Defensa Street.
Street Food Buenos Aires - Whats Up?

But the best spots for street food are the two Costaneras, or boardwalks. It's a misnomer, as there are no boards, these are wide concrete walkways that border two stretches of the city limits. The Costanera Norte, at least the portion with street food, runs alongside the domestic airport, looking out on the river. Here, a dozen or more relatively permanent wagons offer up a range of parrilla options - from sandwiches to small plates, and covering different types of sausages - chorizo, morcilla, salchicha parrillera, as well as various cuts of meat, both beef and pork. Some few even offer up classic achurros, or innards, though generally seem to be momentarily out of them when you ask.
Street Food Buenos Aires - Whats Up?

Street Food Buenos Aires - Whats Up?

Street Food Buenos Aires - Whats Up?

Join in with the cabbies, cops and service workers munching away for a quick lunch along the river. You could do a lot worse than simply starting at the eastern end with Parrilla Oriente and having yourself a bondiola con limón, or start at the other end, by the airport entrance, with a churrasquito, a thin cut of grilled beef, at El Tano Criollo. Each spot offers up its own array of condiments, from classic chimichurri and salsa criolla to interesting spicy combinations like onions and chilies.
The true hotspot for street food, however, is the Costanera Sur, located on the far side of Puerto Madero Este, running its entire length along the canal and ecological reserve. On weekdays the selection is much the same as that of its northern counterpart, though with a few more options (the occasional lamb or chicken offering) - but on weekends is when it really shines. Then, the ubiquitous parrilla wagons are joined by smaller temporary carts that serve up a variety of food from the northern regions of the country - everything from locro (corn, squash, beef, and sausage stew) to fried breads impregnated with bits of chicharron (pork cracklings). Too, in fitting with the porteño sweet tooth, there is sudden influx of dessert stands, many of them overflowing with dozens of different varieties of tarts, tortes, and other sweets, a full range of coffee options, and lines that extend down the walkway. This is a place where families come to enjoy the open air, eat a little, watch one or another street performer, and maybe take a walk through the reserve. But for the dedicated street food fanatic, it's just one long banquet table.


Dan Perlman is a former New York based chef, sommelier, food and wine writer who now lives in Buenos Aires. For more of his scribblings on food, wine, and restaurants visit his blog at www.saltshaker.net

Thanks to Fall 08 intern Christine for sampling so much yummy street food with us.

Argentinos Juniors win first title in 25 years

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP)—Argentinos Juniors clinched its first league title in 25 years, beating Huracan 2-1 on Sunday after goals from Juan Mercier and Facudo Coria.

Mercier opened the scoring for Argentinos in the 24th minute with a close-range header, and Facundo Coria grabbed the team’s second on a header 12 minutes from time.

The Buenos Aires club—the first professional club of Diego Maradona— finished the 19-game Clausura season on 41 points, one more than Estudiantes, which defeated Colon 4-1. Mauro Boselli scored a hat trick for Estudiantes.
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Argentinos had all the play in the first half with four clear chances in the first 10 minutes. The champions were less impressive in the second half, but finally broke through with a second goal. Huracan had two players sent off midway through the second half. Alan Sanchez scored for Huracan in the 88th with the club down to nine players.

The title is special for Argentinos Juniors’ popular coach, Claudio Borghi. Borghi played with Maradona in Argentina’s World Cup-winning team in 1986 and was a member of the Argentinos side in 1985—the last time the club won the league.

Borghi is the first person at the club to win titles as both a player and a coach.

“At first we came into the season trying not to be relegated,” Borghi said. “Now we are champions. We have to enjoy it all. I think all the players did an extraordinary job … I’m happy for the club, and today is a special day for me.”

This is the eighth different champion in the last eight seasons in Argentina. The two biggest clubs—Boca Juniors and River Plate—have each won once in that period.

The match was soiled at the end inside Huracan’s stadium when police needed to use a high-powered water hose to control angry young men, who attacked police and hurled objects at them and opposing players. At least one policeman was struck by his own nightstick after lost it in a run-in with hooligans.

Estudiantes played without its top player midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron, who was suspended for the match.

Estudiantes is still alive in the quarterfinals of the Copa Libertadores, the continental club champion. Estudiantes lost the first-leg quarterfinal last week 1-0 to Brazilian club Internacional. They play the second leg this week.

