[Photo Credit: jmpznz, under this CC licence]

Costanera Sur – a quiet nature reserve just a stone’s throw from the city

The hustle and bustle of the Microcentro are lost in the cooling mood of the only ecological reserve in the city, the Reserva Ecologica Costanera Sur. A stone’s throw away from the trendy, modern Puerto Madero and you find yourself walking along the park’s boardwalk littered with nuzzling couples, parrillas, and more pigeons than you can throw a stick at.

The Costanera Sur’s walkway borders the front of the reserve and from there you can see the greater landscape that opens up into the park. The boardwalk itself is entertaining, with beautiful architecture and sculptures, casual eateries and dozens of pickup games of futbol. Your initial examination of the swampy marshland is only an introduction to the many more birds and interesting views that await you upon entering.

A microcosm of Buenos Aires charm on the Costanera Sur boardwalk

While I am usually a big advocate for close examinations, perhaps looking too closely at the first portion of the park would be a mistake. Due to the popularity of the walkway, and the dozens of adolescents and passersby, more than a few empty bottles and wrappers have been thrown all over the small concrete divider. The view from inside the park provides a much cleaner atmosphere, though the boardwalk itself should not be eschewed…

The culture that cumulates here daily is a microcosm of what makes Buenos Aires so charming. In fact, the history of the reserve owes much of its existence to leftovers. During its construction in the mid-20th century, remnants of demolished buildings and construction debris were discarded into the Rio de la Plata. Gradually the debris, mixed with sand from the river began to create the marshy foundation for what is now the reserve. Soon, the plants began to grow, and not long after the birds followed. The ecological park is the result of this interesting history, and a great location for observing that fascinating border where city and country convene.

[Photo Credit: jmpznz, under this CC licence]

Rent a bike to help explore the nature reserve

The park has two entrances. The main entrance is located on the southern side of the boardwalk and is an excellent place to rent a bicycle for the afternoon. 6 pesos will buy you an hour if you choose to explore the park from a biker’s point of view. This isn’t a bad way to go if you want to maximize your time bouncing around from view to view.

The entire walk around the reserve will take you more than an hour and that’s without stopping to peer through the reeds and to try and identify birds. The reserve offers several viewpoint stops that allow you a moment to pull out your binoculars and scan over the marshes that navigate through the wetlands. If you forget to bring your own, fifty centavos will allow you a peek through the public binoculars that are placed along decks that skirt out over the marshlands.

Spectacular views with interesting backdrops

The views in the reserve are spectacularly endless. From the parks entrance a quick look back gives you a different view of the boardwalk with the city stretching up behind it. Wandering through the dirt laid paths are benches that offer a brief rest while you take in the quiet escape you’ve earned from your walk.

Perhaps most breathtaking are the views on the eastern side of the park. The Rio de la Plata borders this edge of the reserve and boats can be seen sailing in the distance. The air here is cooler and cleaner than in the busy city and the grassy areas for sitting are a great place to settle down for a relaxing view…

[Photo Credit: jmpznz, under this CC licence]

This side of the reserve not only boasts amazing views of the river, but one of the best of the city. As you’ve chosen an afternoon away from the crazy downtown streets, it’s more than rewarding to see the city settled in the distance among a foreground of reeds and cattails.

Hide away from busy Buenos Aires down by the river

If you’ve entered the park from the south your walk continues past more scenes of the city and river. The river offers a true boardwalk where with some innovation and a keen eye you can find the entrance from inside the reserve and walk out along the river. On a hot day, or if you’re looking for a truer sense of solitude, this is one of the best hiding places in the city.

A closer look at the passing barges and water below will bring you even further away from the demanding pace of downtown. The northern side of the park offers many other surprises for those with a sharp eye. If you’re riding your rented bicycle too fast you may miss the small veterinary clinic and adoption center at the northern entrance of the park. Designed to offer veterinary assistance to the many birds that inhabit the reserve, you can see hawks and larger birds of prey that may usually be flying too high overhead for such a close examination. The small building also houses some wayward dogs that are now up for adoption; probably a better bet if you’re a Buenos Aires inhabitant rather than a traveler.

The end of a relaxing day at the Costanera Sur, Buenos Aires

From here, you’ve almost completed your circle. Your choices of return are to take the northern exit and walk back using the footpath, stopping for any number of snacks along the way (sure to be meat). Or, heading back from inside the park instead gives you a chance to prolong your afternoon oasis and take in more of the reserve.

