BADC BUENOS AIRES BOUND!
May 2-May 11, 2008
EXCITING BADC ANNUAL CONVENTION 2008 !
Join
your fellow friends and colleagues on a fantastic trip to Buenos Aires,
Argentina. Enjoy a premier tango show, great restaurants and shopping,
the classic Argentinean ranch experience, a visit to a World Heritage
designated village in Uruguay and much more! This 8 day/7night trip leaves
Friday night, May 2, 2008 and returns Sunday morning, May 11, 2008.
Buenos Aires is arguably the most cosmopolitan city in all South America . Argentina's historic capital has breath-taking energy, spacious grandeur and self-confident style. Despite grand boulevards and hefty, ostentatious architecture, this is a city of villages, or more correctly barrios (districts) - 46 of them, enriched by the seduction of the Tango, stylish and full of great pretence.
This complex, energetic, and seductive port city, which stretches south-to-north
along the Rio de la Plata, has been the gateway to Argentina for centuries.
Portenos, as the multinational people of Buenos Aires are known, possess
an elaborate and rich cultural identity. They value their European heritage
highly--Italian and German names outnumber Spanish, and the lifestyle
and architecture are markedly more European than any other in South America.
One of the world's finest opera houses, the Teatro Colon, flourishes here
on the plains alongside the river. Portenos are intensely involved in
the life and culture of their city, and they will gladly share the secrets
of Buenos Aires if you lend an ear and relate your own stories in return.
Buenos Aires' physical structure is a mosaic as varied and diverse as its culture. The city has no dominating monument, no natural monolith that serves as its focal point. Instead, Buenos Aires is composed of many small places, intimate details, and tiny events and interactions, each with a slightly different shade, shape, and character. Glass-sheathed skyscrapers cast their slender shadows on 19th century Victorian houses; tango bars hazed with the piquant tang of cigar smoke face dusty, treasure-filled antique shops across the way.
Now it is easy to register online for your Sheraton Buenos Aires Hotel & Convention Center room, just click here.
We have blocked 30 rooms at a rate of $170 + 21% estimated tax per night for a total of $1,439.90. Registration is very simple. The hotel will offer these same great rates for those who want to either arrive earlier or extend their stay by 3 days.
We will know more about airfare prices by the end of May for the non-stop United flights and by middle of June for the Delta flights (through Atlanta).
Highlights:
* Introductory City Tour: By mini-buses to include stop at famed Cafe Tortoni for snack with sumptuous buffet lunch by the river at Rodizio Costanera Restaurant.
* Visit to San Telmo Flea Market at Plaza Dorrego (on you own, only on Sundays): If it’s Sunday, don’t miss the San Telmo Antique Market at Plaza Dorrego. The array of open-air ferias (markets) in Buenos Aires testifies to the esteem in which Argentina holds its craftspeople, both traditional and contemporary. The town's busiest market is the classic Feria de San Pedro Telmo, which packs a small San Telmo square every Sunday. Elbow your way through the crowds to pick through antiques and curios of varying vintages as well as tango memorabilia, or watch dolled-up professional tango dancers perform on the surrounding cobbled streets. The selections include not only crafts but also art, antiques, curios, clothing, jewelry, and housewares, and stalls are often attended by the artists themselves.
* Evening Cocktails and tango class at Copellos School
* Dinner and Tango Show at Esquine Carlos Gardel, the premiere tango house
By the end of the XIXth. century, when in Buenos Aires the tango started to spread and melt with the soul of the folk, mixing slowly with the essence of the native and immigrant people, and when the village pretended to transform -disorderly- into a city, one of its most picturesque quarters was "El Abasto", where labor was in the air during the day, and tango pervaded the night. While slowly growing around the supplying market after which the quarter took its name (in Spanish, abastecer means to supply), "El Abasto" neighborhood witnessed the rise of an indisputable popular idol: Carlos Gardel. This special environment nourished Gardel’s outstanding personality, the one that rapidly leaded him both to success and to achieve the dimension of an indisputable tango icon. Today, more than 100 years later, this same story, magically, comes back. A superb cuisine, an exquisitely decorated -Art Nouveau style- ambience, that exactly re-creates the sophistication of the most luxurious old-time dining rooms, last-generation technology equipment, top level artistic proposal, and a mystical atmosphere that will lead you to experiment an unforgettable night. http://www.esquinacarlosgardel.com.ar/
* Estancia and Gaucho Day at Estancia Villa Maria-
Argentine barbecue, entertainment (folk music/dance/bloleadora show/gauchos perform) tea and pastries
[Optional: choice of cooking lessons, painting lessons, fly casting, nature walk]