In other results in Argentina on Friday and Saturday in the final round of play: Arsenal 1, Godoy Cruz 2; San Lorenzo 2, Newell’s Old Boys 1; Banfield 3, Boca Juniors 0; Gimnasia 3, Atletico Tucuman 3; Chacarita 1, Racing Club 2; Independiente 1, Lanus 0; Rosario Central 0, Velez 0; River Plate 1, Tigre 5.

In Argentina, the two teams with the worst records over the last three years are demoted. River Plate will begin next season at the bottom of the relegation table and could face relegation at this time next season.

River, Boca Juniors and Independiente are the only three teams that have never been relegated to the second tier.

Brazil and Argentina promote tourism and trade in Qatar

“From 2003 to 2009, trade between Brazil and Qatar increased 580%. Our goal today is to make this great proximity with South America a reality also in the tourism sector,” said Luiz Barretto, the Brazilian minister of tourism.

“The introduction of the flight to Sao Paulo, which is the main financial and economic capital of Brazil, is a great opportunity for the establishment of a constant flow of tourists for leisure and business across our two continents”.

Leonardo Boto, Executive Manager, Argentina National Institute of Tourism Promotion highlighted that both Qatar and the Arab world in general shared a common bond with Argentina as a result of massive immigration south in the last century and encouraged the strengthening of the tie.

“We are familiar with the Arab culture, and now want you to make Argentina your home as many others from this region have. We welcome Qatar Airways and we will work to make the new connections, the new friendships and opportunities as successful as possible”.

During the workshop, presentations were made highlighting key attractions and unique opportunities available in Argentina and Brazil, including parks, sports, gourmet and culture.

Speaking to The Peninsula after the workshop, the Brazilian ambassador to Qatar, Anuar Nahes said: “We expect a great outcome from this new venture. Our country has a lot to offer and we hope that Qataris take this opportunity to visit Brazil”.

Judge closes Argentina minors' Facebook groups

BUENOS AIRES -- A judge in Argentina has ordered Facebook to close all groups set up by minors, after thousands of middle-schoolers used the social media website to organize an unauthorized day off school, a court source said Wednesday.

A ruling by judge Alfredo Dantiacq Sanchez in the western province of Mendoza ordered “the immediate closure of groups created or to be created by minors” which “promote truancy without the permission of their parents or the school system.”

About 11,000 middle school students heeded a call posted on Facebook to cut classes and get together in a town square.

Argentine rock star Gustavo Cerati is a natural wonder

Argentine Gustavo Cerati was an international rock star 15 years before the world heard of Shakira or Juanes. He started in 1982 as the charismatic frontman and songwriter for Soda Stereo, the revered Buenos Aires band widely credited with kicking off rock in Latin America. When Soda broke up in 1997, Cerati went on to a successful solo career.

Last fall, in the wake of Soda's multimillion-selling 2007 reunion tour, he came out with "Fuerza natural" (Natural Force), a reflective, moody, musically rich album that immediately topped Argentina's charts.

We talked with the Latin music idol, who was at home in Buenos Aires.

Q: Is "Fuerza natural" the most successful album you've had as a solo artist?

A: It's a kind of cliche to talk about the latest record as the best one. But the whole process of making this one made me very happy when I was finished. I think I've taken another step forward, and I feel more proud than of other things I've done ... There's a number of things in the themes, the sound and the influences that didn't come out so well in the stuff I did before.

Q: The videos for "Deja vu" and "El rapto" seem like scenes from a road movie. What was the inspiration?

A: One of the ideas we worked with when we were creating the songs was the idea of this trajectory, of moving through nature, going down a road, going from one place to another. There's a little bit of marketing there, saying that you're going to recapture a little of the romanticism of the '70s. The videos are a kind of road movie. It's weird because the story isn't all written yet. I still don't have a good idea of where I am, but I'm arriving somewhere. It's kind of like "Lost."

Q: Why do you think rock 'n' roll came out so strongly in Argentina, before the rest of Latin America?

A: When you talk about Argentina you have to remember that 50 percent of the population is concentrated in Buenos Aires, in a city. And we were in a city that was pretty European, that was looking out from Latin America. Also we had artists like Charly Garcia, Luis Alberto Spinetta, artists who were very much from here, with their own values, their own brilliance. Also, I think it's a kind of special flavor in the Argentine personality, which is pretty chaotic. We're bums. So it's perfect for rock music.

