Argentina by Ziot Travel

WE HAVE MOVED!

2008-07-03T14:28:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone!
We have a new site for our blog:
http://www.ziotravel.com/blog/

We'll be updating our blog from now on at the new site! Please visit us for news, events and much more!!!!

Thank you once again for your visit!!!

Warmest regards

Ziot Travel Team!

Red wine slowers down aging??

2008-06-20T07:10:00.000-07:00

New Hints Seen That Red Wine May Slow Aging
By NICHOLAS WADE
Published: June 4, 2008
The New York Times

Red wine may be much more potent than was thought in extending human lifespan, researchers say in a new report that is likely to give impetus to the rapidly growing search for longevity drugs.

Read more at: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/04/health/research/04aging.html

All wines 20% Off

2008-06-19T14:11:00.000-07:00

Would you like to bring Argentinean wine to your table?Here is a very nice website where you can find some of the most exquisite wines from Mendoza: http://www.vinesofmendoza.com/
Take advantage until June 30th for a 20% discount on all their wine collections. Excellent delivery and great customer service; very knowledgeable agents

For travel arrangements and great rates, contact a Ziot Travel Consultant!

Cheers!

Azafran - A restaurant with a traditional setting and even a wine store!

2008-06-19T13:48:00.000-07:00

Mendoza, Argentina

This charming restaurant, named after the highly prized and rare saffron spice, is set behind an attractively decorated all-wood wine store/cellar. Needless to say, wines are big here, and they have more than 300 different labels for you to choose from. Before you peruse the menu, step into the cellar to discuss your tastes with the friendly on-site sommelier, who'll encourage you to match your food to your wine (not the other way around). Regardless, the food is imaginative, fresh, relaxed, and eclectic. You may start with the house specialty -- a platter of smoked meats and cheeses. For entrees, the rabbit ravioli in champagne sauce is delicate and unusual, and the vegetables and tofu baked in a puff pastry will please any vegetarian. Even the steak here is served with a twist -- in this case, with sweet potato puréed in a light cream sauce. Given how busy this place almost always is, the service is convivial, and the wood tables and vintage checkered floors give you a sense of dining in an old farmhouse. In warm months, there are a few lovely tables on the sidewalk for alfresco dining.
Visit official site: http://www.bve.com.ar/

A nice video from Azafran Restaurant: http://www.geobeats.com/videoclips/argentina/mendoza/azafran-restaurant

Useful information:
Cuisine: International
Hours: Mon-Sat 11am-1am
Address: Sarmiento 765
Location: Belgrano and Perú, Around Town
Reservations: Reservations recommended
Phone: 261/429-4200
Prices: Main courses $4-$7 (£2.20-£3.85)
Credit Cards: AE, MC, V

Free Ski Classes by El Casco Art Hotel - Bariloche!!!

2008-06-19T13:15:00.000-07:00

Dear all!
Here are some great news that Ziot brings to you.
El Casco Art Hotel @ Bariloche is now offering FREE SKI LESSONS for all its clients!
Take advantage of this great opportunity when traveling to Bariloche!!!

Please contact us for discount rates on this hotel!!!!!!

Last February 2007 Chef Anthony Bourdain visited EL CASCO in his first trip to Patagonia, in our Kitchen sharing experiences with Hotel Staff.
http://www.hotelelcasco.com/

A taste of Buenos Aires in Santa Barbara

2008-06-19T12:48:00.000-07:00

If you are planning to visit the west coast and wanna try a little bit of Buenos Aires, this is the place to visit: Cafe Buenos Aires
http://www.cafebuenosaires.com/

Wednesdays
From 6:45 to 9:30 come and enjoy the only weekly live tango milonga.The Cafe Buenos Aires tango Orchestra is a quintet composed of bandoneon, two violins, piano, and upright bass, playing from a traditional repetoire. Social dancing starts at 7pm and ends at 10:30pm, being the longest running milonga in Santa Barbara.

Fridays
From 7:00 to 10:00 joins us for Latin-American folkloric music. The quartet composed of guitar, charango, zampoña (pan flute), bass, and percussion has an emphasis on Andean music. The group will transport you to the high mountains of South America.

Saturdays
From 7:00 to 10:00 The Martinez Brothers will make your feet tap to the rythm of high beat of Latin Jazz. The quartet composed of flute, piano, percussion and bass, plays all your favorite and world reknown latin songs.

Cafe Buenos Aires
Address: 1316 State St, Santa Barbara
Phone: (805) 963-0242
Category: Latin American
Hours: Mon-Fri 11:30am-2:30pm, 5:30pm-10pm, Sat-Sun 5pm-10pm
Price: $10 - $20
Serving: Lunch, & Dinner
Reservations: Yes, recommended
Happy Hour: Mojito Thursdays

Mate: from an argentinean point of view.