When you do in fact decide to head on out of the nature reserve, Puerto Madero and the water diques are your transition home. You’ve probably found yourself hours later and the countless restaurants and bars located here are a perfect way to end your afternoon, or begin your evening. Whether you’re a Buenos Aires native or first time visitor, the Reserva Ecologica Costanera Sur is an ideal way to escape from the city without the headache of organizing day trips or the burden of their cost. Whether you’re a country mouse stuck in the city, or simply looking for an afternoon off, put this attraction near the top of your list.

I guess I’ve always been something of a hostel person. Not out of choice mind you – if my economic situation had been rosier over the years, I’m sure I would have been living it up in the odd luxury, design, or boutique hotel now and again.

These days, my financial situation is little different, and still I wouldn’t be able afford to stay in such hotels. However, my current job as an independent tour guide here in Buenos Aires presents me with a glimpse over the other side of the fence, giving me a taste for the good stuff – so close, and yet so far.

However, as a tour guide, I also have to be quite resourceful on occasion. And so I have been able to come up with a few ways to enjoy the most wonderful, expensive Buenos Aires Hotels, but on a budget. Read on for my top five suggestions.

Top Five Hotels in Buenos Aires

5. Caesar Park Hotel, Recoleta

A solid luxury hotel in Recoleta, with fantastic interior design, service and location (right across from the upmarket Patio Bullrich mall). Costs around US$270 a night, which is approximately US$250 over my usual budget

So, how to experience this hotel without paying a dime? Just walk in the lobby and do your most confident impression of a paying hotel guest. Take the elevator up to the 17th floor, and take in the wonderful view of the Rio de la Plata, seeing right the way over to Uruguay on a good day. Exit soon after, before security come and give you the privilege of a personal escort out of the building

4. Bo Bo Hotel, Palermo Soho

One of the most coveted boutique hotels in Palermo Soho, the sub-barrio where boutique hotels seem to be popping up every week. The design is cool, modern, fun and ever so slightly pretentious, as you would expect from a place where the name stands for bourgeois bohemian. They even have themed rooms, ranging from Pop to Techno to Art Deco. And if that isn’t enough, the staff and restaurant also both get rave reviews. Rates are actually fairly reasonable, at about US$135 per night.

But you don’t want to pay that! Make do with a trip to the restaurant and a quick scan around the stylish hotel interior. To experience their eclectic international cuisine should set you back less than 50 pesos a head, and although the servings are fashionably small, they are still quite delicious, and you’ll get all of the bourgeois bohemian experience for a fraction of the price of a night in their hotel.

3. The Hotel Alvear, Recoleta

If you are a head of state, diplomat or just plain rolling in old money, this is the place to stay in Buenos Aires. Faultless old world style and service, the most desirable location on the most upscale avenue in the city (they even share the same name), and quite frankly, effortlessly the most classically beautiful hotel lobby, bar, cafe and restaurant in town. However, you’ll need to be rolling in old money to stay here – it’s probably going to set you back over US$400 a night!

For the rest of us mere mortals, the Alvear offers an alternative – and something of an institution for in the know visitors to Buenos Aires. Well, at least those that are in to tea and cake. For 55 pesos a head, you can indulge in an afternoon high tea at the Alvear’s beautifully appointed L’Orangerie cafe, and pretend you are rich for a few sweet, sweet moments, accompanied by a few sweet, sweet cakes and pastries. Just make sure you dress the part.

2. The Faena Hotel + Universe, Puerto Madero

The most fantastical hotel in Buenos Aires, fresh from the warped mind of designer Phillipe Starck, and the straining ego of Argentine entrepreneur Alan Faena. A potent combination, heightened by your own personal ‘experience manager’, there to respond to your every whim, as you create your own mini-universe within the swish former docklands of Puerto Madero. But don’t lose yourself quite yet… there’s the small matter of a US$400 per night bill to address at some point in time!

Fret not, for there is another way for the canny budget traveler like yourself to experience this hotel. Cocktails at the Faena’s “Library Lounge” (down the corridor on the right, just after the outdoor pool), complete with film set surroundings and kitsch mounted deer heads on the walls, should set you back about 30 pesos a go. Just make sure you check out the enchanting entrance corridor and toilets while you’re there (yes, even the toilets are out of this world at the Faena).