Q: It's a cliche that Argentines are arrogant - are they?

A: Arrogance is not an Argentine invention, that's for sure. The first time Soda Stereo went outside the country to play, we were in Venezuela, and a headline said "Argentine but Decent" and I said, "all right, I see." At the same time, in the last few years we've had so many problems, so much poverty, so much destruction, so much bad management and lack of faith, that when we Argentines look at ourselves we see ourselves suffering just like other countries. We can't be so arrogant anymore.

Q: You've been a star for a long time, first with Soda, and now as a soloist. Can you live a normal life? How do Argentines treat their stars?

A: I am dedicated to what I really like to do, so it doesn't make much difference there, mostly because it's a lot of work. I lose a lot of my private life. But I tell you, I go to the supermarket, I walk on the street. I can't go to places where there's a lot of people together. But I don't live a closed-off paranoid life of a rock star obsessed with his status.

Q: You started in your 20s. What is it like to be a rocker at 50?

A: The energy for me is very similar. I can still go like a kid. On the other hand, I'm 50. There are things that I have to be more careful about. But the benefits of this moment in my life have to do with playing, with seeing what's going on. Before I was like a bullet train. Now I see the big picture more. Also, I have a little more of a sense of humor than I used to have.

Seventh edition of the FIFA/CIES Programme in Argentina

The Universidad Católica Argentina (UCA) opened the seventh edition of the FIFA/CIES Programme in Sport Management in Buenos Aires last week. The 50 students – coming from Argentina, Equator, Panama, Peru, Colombia and Spain, and from various sporting horizons (football, athletics, rugby, basketball, boxing, tennis, grass hockey, taekwondo, physical education) – will attend classes in finance, marketing, sponsorship, law, event management, management and communication until next December.

“UCA had the pleasure to be the first to join the FIFA/CIES International University Network in 2004. At that time, we did not know whether this adventure would bear fruits” commented Dr José Claría, director of the Programme “Today, we are proud of having been pioneers! The Programme enjoys an excellent reputation in Argentina and in South America. The number of candidates is increasing year after year. The results are therefore very satisfactory.”

CIES took the opportunity to present its activities to the students. Moreover, Michael Boys, executive producer at the Chilean National TV Channel, concluded the opening ceremony by an interesting lecture on “television rights and sporting world”.

Travel Tips for Buenos Aires Traveler

Buenos Aires, the capital and largest city of Argentina is an exotic place and is a major tourist attraction for people all across the globe. It is one of the major tourist destinations in the world with millions of tourists visiting it throughout the year. If you also wish to see this beautiful place, then, it is advisable to take all the necessary guidance and travel tips.


The very first thing that worries a traveler is to select a nice and comfortable place to stay. You not only expect the place to be luxurious but also economical. When in Buenos Aires you have the luxury to select from many of the lavish hotels like Alvear 1891, Art Hotel, Art Suites, Ayacucho Palace Hotel, Bo Bo, Casa Esmeralda, Casa Monserrat, Castelar Hotel & Spa, Che Lulu Guesthouse, Dazzler Hotel and many other world class hotels. All these hotels offer quality services and the best of everything in hospitality, cuisine and services. Experience the true Buenos Aires culture with these hotels and you would surely enjoy your stay in the city. All these major hotels are world class and you would find them suitable as they range from hi-class to moderate and affordable ones too. Moreover, you can also enjoy your visit by planning your stay in any of the old converted mansions to give your trip a classic touch.


Planning a vacation at the right time is as important as anything else. Make sure you choose the right time for your trip to Buenos Aires. Plan your trip in either spring or fall as the period sees low tourist influx and is a perfect time to visit. You can also enjoy the festivals in Buenos Aires that are mainly celebrated in winters. October and November are also good for traveling as the time is characterized by pleasant weather.


Another tip that you would surely need is the knowledge of best eating joints and restaurants in Buenos Aires. After you explore the city and visit some of the most exciting places, a good meal would just act as icing on the cake. The city of Buenos Aires offers you amazingly delicious food at the most affordable prices. Check out the world famous coffee place Cafe Florida or El Britanico, enjoy the drinks at El Federal, or visit the local food vendors for the most delicious yet low priced special food.