Enjoy a day of luxury in the heart of the pampas at this elegant ranch build by the Buenos Aires aristocracy towards the end of the XIXth century. The beautiful Tudor manor conceived by Argentina's most prestigious architect, Alejandro Bustillo in 1920, has a fabulous 110 acre park designed by French landscaper Carlos Thays in the twenties, spotted with lovely sculptures, and the foreground of a pretty lake. It is a working ranch, raising Hereford cattle in an extension of 3,700 acres of flat and rolling countryside, located less than an hour away from the city of Buenos Aires, and is the ideal retreat to enjoy a true day in the Argentine country. Will be entertained by gauchos, the descendants of Spanish Conquistadors, experts with "boleadoras" (three rock hard leather balls tied to a rope and used for hunting), lassos, the "facon" (gaucho knives), and the guitar. http://www.cat-travel.com/argentina_estancias_tour.asp ; http://www.estanciavillmaria.com/turismo/1i_villamaria.htm
* Dinner at Sotto Voce Restaurant, Puerto Madero - 3 courses with fine wines
* Optional Day Trip to Iguazu Falls (Estimated $750)
Taller than Niagara Falls, twice as wide with 275 cascades spread in a horseshoe shape over nearly two miles of the Iguazu River, Iguazú Falls are the result of a volcanic eruption which left yet another large crack in the earth. These matter of fact details do nothing to describe the grandeur of the falls, the tremendous amount of water (an average of 553 cubic feet per second) thundering down 269 feet, the tropical location and the sheer beauty that led Eleanor Roosevelt to say Poor Niagara. Four times the width of Niagara Falls, Iguazu Falls are divided by various islands into separate waterfalls. Fly to the Falls, have lunch, take guided tours by foot or boat or train. (Prices vary.) http://gosouthamerica.about.com/cs/southamerica/a/IguazuFalls.htm
* Visit Colonia, Uruguay (Guided tour, ferry ride, lunch, entertainment)
Colonia de Sacramento is a charming colonial town in Uruguay, across the River Plate, from Buenos Aires. The quaint historic village juts on a rocky point into the Rio de la Plata and the modern town surrounds the bay. It is a charming lively place with streets lined with plane trees, the whole town is kept very trim, but the historic district is what makes it special, with its narrow cobbled-stone streets and colonial buildings. Founded by Portuguese settler Manuel Lobo in 1680, it has been declared of World Heritage Status by UNESCO. The Plaza Mayor is especially picturesque. Grouped around it are the Portuguese Museum, Casa del Virrey, Casa Nacarello and Municipal Museums. The historic district occupies twenty blocks and is a delight to stroll around at leisure. The old village consisted in four bastions, joined by a wall which protected the colony from invasions, one wall and the main gate still stands.
* Tour of the Tigre Delta (River Plate) ($145)
The city of Buenos Aires is located at the mouth of the world’s widest river mouth, the River Plata that separates Argentina from Uruguay. A network of intricate natural channels and islands reveal remains of a golden era with lavish manors. The main attraction is the Fruit Market, which is a different, almost magical world. The open market is filled with the colors of rustic fabric, furniture and accessories made of cane and willow, delicious jams and honey, brilliant flowers, and of course, all the variety of native fruit co-existing in absolute harmo. You get there by taking the picturesque Tren de la Costa(Riverside Train), whose path along Rio de la Plata coast will allow you to see luxurious residences and a lovely coastline. After stopping at San Isidro station to visit its attractive shopping centre, you can continue on the same train to Tigre where you will navigate small rivers and channels enjoying nature in all its splendor. Travel by bus to Tigre and then take a boat trip throughout the Delta. Later, will have lunch in Gato Blanco, a wonderful restaurant situated on an island. http://www.allaboutar.com/st_tigre.htm
*Sumptuous Farewell Dinner
Summary of Trip:
Dates: 5/2/08-5/11/08 ( Depart Friday night/arrive back Sunday morning)
Cost for Hotel : $720 per person for double occupancy at the Sheraton Buenos Aires Hotel & Convention Center. ($170 plus 21% tax per night for standard - 1 queen bed or 2 double beds with river or city view on 3rd-17th floors.) Now it is easy to register online for your Sheraton Buenos Aires Hotel & Convention Center room at: http://www.starwoodmeeting.com/StarGroupsWeb/res?id=0703019268&key=C277D.
For more about the Sheraton go to: http://www.resortvacationstogo.com/Hotel/Sheraton_Buenos_Aires_Hotel_and_Convention_Center.html
Estimated Cost for Land events to include transportation to and from airport, guides on tours, transportation for tour: $1355 estimated per person . This does not include the optional tours or activities described above as "optional."
Cost for Airfare: United Airlines will not quote to our wholesale airfare contact a definite price for May 2008 until the end of May 2007. The full price (before the wholesaler can provide a lower quote to us) is estimated to be $1600 per person (including taxes). However, we are hopeful that this price will be less once the wholesaler can obtain fare quotes from United. Delta Airline flies through Atlanta. Price for Delta will not be available until mid-June 2007. It is unlikely that frequent flier miles can be used to purchase a wholesale ticket.
Please
let MaryEva Candon (Candon@CandonLaw.com)
or Paulette Chapman, BADC President-Elect (pchapman@koonz.com)
know as soon as possible if you are interested in going on this trip.