Street performances are all too common in downtown Buenos Aires. Tango dancers, vendors, singers, and jugglers litter the crowded streets of microcentro. Travel blogger Mangaloray recently wrote about a young Flamenco guitarist who stole the show while playing to a full crowd on calle Florida. The boy, whose name is Lucas Alvanaz, is only 15 years old, and plays with the fervor of a veteran Spanish musician. He plays almost every day in the same location, and sells CDs for a mere $15 pesos. Mangaloray posted a video of his performance on his blog. Check it out here.

Via: TravelPod

A travel blogger from Blue Water Video has just posted a great video of a killer whale hunting a sea lion on Argentina’s southern coast of Patagonia. The whales are known to do this every year around this time, and the event has become a tourist attraction due to its strange nature. The whales basically beach themselves by thrusting their bodies on land. Within seconds, they attack their prey, and shimmy back into the ocean as the waves guide their way. This whole process takes but a mere few seconds, but is incredible to watch. According to experts, the phenomenon is unique to this part of Argentina, and it’s extremely rare to watch any kind of whale hunt this way.

Via BlueWaterVideo

TAM Airlines has announced that they will be offering more flights in and out of Buenos Aires, beginning June and continuing through August. The airline currently flies out of the big northeast cities in Brazil, and plans on boosting their flight schedule to 56 weekly departures. Buenos Aires is a popular destination for Brazilians, and the new flight schedule will make Argentina a more convenient trip for both business and pleasure. The company also hopes to expand its market to cities like Porto Seguro, Recife, and Salvador, as well as maintaining strong markets in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paolo.

Via: The Sun Herald

Argentine farmers announced yesterday that they will resume striking for eight days, after negotiations with the Kirchner-led government broke down. The strike previously lasted 3 weeks, effectively choking the capital off from meat, wheat, and soy deliveries, and blocking roads throughout the nation. The strike had been on a 30-day suspension in order to negotiate, but with that time expiring, no solution has been reached. The origins of the strike were over an export tax increase, which is now at 44%. Most farmers say that this is not only unfair, but impossible to accommodate fiscally. The government raised the taxes in an effort to stem exports, and to keep agricultural sales more domestically based. Both sides hope to get the issue resolved quickly, due to the national polarization on the topic.

Via: CNN

Pangea Day is a worldwide event that uses film to strengthen tolerance and understanding between peoples of the world. This weekend, the event will be celebrated in Buenos Aires at the Ciudad Cultural Konex in Abasto. There will be film screenings, guest speakers, and live music, all with the theme of cultural integration and understanding. Saturday’s event will be screened simultaneously online with events in Cairo, Kigali, London, Los Angeles, Mumbai, and Rio de Janeiro. The event begins at 3pm, and admission is free to all. Ciudad Cultural Konex is located at Sarmiento 3131 in the Abasto neighborhood, near Plaza Once.

Via: Beatrice M’s Blog

A new study by the Centro de Estudios de Opinión Pública, or CEOP, shows that nine out of ten visitors to Argentina say they will return to the South American nation again. The study reports that most return to see natural wonders like the Perito Moreno Glacier, Iguazu Falls, and big city sights like tango in La Boca, antiques in San Telmo, and shopping in Palermo. The study was done over a three-week period this past February and March, and compiled based on interviews with over 800 tourists. Argentina’s tourism boom is no secret, however, with many international travel and news magazines touting the South American nation as a cheap, safe, and fun destination.

Via: La Nacion

Looking to get out of the city this weekend to do something fun? Well, look no further, as the San Isidro dog show will be in town this Saturday and Sunday. The event, sponsored by Purina Dog Chow, will take place at the San Isidro Hippodrome, about 20 minutes outside of downtown Buenos Aires. The show will feature a variety of pedigrees coming from all over Argentina, competing for the top prize, Best in Show. The competition will run on Saturday and Sunday from noon to 4pm. This is a free event, and open to all ages. The San Isidro Hippodrome is located at the corner of R. Saenz Pena and Av. Santa Fe in San Isidro.

Via: The Argentine Post

Argentina has received the number one ranking for the second consecutive month in international soccer, according to FIFA, the world’s soccer regulatory commission. This is yet another big achievement for the South American squad, who narrowly beat out rival Brazil for the top honors. Argentina is considered to be one of the biggest hotbeds of soccer talent worldwide, and they are currently preparing for a title run in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. The city of Buenos Aires has 24 professional soccer teams, the most in any city in the world, and soccer here is considered more of a national passion than a sport. Check out our soccer guide for more info on where, when, and how to be part of the Argentine “futbol” culture.

Via: The Canadian Press

All flights coming in and out of southern Argentina’s Patagonia region have been temporarily suspended due to a 20-mile-high ash cloud which is disturbing visible airspace. The ash cloud is coming from Chile, where the Chaiten volcano erupted last week, leading to thousands of evacuations and school/work closures. Patagonia is a typically well-traveled part of the country, especially with outdoor-oriented tourists. Currently, most travel in and out of the region has been halted, and health officials recommend staying as far away from the ash cloud as possible. There is no word yet as to when flights will resume regular service to the area, but officials are hoping that the ash will dissipate within the next few days.

Via: The New York Times

Argentina announced yesterday that it will be sending a shipment of pure water filters to the cyclone-ravaged nation of Myanmar. The filters will produce over one million liters of clean, drinkable water. The move comes after a giant cyclone devastated the southeast Asian nation, leaving nearly 30,000 dead, and many more injured. As a result, food and water shortages are becoming a major issue, and if aid doesn’t reach the area soon, the death toll could climb exponentially. Some officials estimate that nearly 100,000 could be dead when all is said and done. The government of Argentina hasn’t disclosed the cost of their donations, however, the filters will provide a substantial amount of aid for the suffering people.

Via: Agence France-Presse

Colonia, Uruguay is one of the most popular tourist destinations for those visiting Argentina, and specifically Buenos Aires. It’s estimated that around 25% of all visitors coming to Buenos Aires also visit Colonia on their  trip, many of them on day trips. The city was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is one of the more historic towns in all of South America. Unfortunately, according to the city’s board of tourism, Colonia has a problem keeping its visitors for more than just a day. As a result, the local economy isn’t capitalizing on its potential, and the city is actively trying to change its image to help fix it. Colonia has a wide range of hotels and recreational options which they believe make the city an appealing long-term vacation destination. You can get to Colonia by ferry from Buenos Aires in about an hour, and tickets are very reasonably priced.

Via: PR-Inside.com

Expat travel blogger and Patagonia resident Christie Pashby has posted an interesting piece on the increased media coverage of the region, and how most of it centers around so-called “eco gems” that are in abundance there. She sites a new article from Toronto’s The Globe and Mail which compares the Chilean and Argentine sections of Patagonia, both from a tourist and local perspective. The article focuses on landscape differences, natural resources, and the general attitude of the people living there. Outdoor and eco-friendly travel is popular in Patagonia, and continues to be a major source of income for the southern Argentine region. Many tour companies offer Patagonia packages which include skiing, trekking, fishing, and glacier exploration.

Via: Patagonia Living