While visiting the city of Buenos Aires, you must not forget to roam around the place with its bustling streets and grand avenues, sip around at the old-time cafes and stylish upscale restaurants. Wander through the cobbled streets which boast of architectural glories and metal houses or try to satisfy your taste buds with the hot favorite and most enjoyable and delicious Argentine steak. All in all, your trip to Buenos Aires would be all the more enjoyable with the best of tips from either your travel agent or any travel website sites. Enjoy your visit to the very beautiful city of Buenos Aires!

Buenos Aires, World’s Book Capital for 2011

At a meeting in Paris on 12 June 2009, the Jury of World Book Capital, a jury which includes IPA, IBF, IFLA and UNESCO, appointed Buenos Aires as World Book Capital 2011 for the quality and variety of its application file, widely and enthusiastically supported by all players involved in the book industry (publishers, bookstores and libraries). Last year, the same jury had appointed Ljubljana, Slovenia as World Book Capital 2010. As usual, the program will start on World Book & Copyright Day on 23 April 2011.

The current World Book Capital is Beirut, Lebanon.

Every year, UNESCO convenes delegates from the International Publishers Association, the International Booksellers Federation (IBF) and the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) to grant the title of UNESCO World Book Capital to one city.

The city may hold the title for one designated year, from 23 April (UNESCO World Book Day) until 22 April of the following year. During that year it undertakes to organise and run a larger number of events around books, literature and reading. The programme brings together the local and national book industries and puts books and book culture into the public eye. It attracts sponsorship and extra funding for book related institutions. The programme raises awareness for literacy and reading issues, libraries and books shops and highlights the overall benefits of a lively book culture. The title is also used to promote tourism and draw national and international attention to the literary heritage of a city and nation.

About UNESCO

Who we are: UNESCO has 193 Member States and seven Associate Member States. It is governed by the General Conference and the Executive Board. The Secretariat, headed by the Director-General, implements the decisions of these two bodies.

How we work: The General Conference establishes the Organization’s goals and priorities every two years and sets the budget. The Executive Board meets twice a year to follow programme implementation.

Where we are: UNESCO has its headquarters in Paris. It is housed in an outstanding, Modernist building inaugurated in 1958 and recently renovated. The Organization also has more than 50 field offices around the world.

World Book Capital cities

- Madrid (2001)
- Alexandria (2002)
- New Delhi (2003)
- Antwerp (2004)
- Montreal (2005)
- Turin (2006)
- Bogotá (2007)
- Amsterdam (2008)
- Beirut (2009)
- Ljubljana (2010)
- Buenos Aires (2011)
_________________________________
SOURCES:

“Buenos Aires to be World Book Capital 2011″
16 June 2009
IFLA Website
http://www.ifla.org
http://www.ifla.org/en/news/buenos-aires-to-be-world-book-capital-2011

“About us | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization”
http://www.unesco.org
http://www.unesco.org/new/en/unesco/about-us

Argentina Tour Operator Say Hueque Honors Country’s Bicentennial With 10 Percent Off on Any Trip Booked in May

BUENOS AIRES, May, 2010 -- Argentina celebrates its Bicentennial Year beginning May 25, 2010 - 200 years since the revolution that opened the way to independence. To commemorate this anniversary native tour operator Say Hueque is offering 10 percent off on all trip bookings made in May.

This company that specializes in soft adventure, wine tours, honeymoon travel and group departures to Argentina and Chile can make arrangement to enjoy the regon’s most popular sights and arrange accommodations ranging from luxurious boutique hotels to jungle lodges and alpine inns. It can accommodate requests for both private, custom-tailored excursions as well as pre-set tours. Its Special Highlights tours provide suggestions clients can follow while planning their own personalized itinerary. See:
(http://www.sayhueque.com/highlights_tours/highlights_tours.php)

Reporting on annual tourism trends, Say Hueque recently announced that honeymoon travel to Argentina and Chile showed a marked increase in 2009. Compared to the 2008 travel season, Say Hueque saw an increase of 35 percent in couple and honeymoon travellers to Argentina and neighbouring Chile.

