Two Independiente barras (violent football fans) responsible for the suspension of the game between Independiente and Belgrano two weeks ago were sentenced to a month in prison yesterday.

Judge Rubén Baca, from the Correctional Court no.5 of Lomas de Zamora delivered the sentence.

Ricardo Pavón, a well-known barra from San Telmo, and Diego Martínez were both sentenced to 30 days in prison and were suspended from attending sports events for 26 weeks. The swiftness with which the court delivered the ruling is an encouraging sign as in recent years procedures against violent football fans have dragged on for several months.

During the match on 14^th November several Independiente barras started to throw powerful firecrackers onto the pitch in the vicinity of the Belgrano goalkeeper. The referee, Saúl Laverni, suspended the match for security reasons.

The two men were identified by the police in collaboration with the club, based on video evidence from the day of the events. Pavón was sentenced for being the brains behind the act of violence and inciting others to throw the explosive projectiles while Martínez was held responsible for actually throwing them.

Javier Cantero, the Independiente president, has been in open conflict with the criminal ultra groups since he took office this year. Cantero is seen by many as an example for club presidents to follow in dealing with the violent fan groups that in many cases have become full-out criminal enterprises meddling in drug trafficking, racketeering, and corruption. While the vast majority of club presidents have ties with these groups and depend on them to run their clubs, Cantero was elected on a platform of kicking the violent elements out of Independiente.

“We want to highlight our satisfaction with the quick action of the judicial system and want to thank all the support we have received, as well as the fundamental cooperation offered by members of the club and fans to clarify what had happened,” read a press statement released by Independiente.

 

Property prices in the fanciest neighborhoods of Buenos Aires are on the increase, and buying a house in Recoleta, Palermo or Núñez now costs, respectively, 8.1%, 5.2% and 6% more than last year.

The report, based on apartment prices calculated in US dollars, focuses on a set of fourteen Buenos Aires districts. It has been published in print media and on the Internet and says that the value per square meter in the case of brand new properties ranges from US$2,637 for a house in Belgrano and US$3,257 in Recoleta.

It only considered finished building complexes in good condition, without garages, in areas where the sample of properties allowed estimating a representative average price. Experts therefore laid their eyes on over 6,000 properties.

The districts surveyed were: Recoleta, Palermo, Belgrano Nunez, Caballito, College, Barry, Almagro, Villa Urquiza, Saavedra, Balvanera, San Telmo, Boedo and Flores.

The 30th anniversary of the Malvinas/Falklands War has spawned a number of cultural events -books, films, exhibitions- which seek to analyse and to make sense of the motives behind the war. At a time when the United Kingdom is being governed by the Tories after a 13-year hiatus, the figure of former British Primer Minister Margaret Thatcher has been put on the spotlight once more.

The play ‘Hundan el Belgrano’, which opens tonight, is a satirical take on the behind-the-scenes of the war and of one of its most crucial and tragic moments, the sinking of the Argentine cruiser General Belgrano. The play is based on ‘Sink the Belgrano!’ by British writer Steven Berkoff. It revolves mainly around the character of Thatcher, called Maggot Scratcher in the original and renamed Amargas Cachas for the Argentine version (something like ‘bitter bum cheeks’).

The play has only been performed once before, in London in 1986, to mixed reviews. Unsurprisingly, since 1986 was only four years after the war and Thatcher was still the triumphant primer minister. About the play, the author has stated that “…this kind of theatre is so powerful, so visceral, that it forces audiences to react: either they feel like fleeing the building or they are suddenly convinced that it is the best thing they have ever seen”. That is a fair description.

In the current adaptation by director Claudia Marocchi, the stage is empty but for a couple of big wooden modules that get shifted around between scenes. Lighting and music effects are powerful and make up for the bare scenography. There is a guitar player on stage at all times and every now and then the characters break into song.

The wardrobe is definitely odd: all the male characters, save for the Argentine president, wear high heels. Some even wear patent leather, S&M-style knee-high boots. The dialogue, in verse, is crude but funny at the same time.

Just like Berkoff said, the spectators find themselves wondering what on earth is this bizarre display they are witnessing, only to forget about their reservations the moment the next funny line comes along (and they abound). The eccentric and hilarious interactions between Amargas Cachas and her sidekicks are interrupted by scenes of the submarines making their way south, and trying to make sense of their situation. The brief solemnity is in turn interrupted by bouts of camp Village People-style dancing and the appearance of the Admiral in his tight, silver hot pants.