1. The Four Seasons ‘La Mansion’, Recoleta

This cute little mansion in the grounds of the Four Seasons hotel (see first picture at top of this post) is so expensive that only world famous rock and pop stars like U2, the Rolling Stones and Madonna can afford to stay there. And that must mean it’s great, right? Well, my economic situation means I can’t realistically confirm that, but the building certainly is a cut above most hotels – a wonderful turn of the 20th century French mansion house that looks plucked from the Loire valley. Let’s just hope the latest rock star in residence hasn’t thrown all the wide screen TVs out of the window

Let’s not even mention a nightly price for this place, and go straight to the ‘budget’ option. Sunday brunch downstairs at the Four Season’s La Mansion is a great chance to take in the full mansion house experience, while gorging yourself on the best breakfast in BA. OK, so it’ll set you back 125 pesos per person, but trust me, you’ll feel like a rock star throughout, and for a good while afterwards. Well, more accurately, you’ll feel a rock star does at breakfast, but we all have to start somewhere, I guess

In it for the money?

The reason I’ve come over all ‘top 5′ in this post is so as to enter a spiffing contest set up by problogger, one of my daily reads. And this isn’t any old blog contest – if chosen I could win a prize of US$1001 (!), which I promise, in the unlikely event of me winning, to partly invest in a night at one of the five hotels above, to see how the other side really do live, sin budget. In fact, I’ll take votes in the comments below for which hotel you think I should book and why, if I win, so please do make your suggestions in the comments section below.

And if I don’t win, maybe there is a kind manager at one of the above fine establishments who would like to offer me a free night of hotel accommodation (in return for a blog review here, of course)… pleeeeeaaaaassseeeeee???

Here’s hoping…

[PS - More pictures and hotel details to come to this post in an imminent update, when I get time]

Sorry for missing a week folks. Without wanting to go into the details, it’s been a crazy and stressful time. Anyway, on with the show we go, with my picks from the Buenos Aires blogosphere from the last two weeks, and I’m going to to try and keep my usually meandering descriptions quite brief this time round…

My favorite Buenos Aires blog posts from the past 2 weeks

• Tango Cherie made an interesting post on the subject of tango ‘taxi dancers’
• Nathan from Trip Trap notices some funny goings on in the Buenos Aires section of Craigslist
• Robert’s map of Recoleta Cemetery is ready, and it looks beautiful
  

Things to see and do in Buenos Aires

• David Schneer goes in search of the Jewish underground in Buenos Aires (a series of posts, see links at top of the page)
• Saltshaker had an enjoyable and cheap day out at the races, at Palermo Hipodromo, a place that I also reviewed a while back on this blog: Palermo Hipodromo, Buenos Aires
• Highlights from Karine’s daily photos over the past couple of weeks includes a picture of the 15 year commemoration of the 1992 Israeli Embassy attack, and on a lighter note, one of the statue of General Alvear in Plaza Francia, Recoleta, and a nice aerial shot of the Retiro train station – I guess taken from the torre de los ingleses?
• Argentina’s Travel Guide covered a couple of popular tourist destinations in Buenos Aires… the Casa Rosada in Plaza de Mayo, and El Tigre, up on the delta to the north of the city

Buenos Aires news, info & general comments

• Argentina’s Travel Guide has some useful advice on how to get packages that are sent to you in Buenos Aires
• Disco Shawn reports on the recent ATM withdrawal problems for foreigners in Buenos Aires
• Will Bonner discovers that film director Francis Ford Coppola has just bought a petit hotel in Palermo Soho, Buenos Aires, to stay in when he works on an upcoming film in Argentina.. which On the Road Travel says will be called Tetro and filmed in Buenos Aires
• Yanqui Mike marks the 25th anniversary of the unfortunate Malvinas conflict with an overview of the history of the Malvinas islands
• Buenos Aires Spotting posts about some interesting underground street art viral marketing by the SUBA clothes brand in Buenos Aires
• Greek in Argentina notes that Buenos Aires came in at number 13 on a list of the wealthiest cities in the world, followed by some interesting discussion that continues on into a lively comments section