Say Hueque adopted its name from the last tribal chief that surrendered to the Europeans in their conquest of the American lands, in 1885. The Great Cacique Say Hueque was the leader of a powerful tribe that occupied the region of central Patagonia. Their cultural influence is still very strong at some locations close to the Andes Range.

The “Revolution of May” was a historical process that resulted in the breaking of colonial ties with Spain in 1810 and enabled the inevitable road to political freedom. This struggle for independence eventually led to the Congress of Tucumán of July 9, 1816.

About Say Hueque
Founded in 1999, Say Hueque specializes in customized travel itineraries to the farthest corners of Argentina and Chile. Careful focus is placed on creating unique travel experiences that embrace local cultures and celebrate the natural wonders nature.

Based in Buenos Aires the Say Hueque staff is comprised of young, enthusiastic English-speaking professionals who share the passion of traveling as much their clients. With intimate experience and strong local connections they provide 24/7 assistance and support when traveling.

Popular destinations include Patagonia, Iguacu Falls, Buenos Aires, Mendoza, Atacama Desert, Uyuni Salt Flats and the Salta region as well as many other lesser known but equally captivating marvels. Say Hueque has been recommended by the world’s most popular travel guides such as Lonely Planet, Frommer’s, Footprints, and Time Out year after year. The company has partnerships with and membership in Sustainable Travel International (STI), the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA), ASTA and LATA.

www.AptsBuenosAires.com says farewell to Harvey after a 30 day stay.

We’re sorry to see our guests leave after a 30 day stay with us at our apartment. Harvey, hoping you’ve had a great time and thoroughly enjoyed the city. We look forward to having you as a return guest. Enjoy the last few days and stay in touch!!! I look forward to seeing your video testimonial.


Best,

Reuben Pacheco and Tim Jacobsen

Property Owners

www.AptsBuenosAires.com

Buenos Aires Festival and Dance World Cup

The Tango Championship changes its name every year - this year it is called Festival y Mundial 2010 which the organisers have translated as Buenos Aires Festival and Dance World Cup - and it's begun in Buenos Aires with the first rounds being held last Thursday at El Arranque. If you are interested check out the website.
There is no Australian competition this year so if you would like to compete you will have to go to Buenos Aires to enter. If you don't want to enter the Championship but would like to enjoy Buenos Aires when many of the best dancers from Argentina and around the world are in town, plus take advantage of the many free tango events - and make the most of the Aussie dollar while it is still 3 to the peso! then August is the time to be there.