Whilst bizarre and laugh-out-loud funny, the play is deeply political. It brings to the forefront the domestic political landscape of the UK

in 1982 -the unemployment, the strikes, the threat of the Labour party- giving a context to the decision to fight back against Argentina. Amargas Cachas’ question “Where are the Falklands?”, repeated a couple of times at the beginning of the play, reinforces the point that this war was not about the islands or the islanders. In that respect, the main message of ‘Hundan el Belgrano’ is faithful to the maxim of Prussian strategist Carl von Clausewitz, who famously said that “war is merely a continuation of politics by other means”.

The actors do a great job in their physically demanding roles, especially the protagonists Monina Bonelli (Amargas Cachas) and Gastón Rodríguez (Alcahuete/Admiral). The translator, Rafael Spregelburd, deserves a special mention for adapting the language of the play to an Argentine slang-heavy, curse-heavy dialogue that is funny and doesn’t sound contrived.

Whilst the play is a satire, it never forgets that it’s dealing with a serious historical event. Towards the end, as the moment when the sinking of the Belgrano approaches and the message about the hundreds of lives lost hits home, the comically bizarre reveals itself tragically grotesque. The burlesque-style music number at the end of the play is not enough to shake the viewer out of a reflective mood. Because despite the glitz, war is always a serious matter.

It’s Friday again!

And I have bad news for you: the Malvinas clusterfuck is back in full force!

Because now that the YPF expropriation bill has been passed, what other nationalist cause are we going to be distracted with? The 2014 World Cup is still more than two years away, so that’s a no.

So I guess there’s no choice but to dust off the Malvinas playbook and start yelling at British people again.

Here’s everything you need to know (but don’t want to know):

• 

  Wenlock and Mandeville, the terrifying mascots of the 2012 London Olympics. I don't condone violence but I must admit it will be funny to see an Argentine athlete kicking them in the crotch in order to make a point about Malvinas. Not because I care about the islands, but because they're just plain ugly. (Photo/Wikipedia)

  Since I’m sure you didn’t go to Velez for the Cristina-palooza last week, here’s the 40-minute speech she gave before thousands of flag-waving, ecstatic youngsters who attended the event to celebrate her existence. Since I’m willing to bet my life that you didn’t click on that link, let me tell you: she basically glorified young people as the future of the nation and told the crowds to remain “united and organized.” Also there was a lot of yelling, even though she was standing two centimeters away from the microphone. All in all, a positive experience for those who survived the yelling.

• Meanwhile this week, Cristina’s arch-nemesis and opposition leader City Mayor Mauricio Macri, was tweeting some photos about his session of calisthenics and something that looks like him awkwardly tango dancing with another guy. I tell ya, this guy is a workaholic.

• In what could be considered the most awkward exchange of passive-aggressive smiles and ice-cold stares since Alien Vs. Predator, newly appointed Argentine ambassador to the UK Alicia Castro put British Foreign Secretary William Hague in the hot seat as he launched the annual world review of human rights at a ceremony in London.  Sitting right in front of him on the first row as he took the podium, Castro once again repeated the local government’s mantra regarding the Malvinas/Falklands and asked him point blank (or “ambushed,” as The Telegraph put it) if he was ready to give peace a chance. Enjoy the video.

• The UK, of course, said it was “disappointed” at her behavior, but Castro is a maverick, she doesn’t give a fuck.

• Since this Wednesday marked the 30th. anniversary of the sinking of the General Belgrano cruiser during the Malvinas War, Cristina found yet another excuse to hold a ceremony related to the Malvinas. In a televised speech she gave from the Pink House she inaugurated the  brand new (*rolls eyes*) “Malvinas Argentinas Courtyard” and then she defended ambassador Castro’s actions, saying that “refusing to engage in dialogue is unsustainable,” a funny thing to say considering she refuses to talk to journalists since like, ever. She also criticized the permanent members of the  UN Security Council (i.e.: the US and the UK) saying that they always force other countries to follow UN resolutions but they themselves refuse to abide by them, which is actually kind of true.

• Sorry, we’re not done talking about Malvinas yet. But here, take a break from that subject and enjoy this awesome/terrifying video.