Buenos Aires restaurants, food and drink

• Robert posts up more reviews of wines available in Buenos Aires in Divino Vino #10, this time with more misses than hits
• Miriam makes some interesting comments about Dining Out in Buenos Aires in her blog, ‘South for the Winter’
• Argentina’s Travel Guide reviews an ‘all you can eat’ (tenedor libre) restaurant, Gourmet Porteño, in Puerto Madero, and Katmandu, an Indian restaurant in Almagro
  
• Saltshaker reviews Barbacoa parrilla and Caballito pizzeria, both in Barrio Norte, followed up by a trio of short Buenos Aires restaurant reviews in one blog post
• Ken posts about our beer tasting visit to Antares in Palermo (including pictures of both of us in silly hats), which I swiftly followed with a review of my own: Antares Pub, Buenos Aires – and Ken also posted his thoughts on tipping in Buenos Aires

Funny or Odd Stuff in Buenos Aires

• Diva returns to form with posts suggesting that virginity is a scarce commodity in Buenos Aires and her thoughts on Catholicism in Argentina
• Ken notes that the fairly regular lack of customer service in Buenos Aires can feel quite odd to us extranjeros, and also rounds up some interesting signs he has seen around the city
• Nathan from Trip Trap has some interesting stories from the supermarkets of Buenos Aires

Thanks for reading everyone!

Well, here we are at week number 13 of my (late as usual) Buenos Aires blog roundup. 13, lucky for some? Well, if you like blogs and Buenos Aires, this may indeed be your lucky day! I can’t believe it’s been a quarter of a year already since I started to write these roundups. I guess time flies when you are reading blogs all the time rather than doing any real work…

Buenos Aires Blog Posts of the Week

• He doesn’t post very often these days (I know – pot… kettle… black), but when El Expatriado springs into action, you sure know you will be in for some interesting and/or useful reading. And very useful indeed (for those laptop users among us) is this list of free Wi-Fi hotspots in Buenos Aires
• Yanqui Mike put in a sterling effort with his post commemorating the 150th anniversary of the death of Almirante Guillermo Brown (Bill to his mates) this Saturday, which saw a contingent come from County Mayo in the Republic of Ireland to lay wreaths on his grave in Recoleta cemetery (you can’t miss Brown’s, it’s the big Irish-green column with a ship on top). I would have liked to be there, as not only is Brown also one of my favorite figures in Argentine history (see Mike’s post to understand why), but also my mum is from that part of Ireland, and I spent a good few summer holidays growing up in and around Mayo… so I guess I feel an extra association with Brown… not that I’m thinking of running off and founding another country’s navy any time soon
• Robert proves that around every corner in Buenos Aires there are still interesting discoveries to be made. This time he made a visit to the Iglesia de San Juan Bautista, just off Av. de Mayo, and happened upon a beautiful cloister where soldiers from both sides were buried during the (unsuccessful) British invasions of Buenos Aires during 1806 and 1807. Shame the church authorities wouldn’t let him in to take some better pics

Things to See and Do in Buenos Aires

• Robert also posted some more, very different discoveries in his 36th (count ‘em!) roundup of the weird and wonderful stencil graffiti around Buenos Aires. Also, Disco Shawn (stencils) and Mark DeLoura (freehand) joined in on the BA graffiti act (not literally, I guess… although this is in the things to see AND do section!) in their respective blogs this week
• Diva suggests we take an economically priced tour (AR$0.80) on the number 24 bus. I’ve always preferred the 29 myself, when it comes to sheer numbers of standard Buenos Aires sightseeing attractions And Jeff Barry, well he likes to get adventurous on the 39, going through the colorful barrio of Constitución
• One Argentina Travel blog writer has been relaxing in the Japanese Gardens of Palermo, a haven of Zen tranquility in the middle of crazy Buenos Aires City, something I’m quite partial to myself, as you can see in my previous post about Buenos Aires’ Jardin Japones
• And after re-charging their batteries, the Argentina Travel blog then went on a shopping spree along Av. Santa Fe, one of the best streets for shopping in Buenos Aires, where some bargains are to be found
• Karine has a nice post about Buenos Aires Zoo in Palermo, with lots of lovely cute animal photos