Enjoy An Argentina Vacation To Buenos Aires And The Pampas

When you visit Buenos Aires as part of your Argentina vacation, you want to live as the rich do, and you should make sure that you will be pampered on this holiday of a lifetime. Your travel should be first class, with at least business class air travel, and your hotels should be the very best. Why settle for less in this fabulous city?Seek a vacation where you are the customer, not one of 49 others whose needs have also to be met. Have your own limousine, driven by your personal chauffeur or guide, and receive the personal attention that you deserve. That is the only proper way to explore and enjoy Buenos Aires, visit the pampas and try out some of Argentina\’s finest wines.Buenos Aires can be a boisterous city, but if you are fortunate enough to arrange a hotel in a quiet downtown neighborhood, such as Retiro that is close to the art galleries and antique shops, then you should be able to enjoy a peaceful night\’s sleep while still enjoying all that the city has to offer. Argentina is famed for its beef in all its forms, so unless you are vegetarian you must visit one of Buenos Aires\’ famous steak houses. This city is one to be enjoyed as you marvel at the opulence of some of the aristocratic buildings, or the local flavor of La Boca and San Telmo cobbled streets that are the home of the tango. Visit El Viejo Almacen, said to be the birthplace of the tango, which was consider unrespectable until adopted by the high society of Paris in the 1920s. Enjoy a traditional meal as you learn of its history and watch the tango dancers trying to out-dance each other. You can almost hear that pulsating beat as you pack your bags ready to be whisked off to the airport in your private car. Visit the high spots of the city and immerse yourself in its culture with your own private guide, learning how this great city, called the \’Paris of South America\’, was born from early Spanish settlers: in fact it was the home of most of the great Spanish explorers of the Americas. It\’s name means \’fair winds\’ or \’good air\’, a reference to the winds that led the Spanish ships to its shores on the south side of the great Rio de la Plata, or River Plate, down which the Graf Spee sailed in 1939 prior to being scuttled just outside Montevideo harbor. No Argentina vacation would be complete without a visit to the pampas. San Antonio de Areco is a typical gaucho town on the pampas, situated about 70 miles from Buenos Aires, and is where you can find out how these Argentinean \’cowboys\’ live their lives and produce the fabulous steaks that might grace your table this evening. Why not try some horse riding, or take it easier in a sulky. Head off for the Estancia La Bamba where you can enjoy a traditional barbecue over smoking embers along with some lovely Argentinean wine. Speaking of wine, the Mendoza Province is where most of Argentina\’s wine is grown. Argentina is the 5th largest wine producer in the world, and the first vine cuttings came here from Spain in 1557. Wine production has had its ups and downs over the years although is now firmly established. In spite of the Argentineans drinking around 90% of their own wines, it is still the 13th largest wine exporter in the world. Typical vineyards include that of Ruca Malen that can produce 300,000 bottles annually, and Argentina undisputedly produces the best Malbec in the world. Bodega Tapiz is a typical Malbec area as is the Alta Vista vineyard that also offers Malbec and a mixture with tempranillo: the Spanish influence again, tempranillo being the grape used for Rioja wines. Apart from the fabulous wines, Mendoza itself is worth a visit during your vacation in Argentina. This is an old city that has been expanding lately with the influx of tourists to the wine-growing area. Sitting on the eastern side of the Andes, Mendoza also produces olive oil. It was rebuilt after an 1861 earthquake that killed over 5,000 people. French director Jean-Jacques Annaud filmed Seven Years in Tibet here, practically rebuilding that city here in Mendoza. Argentina is a country redolent of the old Spanish colonial ways, and almost everything about its architecture is grand in style, similar to that of the great cities of Paris and Madrid. The music and the dances are pure Latin America, and an Argentine vacation will be something to remember forever. No vacation in Buenos Aires would be complete with watching the tango dancers compete with each other, or experiencing the fun of the carnivals, the fabulous food and the great wines. You will not be disappointed, particularly if you have the personal attention that makes a great vacation what it is.

Argentina says bond issue possible, depends on market By Reuters

BUENOS AIRES, May 11 (Reuters) - Argentina could still place a $1 billion global bond, depending on market conditions by the end of the week, Economy Minister Amado Boudou told a local radio station on Tuesday.

South America's No. 2 economy has been planning to issue a new bond parallel to an exchange of defaulted debt but wants to price the bond at a yield of less than 10 percent.

That pricing is seen difficult as the debt crisis in Europe has pushed investors toward less risky investments.

The possibility "is open, it will depend on market conditions by Friday," Boudou told Radio El Mundo in a telephone interview from New York, where he is promoting Argentina's debt swap offer.

Argentina has not tapped international debt markets to raise money for more than eight years, following a 2002 default on some $100 billion in debt.

It recently launched an offer of new bonds and cash to investors who still hold $18.3 billion in non-performing bonds. Most of the defaulted debt was tendered in a 2005 restructuring, but some investors held out and sued to try to recover the full face value of their bonds.

Argentine financial newspaper Ambito Financiero reported on Tuesday that Boudou will announce on Friday a delay in the issue of the $1 billion 2017 bond until market conditions are more favorable.

In April Argentina's country risk -- which measures the spread between benchmark bonds and comparable U.S. Treasuries -- dropped below 600 basis points in anticipation of the swap. But the spread widened again and stood at 748 basis points on Tuesday morning 11EMJ.

Institutional investors have until Wednesday to enter the swap without being penalized, and Argentina is scheduled to announce their participation rate on Monday. Retail investors have until June 7 to enter the exchange.

Although Argentina's budget is tight as the government raises social spending in a pre-election year, economists say it can meet rising debt obligations because it has tapped Central Bank reserves. (Reporting by Guido Nejamkis; Writing by Fiona Ortiz; Editing by Padraic Cassidy)

Carnivorous Dinosaur Fossils Found in Argentina

BUENOS AIRES – A team of Argentine and Canadian scientists this month in the southern province of Neuquen found the fossilized remains of a carnivorous dinosaur, authorities said Tuesday.