• Alright, I’m sure you feel refreshed now. And dirty. Let’s go back to Malvinas.

• The 2012 London Olympics are right around the corner, and God knows what kind of fuckery will transpire there between the Argentine and the British teams. But if what happened this week is any indication, we’re in for a fun winter of gold medals and diplomatic shenanigans that will certainly end once the Olympic torch goes out and David Cameron little-boys Buenos Aires.  Everyone in the UK and the Malvinas/Falklands was up in arms yesterday after a controversial TV spot aired in Argentina, depicting the Argentine national hockey team captain Fernando Zylberberg “training” on the islands. As if that weren’t insulting enough (for the British), the ad concludes with the phrase “To compete on British soil, we train on Argentine soil.” Oh, snap!

• Yellow press crusader The Sun, of course, took it one step further and ran this headline. Dramaqueenism at its best.

• And to add insult to injury, the ad was created by Young & Rubicam, an advertising agency that belongs to – you guessed it – a British company.  God, August cannot come fast enough. I’m gonna have so much to write about I may have to start doing a Daily News Roundup.

• In YPF news, I totally spoiled it at the beginning already but the
  

  Many criticized The Sun for printing such a disrespectful headline after the sinking of the General Belgrano. But many more failed to realize that even more disrespectful is that The Sun is all about girls showing their tits. (Photo/Wikipedia)

  expropriation bill has been passed, which means that Argentina now owns 51 percent of the oil company. Yay!

• Also this week, two romantic revolutionaires decided that a good way to make a point about something was to set off a bomb outside the European Union‘s offices in Recoleta. God bless these people, and their fight for peace by blowing stuff up.

• Another tourist allegedly raped in Salta. The suspect has already turned himself in, assuring that he was in a relationship with the victim, a 21-year-old Swiss woman who was doing volunteer work there. I have no idea what the hell is going on there, but stay away.

• Also in Salta this week, since such attacks pose a PR nightmare to the tourism industry there, the media (that’s us!) found a way to distract the population with a most sensationalist story that was covered by every network in the country: the tragic, heartbreaking story of an 8-year-old girl that was seen driving around in a car.

• No, really. That happened. And boy, people were outraged. I mean, look at that video! The low quality! The shaky camera! The epic soundtrack! Rape? What rape?

• Now onto the football part, which always comes last because it is obviously the least important one: Congratulations football megastar Lionel Messi! Not only you’re going to be a father soon, but this week you broke yet another record! After scoring his 68th. goal this season, Messi broke the record for goals scored in a European club season, previously held by some German guy called Gerd Müller. I have no idea what any of this means, all I know is that I get more internet hits thanks to it.

It’s Friday again!

And let’s deal with the ongoing Malvinas clusterfuck so we can get that out of the way fast, yes?

I know you’re tired of reading about it but when the missiles start coming and you need the location to the closest fallout shelter you will be thanking me.

Now be a good boy/girl and read.

This is what you need to know, in a nutshell:

• 

  Yeah, we all knew I was gonna go with a photo of Sean Penn. (Photo/Wikipedia)

  Sean Penn visited Argentina. Yay! Sean Penn! He came here to ask for money because he’s a goodwill ambassador for Haiti and those people need dollars to fix their country after the devastating earthquake that left their nation in ruins two years ago. But then Sean Penn criticized the British government for not wanting to return the Malvinas/Falklands to the Argentines and now the Brits are offended. Argentines, on the contrary, are delighted with Sean Penn. Some of them have even said he should run for president of the United States! Of course the truth is that had he said the opposite and defended the UK, most Argentines would have said “¿Qué mierda se tiene que venir a meter este yankee de mierda en temas que no le importan?”. I know it, you know it, we all know it.

• Two fighter planes escorted a small Cessna plane to the islands. That’s it. It’s a non-issue. But the media (that’s us) needs to sell, so the day after, newspapers were basically going: “OH MY GOD, LOOK! LOOK! LOOK AT WHAT THEY ARE DOING! THEY DID THIS NEW TOTALLY NON-THREATENING THING BUT WE’LL SPIN IT SO IT SOUNDS TERRIFYING, LOOK!! YOU SHOULD BE MAD!!!” And people got mad. *sigh*

• Also, Argentina accepted the UN’s offer to act as mediator in the conflict, but that doesn’t sell so there’s not much to say about it.

