MALBA y Intercambio, take 2

So Amy and I, and the rest of the scout group, decided to take a field trip to Museo de Arte Latinoamericano de Buenos Aires (MALBA). I guess I should start by explaining our scout group- it includes two guys from my class (shout out to Gareth and Simon), two girls from Amy's class and one random girl from school who we picked up along the way. (I felt as though someone should be holding a megaphone and bright orange flag.) Anyway, we were told that it was just a quick 15 minute walk, so the 7 of us set out down Avenida Coronel Diaz in search of MALBA and arrived 30 minutes later. I am finally catching on, 15 minutes means 30 and whatever you do, do not arrive on time! We were told that the cafe was a great spot for lunch, but what we were not told was that there was a $9 cubierto (table service charge), for us unemployed students this was quite steep! However, the food was delicious and Amy and I both enjoyed our meal- it was truly a miracle! My advice: go at 5pm for la merienda (afternoon snack). I beleive there is no cuberito if you just order off the cafeteria menu; however, I have misunderstood the menu before so you may end up paying the cuberito afterall...

The MALBA was great. In general, the art work was really playful and full of bright colors- and the space is fairly small so you can walk around the entire museum in about an hour, mas o menos. It is the perfect afternoon activity. We saw two exhibits- a photo exhibit by Robert Mapplethorpe (a native New Yorker) and Carlos Gallardo ( a Buenos Aires native)- too perfect, no? Gallardo also used photography as his medium, but he incorporated collage like elements, which made his pieces fun and interesting. If you ever visit BA, go to MALBA.


Later on in the evening, we attempted the intercambio (language exchange) once again- and, wait for it...we spoke Spanish! Well, we spoke more than last week. BUT, during our taxi ride home, we had a full on conversation with our taxi driver, about his job & music from the states, because No Doubt's 'No Hables' and Michael Bolton, who in the driver's opinion was a singer clasico, were playing on the radio.