The team members – from the town museum in Las Lajas and Canada’s University of Alberta – found fossilized bones belonging to a group of so-called saurischian (“lizard-hipped”) dinosaurs in a spot near the town, which is 1,300 kilometers (about 800 miles) south of Buenos Aires.

The saurischian dinosaurs, which grew to as much as 4 meters (17 feet) in length and 2 meters (6.5 feet) in height, were carnivorous and bipedal.

Argentina’s Patagonia, where Neuquen province is located, in recent years has become a focal point for finding the fossilized skeletons of animals that lived millions of years ago, many of which are found in different areas and which – therefore – are thought to have traversed the region.

Last December, a group of Argentine experts, also in Neuquen, discovered a paleological site where they found dinosaur fossils dated to 130 million years ago.

Che Guevara's daughter wins Argentine citizenship

A daughter of famed revolutionary Ernesto "Che" Guevara has become an Argentine citizen after decades of living in Cuba , an Argentine official said Tuesday.

The news that Celia Guevara March , 44, had obtained Argentine citizenship last January sparked speculation that she and other members of her family had begun making plans to leave the island nation after Cuban leader Fidel Castro fell ill last July.

Eduardo Gomez , a spokesman for the Argentine Embassy in Havana , said that Guevara March, the third oldest of the Argentine-born revolutionary's four surviving children, applied for Argentine citizenship in December. She took the Argentine citizenship oath the following month but has kept her Cuban passport, Gomez said.

Many Cubans with ties to the Castro regime have made contingency plans for leaving the country after the longtime leader dies, said Jorge Pinon , a senior researcher with the Institute for Cuban and Cuban-American Studies at the University of Miami .

Castro hasn't been seen in public for more than a year and didn't appear at celebrations marking his 81st birthday Monday. Castro reportedly is suffering from diverticulitis, an ailment of the intestines, and has handed over power to his younger brother, Raul.

Guevara March, a marine biologist, is known as the most private of the Guevara clan and a loyal Castro follower.

"In totalitarian regimes, most everyone associated with that regime has some sort of exit strategy in case the regime changes and all economic livelihood disappears," Pinon said.

Juan Martin Guevara , one of Ernesto Guevara's brothers, said he didn't believe his niece was planning to leave Cuba .

"This is a personal matter, not a political one," Guevara said by telephone from the Argentine capital of Buenos Aires . "Whatever her reasons, it's to improve her own life and not a reflection on what's going on in Cuba ."

According to the Argentine newspaper Clarin, which first reported Guevara March's citizenship status on Sunday, Guevara March told consular officials she was applying for Argentine citizenship so that her two sons could avoid the bureaucratic hassles of traveling with Cuban passports. She also reportedly said she had no plans to leave the communist nation.

An Argentine diplomat, who asked not to be named because of the sensitivity of the topic, said Guevara March hadn't mentioned her children as the reason for applying for Argentine citizenship. He confirmed that Guevara March said she had no plans to leave Cuba .

Argentine law lets children of Argentines apply for the country's citizenship, regardless of where they were born. But the diplomat said Guevara March's children wouldn't qualify for citizenship because she isn't a native-born Argentine and they don't live in Argentina .

Guevara March was born in Cuba in 1963 to Ernesto Guevara's second wife, Aleida March . Bolivian troops killed Guevara four years later during his failed effort to spark a revolution there.

All of Guevara's surviving children were born in Cuba and still live there, said Ada Ventre , a spokeswoman for the "Che" Guevara Museum in his childhood hometown of Alta Gracia , Argentina .

Guevara's first child, born to Peruvian economist Hilda Gadea in Mexico in 1956, died in 1995.

Guevara joined Castro's movement in 1956 when the future Cuban leader was still in exile in Mexico and fought alongside Castro throughout his insurgency. After the 1959 revolution, Guevara lived in Cuba until 1965, when he left to lead unsuccessful insurgencies in the Congo and Bolivia .

MLS hopefuls believe in the 'dream'

CARSON, Calif. -- It's all about dreams, and the 15 young men who have gathered this week at the Home Depot Center don't need to look far to find others just like themselves who held the same dreams and saw them realized beyond all expectation.

There's Jorge Flores, the Chivas USA winger from Anaheim. And there's Gabriel Funes, who is making his mark at Buenos Aires giant River Plate.