• Last bullet point about Malvinas, I swear: Have you ever noticed, while taking a stroll down Plaza de Mayo, that there is some sort of camp set up on its south side, with white flags asking the President for official recognition? Well those are former soldiers that have been camping there for years, hoping that the Government will consider them war veterans, even though technically they are not. You see, those former soldiers were on active duty during the Malvinas War, but they were never sent to fight. They were dispatched to Patagonia and remained there for months, but they never fired a single shot or engaged in combat, because the war took place entirely on the islands. Probably the most dangerous situation they had to endure was trying not to die of boredom. So since they are not war veterans they do not get a veteran’s pension. Simple, right? No, nothing is simple in this country. They still want their pension no matter what, so this week they resorted to (what else?) interrupting traffic on the 9 de Julio Avenue hoping to draw some media attention. In response, the government responded with (what else?) rubber bullets and tear gas. Considering for a moment the 9 de Julio Av. looked like a fucking battlefield, I’d say these guys are now entitled to their pensions. See? It all works out in the end.

• And to think that all this is because of those two little islands that neither Britain nor Argentina really care about, no matter what they say.

• You’re probably aware by now that the shit has hit the fan in the northwest of the country and the population of Catamarca, San Juan and La Rioja have risen against the oppressive tyranny of the mining companies which apparently pollute the environment but the National Government doesn’t give a fuck because they rake in the big bucks. You’re not? Well, I’m not surprised. Anyway, the Fernández de Kirchner administration has been under severe scrutiny after the police fired teargas and rubber bullets at the environmental activists who were protesting the mining activities. So the President thought it would be a great idea to give a speech on live television in which a helmet-wearing miner thanked her for supporting the mining industry, which creates lots of jobs and totally doesn’t poison the land. “I know a lot more than those environmentalists because I spend all day working in the mines,” he said, and everyone was happy and cheered and laughed. And then one day later the media learned that the helmet-wearing miner was not really a helmet-wearing miner, but a non-helmet-wearing political activist from outside Buenos Aires who had just pretended to a helmet-wearing miner to make the protesters look bad. This is democracy, people. I told you it sucks.

• And speaking about democracy and new ways of curtailing your constitutional rights, another scandal has just exploded right on the face of the National Government, after the media found out about this so-called “Project X,” an intelligent-gathering database that according to sources in the National Gendarmerie “is used as an analytical tool and guideline in court cases, like informational support to Operative Units.” Which we all know is bullshit for “spying on you.” The Government of course has said that it would not comment on the matter until it finds some half-baked explanation that gullible voters will buy no matter what. Well they didn’t say it like that, but that’s what they meant.

• The Argentine population is fuming after word got out that national lawmakers and senators had agreed on a 100% salary hike for themselves, effectively going from earning 15,000 to 30,000 pesos a month. And every major political party was in favor of it (of course). Hey, don’t judge! Non-existing inflation is hard to deal with, you know? Especially when you’re a hard-working politician. I mean look at these guys! They are so exhausted from working they pass out on their seats in Congress. Right?

• Vice-President Amado Boudou, who as we all know still insists on pretending to be young and hip even though he’s not, grabbed a guitar and climbed on stage all sweaty and fat and started rockin’ it out with La Mancha de Rolando. But my favorite part was seeing him wearing a t-shirt that read “Clarín miente” (Clarín lies), which we all know is kind of true sometimes but he should be acting like a vice-president and not like a patronizing, rebellious teenager.

• Yeah, that was it. I know it’s not really news. I just wanted to show what a douchebag he can be sometimes.

• In case you didn’t know, Argentina’s version of Adolf Hitler, former de facto President and current Monster of the Black Lagoon General Jorge Rafael Videla (cue this music whenever he enters a room) is not dead, even though we all wish he were. And from time to time he gives some random interview from his tiny prison cell just to remind us all that he may somehow kill us in our sleep. For those who clearly don’t give a shit about Argentine history or otherwise they would know about it, this is the guy who staged the 1976 coup d’état that sparked the country’s darkest era to date since it included torturing pregnant women, stealing their babies and making political dissidents “disappear.” When democracy returned in 1983, 30,000 people had been “disappeared” and 500 babies had been stolen. However, Videla does not agree with history, so once again he has crawled out of his dark, moist cave to accuse the Kirchners of being “vengeful,” and to assure that it’s not 30,000 people who were killed but merely 7,000. Well. Maybe we should throw him a parade then? Agh, just die already.