2008-06-12T07:44:00.000-07:00

Mate is not just a beverage. Well... yes it is because there is liquid that enters in your mouth, but is not just a beverage. In Argentina nobody drinks mate just because they are thirsty, it is actually a habit, like watching football. The Mate is exactly the opposite of watching TV: it makes you talk if you are with someone in the same room, and makes you think when you are alone. When someone arrives at any Argentinean home, the first thing they say is “Hello” followed by… “want mate?”
This happens in most homes, from the richest to the poorest, between the extravagant women to the simplest ones, between serious man and immature ones, between old people and teenagers while they study.
It is one of the things that parents share with their children without fighting, during winter or summer; the only thing in common between victims and executioners, the good ones and the bad ones.
When you have a child you start giving mate as soon as he asks you. You prepare with caution making sure is not too hot and with tons of sugar so he likes it, and then they will feel as grown ups. You feel proud when they start drinking mate, you heart feels like pumping harder and harder. Then when time passes by, they will grow up and will choose how to drink it, sour, sweet, or extremely hot, with orange peel or lemon.
When you meet someone for the first time and drink mate, you will ask: sugar o sour? And then he will answer: just the way you drink it!

Even the Argentinean keyboards have remains of Yerba Mate.
There always will be Yerba Mate in every house no matter if there is inflation in the economy, with democratic governments or dictatorships. Yerba Mate will always persist in every house. And if one day you run out of yerba, you’ll just ask a neighbor and he will be more than glad to share with you. Yerba mate can’t be denied by anyone.
In Argentina you won’t become an adult because you start wearing make up, or move from your parent’s house, even if you’ve graduated from university; you become a grown up when you have the necessity of drinking mate on your own, alone. It is not a coincidence, not just because. The day comes when one decides to heat water and prepare the firt mate for oneself , with no one else in the house. It will not be an ordinary day, not anymore.

The purpose of the mate is nothing else than a demonstration of values, it is the solidarity, the respect for listening and being listened – you drink and he talks. It is the companionship; you will pour a mate and ask: is it hot? It is the modesty of who pours the best mate. It is the generosity of drinking ‘till the last zip. It is the hospitality of the invitation. It is the justice of “one to one”. It is the duty of saying “thanks” at least once in a day. It is the ethic, loyal and sincere attitude of gathering together with no intention other than sharing.

Anonymous author

Want to try a mate?

Visit one of our friend webpage: http://www.mymatelife.com/

Greetings!

Don't know where to dinne tonite??

2008-06-11T21:18:00.001-07:00

You might feel lost and hungry in such a big city like BA, with tons of alternatives for dinning but not really sure which one is the best... well here is part of the solution:
http://www.guiaoleo.com/

You'll find this link as one of our favorites websites. Even local Argentineans check it out before going out!

This restaurant's guide might not be perfect but it is quite close to the most accurate and helpful information in town.
You will find what is hot, what is not, the latest restaurants and the classic ones. Also, you will be able to search restaurants by neighborhood, cuisine, name, best food, price, and many others.

Enjoy and Buen Provecho!

Marina Alemann

Bar, streets, buildings and more...

2008-06-11T19:46:00.000-07:00

Tango art in Buenos Aires.
Taking a walk during weekends around the city is the best way to get to know the most unforgettable secret corners of BA

Streets of Buenos Aires

Government Building at Cordoba Avenue and Ayacucho Street

Cafe bar in BA. Excellent places to get a 'cortadito' (coffee late) and a 'tostado (ham and cheese toasted sandwich)

Antiques at Art & Craft Fair

A day at the Estancia: BA Countryside

2008-06-11T19:33:00.000-07:00

Typical argentinean tree: Ombu
Very early in the morning, not even the sun had risen.
This is only 1 hour from Buenos Aires, amazing landscape.

Gauchos + Horses:
Beautiful breed, made in Argentina.

Own experience. Great tour!!!

Sunrise at the Estancia... peacefull.

San Telmo - Art & Craft Fair on Sunday

2008-06-11T15:21:00.000-07:00

Estacion Retiro
One of the oldest train stations in Buenos Aires.
This is right in front of the English Tower.
Sheraton Convention Center Hotel is located right in front of it.
If you look closely you will be able to see the Rio de la Plata.
Click on the pic to maximize!

This building took my attention... This type of architecture is very common at any corner of BA... a beautiful city indeed!!!! Extremely attractive.

This building is close to Plaza Dorrego @ Serrano neighborhood... this is what i meant by architecture at any corner :)

One of my favorite pictures!!! Hope you like it 2.

This is a great street band playing tango at the Art&Craft Fair on Sunday - is called Milonga del Fervor.
They are excellent, i strongly recommend to pay them a visit at one of the scheduled shows: http://www.fervordebuenosaires.com/

A Brief history about San Telmo.....
San Telmo ("St. Pedro González Telmo") is one of the oldest barrios (neighbourhoods) of Buenos Aires, Argentina and also one of the best preserved areas of that constantly changing Argentine metropolis and is characterized with a number of colonial buildings. Cafes, tango parlors and antique shops line up the cobblestone (adoquines) streets, which are filled with artists and dancers.

Pictures of Buenos Aires

2008-06-11T15:10:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures from our last trip to Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Torre de los Ingleses or Torre Monumental is a tower located in Retiro, Buenos Aires, Argentina. It was constructed by British residents of the city to commemorate the centenary of the May Revolution of 1810.

The tower reaches a height of 75.50 m (247 ft 8+1⁄2 in) and has eight floors. There are clocks at 35 m (114 ft 10 in), which were vandalised during the Falklands war. The bells imitate the bells of Westminster Abbey.

Ziot Travel Company

2006-11-16T21:03:00.001-08:00

The best tips, the best highlights and the best travel ideas that you need to know before traveling to Argentina.
Please visit: www.ziotravel.com