Buenos Aires Info, News & General Comments

• The Greek in Argentina penned an interesting blog post to help with understanding Buenos Aires women, with a nod to Christina Kirchner who may well be the next president of Argentina, following on from her husband Nestor, just as Isabel Peron did when she became the first female head of state in the western hemisphere back in 1974, after the death of her husband Juan (he of the rather famous earlier wife, Evita). Nestor, if you’re thinking what I am, I hope for your sake that lightning doesn’t strike twice!
• In other news, last week it rained like crazy, and Diva explains how this brings out the worst in some Buenos Aires residents

Buenos Aires Restaurants, Food & Drink

• Saltshaker is more than making up for lost time after his time apart from the Buenos Aires restaurant scene, this week giving his expert review treatment to Sette Bacco, a good, romantic, upscale Italian restaurant in Recoleta, Chan Chan, a decent Peruvian restaurant in Congreso, and finally the Recoleta outlet of Romario, a pretty good Pizza chain which has a few restaurants around Buenos Aires
• I also got in on the Pizza reviewing act (again!), this time with my thoughts on the fantastic pizza a la parrilla (a thin crust pizza cooked over a grill) on offer at Morelia in Palermo Hollywood
• Often mentioned as one of the best places to eat steak in the whole world, Cabaña Las Lilas also happens to be one of the most expensive places to eat steak in Buenos Aires, and therefore way outside of my meager review budget. Luckily, for you the inquiring reader, somebody over at Argentina’s Travel Blog had the cash to flash at this fancy Puerto Madero Steakhouse. And yes, I’m jealous!
• There are of course, many cheaper food options available in Buenos Aires. And as Ken kindly points out, almost everywhere delivers here
• Back to Saltshaker again – Dan has put together a useful Spanish to English food dictionary in eBook format, at a bargain price of US$10, which is bound to come in useful for visitors to Buenos Aires trying to get their heads round the menus here for the first time

Funny or Odd Stuff in Buenos Aires

• When it comes to driving, porteños are downright weird, fast and crazy. Ken has some words on the subject, in his paean to porteños behind the wheel. Just make sure you are careful crossing the road when in Buenos Aires, folks!
• And Ken has also vowed to take his camera with him wherever he goes in Buenos Aires from now, because you never know when something crazy is going to happen here, like a sidewalk collapsing and almost swallowing up a news-stand. Just another day in Buenos Aires!

That’s your lot for this week. Some great posts there to keep you reading for a while. I’m going for a lie down… well-earned I think!

Sorry I’m late with the Buenos Aires blog roundup this week guys… I have been busy as usual, and at the weekend wrote what would have been one of my best blog posts of all time (seriously!), only for my PC to crash just before I clicked publish, losing the whole thing! I was so annoyed that I couldn’t bring myself to try posting something again until now… that will learn me for not updating to the new version of WordPress (my blogging software), which apparently has an auto-save feature. Silly me.

Anyway, onto the blog roundup, which this week inaugurates a new feature… a section for my most favorite posts of the week!

Buenos Aires Blog Posts of the Week

• I just loved Ken’s description of the dog walkers in Buenos Aires and the accompanying picture, though not quite as much as I love to see the dog walkers with their huge packs of mutts each morning as I walk to catch the bus to work
• I always like a good post about the prevalence of mullets in Buenos Aires. And Isabelle Lagarde’s blog entry in this field certainly doesn’t disappoint
• OK, so Buenos Aires isn’t Paris. But it does have some lovely Parisian-esque domes, which came into Robert’s ‘Line of Sight’ this week. I hope he didn’t get a crick in his neck…

Things to See and Do in Buenos Aires

• My favorite pictures from Karine this week were of colorful Caminito with La Boca’s symbolic old transporter bridge hiding away in the back, an amazing traffic jam on Av. 9 de Julio, the widest avenue in the world, a shot of the idyllic Palermo parks, and a nice collection of riverside Puerto Madero pictures, from the newest, and most expensive, barrio in Buenos Aires
• Being a lazy so and so, it certainly isn’t on my list of things to do in Buenos Aires, but the Argentina Travel blog wrote a post on where to run in Buenos Aires, for those who are that way inclined. Suitably, in this sweltering weather, the post was soon followed by advice on how to escape the Buenos Aires heat. At this time of year, I would certainly recommend the latter over the former
• Riding the bus in Buenos Aires, when it’s not too busy, is something I usually enjoy doing. Jeff evidently thinks so too, at least enough to start a blog post series called “On the Bus in Buenos Aires“
• Tango Cherie has a tip for those thinking of taking Tango classes in Buenos Aires: remember that you get what you pay for with Tango classes, as in most of life
• Ken has a nice post on the pedestrian shopping street Florida, where you can buy tacky Buenos Aires fridge magnets to your heart’s content