• Oh-oh. You may want to call your parents before they hear about this from somewhere else: Germany, France, Spain, the United Kingdom, the United States and Brazil are all raising their warning levels for travelers coming to Buenos Aires. And after last week’s incident in Plaza San Martín, can you blame them? However, I feel like I need to be fair here and come out in defense of Buenos Aires. First of all, most of you don’t leave Recoleta, Palermo or San Telmo, where the worst thing that can happen to you is getting stabbed, and that would probably be your fault for deciding to take a stroll at 3 in the morning. You just have to be careful, period.

• Yeah, I know. I said “first of all” so there should have been a “second” part but I totally spaced out and lost my train of thought. So whatever.

• Also, I’m not trying to freak you out or anything, but a few days ago there was a near collision between two passenger planes in Aeroparque. Technically they “grazed” each other on the tarmac, which means they were two millimeters away from killing 400 people. So… you know. Fingers crossed next time you’re flying to the Iguazú falls or Punta del Este or wherever it is you like to go.

• Well, we all knew it was bound to happen sooner or later: a wachiturro
  

  This is a wachiturro. You've been warned. (Photo/Wikipedia)

  has been arrested in Chile on terrorism charges. Yeah, that’s right: a wachiturro. In case you’re not familiar with their horrendous –yet ridiculously popular- music, here’s a sample of their most famous single “Tirate un paso.” Anyway, one of the wachiturros, apparently referred to by some people as the “Scary wachiturro,” (just like one of the Spice Girls, although for entirely different reasons), had no better idea than to say, after going through the metal detectors in a Chilean airport, that he was happy security “had not been able to find the bomb he was carrying.” Bad move, Scary Wachiturro! Within a few seconds he was arrested by the airport police and I really don’t know what happened after that because I found the story to be extremely dull and stopped reading. Maybe he’s been released; maybe he’s been shipped off to Guantanamo. Who cares?

• Here, have some fun with the new map that’s been making the rounds on Facebook, Twitter and maybe Friendster. It’s a map of the city of Buenos Aires according to the “cool Palermo crowd” (you know who you are). So wrong, yet so true.

• And yes, the Malvinas clusterfuck has now reached the rock bottom part of this column, usually reserved for anything football-related because that’s how much I care about that idiotic sport. However this is kind of fun, so read on: in an effort to push stupidity to the max, the AFA decided to name the Clausura Tournament “Crucero General Belgrano” in honor of the eponymous Argentine warship that was sunk by the Royal Navy during the Malvinas/Falklands War in 1982. Who knows what kind of amorphous monster could result from such a manic combination of shallow nationalism and dangerous fanaticism? Well we may never know because the FIFA is now considering sanctioning the AFA since it may have incurred in “political discrimination.” Why? I don’t know, I’m just happy this is all happening.

• Ah, now here’s a manly sport that I respect because at least no one is trying to sell you that whole “sportsmanship” crap that no one believes in anyway (like football). You see, what I like about Boxing is that basically you have to kill your opponent, and the cathartic process seemingly helps satisfy the bloodlusting-crowds. Well, except for last week in Mar del Plata when Filipino boxer Johnriel (“Johnriel”? Really? OK.) Casimero killed knocked out Argentine boxer Luis Lazarte (sorry, no Wiki page. I guess he’s not that important) and all hell broke loose, with the audience jumping into the ring and trying to kick Johnriel’s ass. Don’t believe me? Here, it’s all caught on tape.

Last night, a forklift hit a gas pipe on a construction site in Belgrano. The collision led to an explosion and fires continue in the area today. The construction work was headed by a government-owned company Metrogas.

Three Metrogras personnel were left injured after the collision caused an explosion and the workers tried to fix the leaking pipe. The victims were taken to the Piovano Hospital immediately.

The accident took place at Monroe Street 2750. Metrogas said the leaking “won’t bring graver danger,” and the Federal Police assured that “the fire is under control”.  The statement came before another gas leak occurred this morning in Arcos 2800.

Two blocks in the area have been evacuated as several firemen and emergency city hall personnel are working to control the fire.

Last night in two separate incidents people were attacked with weapons while walking their dogs.