The fourth edition of Sueño MLS, Major League Soccer's annual search for Latino talent, hits the finish line Sunday when, on Univision's "Republica Deportivo" television program, one player will be invited to join an MLS club's "academy" program. From there, anything is possible.

Just ask Flores.

He was just 17 when he won the first competition in 2007, and he was with the big club -- the team that plays in MLS -- just a year later.

Jorge Flores, of Chivas USA, was the first winner of Sueño MLS in 2007 and is now a member of the team's main roster.

"I always wanted to be a professional player, but I knew in the U.S. a lot of players go to a university [before they turn pro]," Flores says. "I was hoping to go to college, but this opportunity came out, and it worked out good."

"Sueño" means "dream" in Spanish, and the 15 finalists -- five each from tryouts organized by the Galaxy, Chicago Fire and Houston Dynamo -- dream of becoming the next Jorge Flores, but the competition among them requires that they work together. MLS Technical Director Alfonso Mondelo, along with former U.S. national team star Marcelo Balboa and Peruvian legend Teofilo Cubillas, has organized them into a team, and they're being assessed in games against "academy" teams from the Galaxy and Chivas USA and in training.

The Galaxy quintet includes three players from Greater L.A.:

• Javier Castro, 18, of Pomona, a Guadalajara-born target forward who plays "academy" soccer for Temecula's mighty Arsenal FC.

• Victor Jimenez, 16, of Anaheim, a winger who has starred for Savanna High School and in Sunday-league soccer but could never afford to play club ball.

• Jonathan Navas, 18, from Los Angeles' Mid-City district, a Salvadoran immigrant who arrived in L.A. two years ago and plays primarily in Sunday adult leagues.

All of them impressed scouts with their technical ability, understanding of the game and passion for the sport during two-day tryouts last month in Glendale and a week playing with the Galaxy's "academy" teams.

"We're looking for a kid that can maybe step up and play in an 'academy' team, that has a future possibly in MLS," says Balboa, a National Soccer Hall of Fame inductee and three-time World Cup defender from Cerritos. "A kid that's got heart -- I think that's most important, [that] he's got passion. And everything else falls along with it: the technical ability, the ability to read the game.

"You can see these kids are very technical. Now it's about who can handle the pressure in front of the coaches, because it's a contest, and all these kids know it. It's about who can handle the nerves, and not always the best players can."

MLS Sueno
Scott FrenchMLS Technical Director Alfonso Mondelo, top left, and former U.S. defender Marcelo Balboa, top right, have helped organize a team of 15 players for "Sueño MLS."

It is a contest, very much so. Univision -- KMEX/Channel 34 in Los Angeles -- presents it as a "reality" show weekly on "Republica Deportivo." That adds to the pressure on the players, and those determining the winner are aware of that.

"It's difficult for the kids," says Mondelo, a Spanish-born coach who has been in charge of two MLS teams and was an assistant to Bruce Arena during his tenure as U.S. national team coach. "They're a little nervous, a little apprehensive -- there's a lot of excitement building up to this event. ... [You want to see] who's going to rise to the top, who's going to be able to handle this pressure and show his ability."

Flores did well with the pressure, and his performance led him to the U.S. under-20 national team and in 2008 a roster spot with Chivas.

"I couldn't believe it," he said. "That's what I wanted, and I had it. I was very happy."

Funes, the son of former Argentine pro Miguel Funes, won a chance in 2008 to play in FC Dallas' system, but he returned home to Buenos Aires and has quickly risen in one of South America's most storied clubs.

Finding another Flores or Funes is unlikely, but Balboa notes that two of the four past winners have quickly become pros. Playing "academy" soccer in U.S. Soccer's Development Academy, which has transformed player development in youth clubs since its 2007 formation, is one path to the pros.

"To find a guy who can just come in and make an impact at the professional level is not easy," Mondelo says. "There are those players with rare talent who can come in and make it, so you look for that. You hope this program gives these kids an opportunity they wouldn't have otherwise, that they've never had before. And a chance to expose themselves, and if they do have talent, that's what we're looking for."

What advice would Flores give the finalists?

"This is a big opportunity to get a contract," he says. "A lot of kids would want this opportunity, so make sure you take advantage. Just work hard and play your best."