Buenos Aires Info, News and General Comments

• Karine notes that an International Living survey and article has rated Argentina in the top ten countries of the world to live in. Yet more good press for Argentina!
• Deby from Tango Spam provides some interesting food for thought for those thinking about coming to BA for good with her three post series entitled “Why do you want to live here?” Here is Part 2 and Part 3
• Apparently, Palermo Viejo is up there with the likes of Milan for fashion these days
• Diva gets a link to her blog from the official city of Buenos Aires government blog. I make my plea to them now: please link to me too! I would do a little dance…
• There is a new Buenos Aires blogger in town, with a great/lame (delete as appropriate) name to boot: Disco Shawn. He thinks that Buenos Aires is getting a little too over hyped, and I agree to an extent, though personally I always like to see BA getting good press, even if it is not giving a 100% true picture of the city

Buenos Aires Restaurants, Food and Drink

• The Argentina Travel Blog has two good restaurant reviews this week, of Business – Sushi Libre, a pretty good all you can eat Sushi establishment in Recoleta, and Manos Costumbristas, a place for simple Tucuman province food near the Microcentro, which sounds quite interesting in that they only have two things on the menu – empanadas and tamales, and apparently they have proper hot sauce too – a valuable commodity for expats in Buenos Aires
• Fernet Branca. Try it when you’re in Buenos Aires, if you dare. And yes, that’s me in the comments section saying that Fernet ‘tastes of Catholicism’. It does!

Funny or Odd Things in Buenos Aires

• ArJewTino has some fun putting last week’s Clarin story about Buenos Aires bloggers through the misfiring Babel Fish online translator. Although now he has me wondering too… maybe Ian of Goodairs really does talk like that?
• Diva writes in her usual irreverent style about the tourist dress code in Buenos Aires
• This strikes me as quite odd, but interesting all the same: the Buenos Aires Subte is holding a love letter contest, as noted by Maya of the Sexy Spanish Club.

Thanks again to my readers for reading and the other Buenos Aires bloggers for their continued hard blogging – without you, I would be nothing. Or at least this blog roundup post would be.

[22nd - 28th January 2007]

Well, it’s been quite a busy week here in Buenos Aires blogland. Firstly, my blog now has a new name, with the word ‘Argentina’ replacing the redundant ‘Travel’. This has already seen a marked increase in people finding the site by searching “Buenos Aires, Argentina”, so it wasn’t such a bad decision after all

Secondly, quite a few of us Buenos Aires bloggers only went and got mentioned in Clarin, the main daily newspaper here in BA. But more of that to come in the roundup, so on with the show…

Things to See and Do in Buenos Aires

• As I seem to keep saying every week, Karine has once again posted some excellent photos of Buenos Aires landmarks, including Plaza Congreso, with a view of the lovely twin red domes of the La Inmobiliaria building & the exquisite Palacio Barolo beyond them, a quaint little antiques shop in San Telmo, some of the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo doing their thing in the plaza, the spooky old University of Engineering building in Recoleta (just round the corner from my new apartment!), and in Buenos Aires Province, some crazy pictures of the packed beaches at Mar del Plata – so that’s where all the people in the city disappeared to this month!
• Argentina’s Travel Blog sends one of it’s legion of writers to investigate the many Lakes and Parks of Palermo
• Ken goes shopping in Once, which is recommended if, like me (and I guess Ken too!), your clothing purchase decisions are based more on necessity and price than style or fashion!
• I got off my arse and wrote a little something about the beautiful San Pedro Gonzalez Telmo Church in, you guessed it, the barrio of San Telmo

Buenos Aires Info, News and General Comments

• Quite a few of us Buenos Aires bloggers got mentioned in Clarin this week! And we got really quite excited about it! And who can blame us?
• Maya picks up on the news that there is a new environmentally friendly light rail train running along a stretch of Buenos Aires’ newest barrio, Puerto Madero. I’ll have to go and check that out soon…
• It wasn’t actually in a blog, but I found this interesting article from Conde Nast Traveler about the new, non-traditional, creative Buenos Aires that is attracting visitors not just in search of tango, steak and gauchos…