One of the victims was a 30- year-old woman walking with her son and their pet in the neighbourhood of Belgrano. She was forced inside her home at knifepoint.

The woman’s husband was the only one inside the house. Upon entering the home the robber locked the husband in the bathroom and began stealing. He took jewels, two laptops, cell phones and a camera.

According to the victims the assailant presumably had an accomplice. He was constantly talking on the phone with someone and was very “calm.”

The other victim was a 50-year-old man in Barrio Norte. After walking his dog the man returned to his apartment building and was confronted by two thieves who were waiting in the lobby.

A gun was shoved in the man’s face and the delinquents demanded that the man take them to his apartment. However, the crime was interrupted when the victim’s German shepherd attacked the robbers. They ran from the building without harming or stealing from the man.

This year is a special one for Argentina with the upcoming October elections in mind. What many people don’t know is that 2011 is also special for another reason; the bicentenary of a the birth of a big name in Argentina; Domingo Faustino Sarmiento (1811-88).

To better know him – and an important part of Argentine history – you should definitely visit the Sarmiento Historical Museum, where you can find all the information, objects, books and photos about this Argentine legend. There are more than enough reasons to devote a museum to this jack of all trades: he was both the seventh president of Argentina, an activist, intellectual, world traveller and writer.

His writings had an important influence on the region’s literature and spanned a wide range of genres and topics; from journalism to autobiography, to political philosophy and history. His most famous work is the polemic ‘Facundo’ about civilisation and barbarism. Sarmiento was also a member of a group of intellectuals, known as the ‘Generation of 1837′, which had a great influence on 19th century Argentina.

He was president of the Republic of Argentina from 1868 till 1874; when the age of the gaucho was ending, and the age of the merchant and cattleman beginning. Sarmiento sought to create basic freedoms, and wanted to ensure civil safety and progress for everyone. He was well known for his modernisation of the country and he firmly believed in democracy and European liberalism, but was most often seen as a romantic.

Coming from a family of writers, orators and clerics, Sarmiento placed a great value on education and learning. He opened a number of schools including the first school in Latin America for teachers in Santiago in 1842 and proceeded to open 18 more schools. Sarmiento’s belief was that education was the key to happiness and success, and that a nation could not be democratic if it was not educated and therefore: “We must educate our rulers ”

Despite Sarmiento being well known historically, he was not a popular president. During his presidency, Argentina conducted the unpopular War of the Triple Alliance against Paraguay and by the arrival of a large influx of European immigrants, which resulted in the outbreak of Yellow Fever in Buenos Aires and the risk of civil war, his popularity became only worse. Sarmiento’s presidency was marked by ongoing rivalry between Buenos Aires and the provinces. In the war against Paraguay, Sarmiento’s adopted son was killed, and Sarmiento suffered from immense grief and was thought to never have been the same again.

In August 1873, Sarmiento was the target of an unsuccessful assassination attempt and a year later he completed his term as president and stepped down, handing his presidency over to Nicolás Avellaneda, his former Minister of Education. In May 1888, Sarmiento left Argentina for Paraguay, accompanied by his daughter, Ana, and his companion Aurelia Vélez. He died in Asunción on 11th September 1888 from a heart attack and was buried in Buneos Aires at Recoleta Cemetery.

Not only the man, but also the building of the historical museum of Sarmiento is a history on its own. In 1880, during the presidency of Nicolas Avellaneda, it was the headquarters of the national government, during the struggles between the national and provincial authorities. The Belgrano Congress held it sessions in this building, during which it passed the Law of Federalisation of Buenos Aires in its main hall. The building is a prime example of the style of an era, which began in 1850 when the Italian ‘Neo-Renaissance’ has its influences on Argentine architecture. It has been declared a national historical monument and since 11th September 1938 the building was officially inaugurated as the Sarmiento historical museum. Almost all the material you can find in the museum has been donated to the nation by Sarmiento’s family.

The museum’s collection includes objects that belonged to Sarmiento and his family. By making your way through the 11 rooms of the museum, you will encounter the entire life story of Sarmiento, which is explained very clearly and illustrated with photos and images. Next to many objects and documents of the founding father, you can find a big part of the heritage of the man; rooms where his former kitchen, dining room, salon and sleeping room are rebuild in wonderful state; decorated and showed with many details. Everything is provided with extensive information (in Spanish), next to a little brochure with information (English and Spanish).