Buenos Aires Restaurants, Food and Drink

• Oliver Hartman of Argentina’s Travel Blog continues his recent trend of alcoholic reviewing tendencies, this week stumbling around Palermo to take in the off-the-beaten-track bar Kim y Novak, and the more well-known pulling (in terms of both draft beer and people) spot, Unico bar. And I also joined in the Palermo-based alcohol-related fun by posting up a review of Acabar in Palermo Hollywood
• Oliver’s co-writer, Danielle, also gives a good review to the Bar 6 restaurant in Palermo, a funky eclectic restaurant which she gives a resounding thumbs up to
• Ken bravely faces up to his first Argentine parrillada, lymph glands and all… mmmmmmmmm…
• Dan marches onwards like the trusty food hound he is, reviewing the Sante Bar in Barrio Norte, which does okay but expensive eclectic food, and Anush, an Armenian restaurant in Palermo Viejo where the lunch was really not up to scratch – he goes on to recommend the nearby alternative Cheff Iusef for some better middle eastern fare
• I should also mention, for those of us (like me) living or staying in and around Barrio Norte, that Dan put up a useful page of listings for Food Shopping in Barrio Norte. Cheers Dan, as a newcomer to this area of BA, I will be checking many of those places out in due course…
• Diva does a short and sweet review of Bangalore Pub and Curry House in Palermo, which I can add a wholehearted recommendation for, as they offer the types of curry and beer that I dearly miss from home

Funny or Odd Things in Buenos Aires

• Dan put up a great picture of a statue with an interesting expression he came across in Parque 3 de Febrero, Palermo
• Robert posts number 35 in his series of stencil graffiti in Buenos Aires, with more of the these weird and wonderful pieces of street art
• Diva clearly writes half her posts with an eye on appearing in the ‘funny or odd things’ section of this roundup: Tattoo Artist Sued Over Penis Tattoo Prank… no silly comments from me needed for that one! You might also want to know that if you get killed on one of Diva’s tours, you get a refund

Buenos Aires “Meme” Update

• The Buenos Aires Sexy Spanish Club’s Maya joins in on the ‘five things’ meme, and we learn about the time when she ate carrots from the same plate as Ozzy Osbourne! We are still eagerly awaiting her ‘sexy day in Buenos Aires’, as part of the ‘Perfect Day in Buenos Aires‘ meme I started…
• But while we’re waiting for that, Isabelle Lagarde of Argentina’s Travel Blog has come up with an interesting post about a day for lovers in Buenos Aires, which wasn’t part of my original meme, but fills a gap until Maya has finished her ‘sexy day’ research (wow, can’t believe I didn’t make a silly attempt at innuendo there!)

Thanks once more to everyone for reading this Buenos Aires Blogs Roundup… hope to see you all here the same time next week!

And an even bigger thanks to those that go to the hard work of writing all the great blog posts about Buenos Aires that I link to each week in the roundup. Really, thanks guys!

Answer: According to Google, it’s me, Alan of Buenos Aires Travel Guide “fame”!

A quick Google.com search for Buenos Aires Alan (and many similar variations) puts me at the top of the pile, ahead of one of the most famous and stylish people in Buenos Aires, Alan Faena…former fashion designer, Puerto Madero property mogul, and the man behind possibly the most swish hotel in Buenos Aires, the simply fabulous Faena Hotel + Universe (one of my top 5 luxury Hotels in Buenos Aires, no less!)

Alan Faena Sandwich!

Not only that, but four of the top five search results are relating to me, making the nice Alan Faena sandwich shown on the following screen capture…

Hence, according to Google.com, this here Alan’s a few times finer than the real Alan Faena! (Now that’s a bit of a tongue twister…)

This was the silly blog post up my sleeve I was referring to in this weeks Buenos Aires blog roundup…so there should be one more post to come from me this week, hopefully of a more serious variety.

I do apologize for the self-obsessed nature of this blog post…but I just had to point this out when I saw it after doing this “ego search” for me. To make things a little less about me, here is a picture of the real famous Alan Faena himself…

PS – In your face, Alan Faena!