The present exhibition ‘Dialogues about May – Sarmiento and the romantic thinkers of 1810-1850’ pays special attention to four famous young intellectuals of this time. Its about their ideals, in which way they are the same and in which way they differ, about their travels, banishments and their literary works.

This entire year the museum organises activities as conferences, reading session and music activities among others, with this month an Italian Film Festival.

Yesterday afternoon, for the first time in the 110 years of the club’s history, the football team River Plate were relegated to the second division after drawing with Belgrano de Córdoba. The match was held in the stadium Monumental, as part of the Clausura tournament.

They drew with one goal each – one goal too few for River, who needed to score twice against Belgrano in order to stay in the first division.

Unrest has ensued in Nuñez, with official figures citing 72 people hospitalised. 25 of those are from the police forces, with two officers in a critical condition, after sustaining serious head injuries. They are currently being treated in Churruca hospital.

Over 95 people have been arrested, after disenchanted fans spilt out of the stadium and on to the streets, burning vehicles and vandalising property.

The violence however began before the end of the match, with supporters of the River team spilling on to the pitch. After firemen turned their hoses on them, they were forced to retreat, and the match continued.

Reports suggest great damage has been done to the stadium.

To compensate the overflow of empanadas, choripan and milanesas that are ever present in Argentina, more and more restaurants and cafes are cropping up with healthier or even vegetarian options in the country of meat. But healthy drinks or alternatives to the popular helado are still fairly new. Enter Smoothie Bar, which opened in February in Belgrano.

Founded by four foreigners – three from the US and one from Ireland – who met a year and a half ago in Buenos Aires, their nationalities definitely were related to the concept. Sean Kapul from San Fransico, explains: “In Europe and the United States a smoothie is a well-known concept which you can find almost everywhere. Here in Buenos Aires, some places do offer something similar to a smoothie, but places that specialise in just smoothies are hard to come by.”

The idea had been around for a while to create something similar – originally, the intention was to create a corner store, with a small bar, where you can buy your smoothie as a take-away. But the concept had to be adapted to take into account local tastes. Sean illustrated: “Since the consumer culture here is more relaxed, with clients sitting down and taking their time, we adapted our concept to that – and this is the result: a space with room to sit down, relax and take your time to ultimately enjoy your smoothie.”

The light space feels very fresh and warm, with classy white bar in the centre and all with tables in the front end, and couches towards the back. Besides the odd bright orange wall, the space is more subtly decorated with little paintings of fruit, a dancing peach here and a couple of green apples there.

Fruit everywhere then, but not only as decoration, also consume! Berry, peach, raspberry, strawberry, banana, mango and the Brazilian açai, are transformed into smoothies like Berrie Bliss, Peach Passion, Sweet Dreams or Frambuesa Fantasia after being mixed with delicious natural frozen yoghurt. All the smoothies the bar offer include at least two and a half pieces of fruits, and with the use of low-fat yoghurt the smoothie can call itself a healthy choice.

Sean added: “Next to our assortment of smoothies we also offer coffee and several plates of healthy food, taking into account that the winter is coming. Also energy, metabolic, protein and vitamin shots to give people an extra boost to ‘survive’ the colder months, are on the menu. In general we are trying to listen to the people’s taste, but on the same time we always do this on our own way, to stay with our formula.”

The bar currently caters to mostly Argentine clients, but the public is very varied, and everyone is welcome. “From little kids who just come out of school and want a smoothie on their way home, to an elderly couple who are taking their time, mothers who are going to the market or a student who takes its laptop inside to study for a bit here,” Sean said.

Due to the success, there are some ideas to expand the concept by creating more Smoothie Bars in town, but there are no concrete plans. Sean explained: “We first want everything to works perfectly and we are not just going to open another store, since we want everything to be of the highest quality. That is what makes all the difference; we won’t be satisfied witha marginal product, we want top quality!”

Of course we had to check if this is all true and I can confirm; it has been a while since I had a smoothie like this: delicious!

For Sean, the key to success for Smoothie Bar is easy: “You just need a good product and a creative way to implement it. We think the concept of a smoothie – where we only use the highest quality products – is perfect. Besides, we truly believe in the product and in the concept and that makes it work!