i was born in buenos aires and have nothing but fond memories...beautiful people, beautiful country


i hope you like beef!

 

Update from BA - so far I haven't had the chance to get out an explore any thing beyond the office, restaurants, and my hotel bed, but I'm looking forward to the weekend and some free time to explore.

I have however experienced the driving in cabs around town. I really think I like it better than US habits, as crazy as it is. Driving impressions:

So, painted lines on the roads are really just suggestions - on a four lane road, there will actually be six or seven cars abreast. If there's room, you can drive there, and people yield.

Also, everybody cuts of everybody - but this isn't an insulting thing like in the US - every driver yeilds or goes, and the whole system just works. So far i have yet to see an accident, but I did see a pedestrian get popped stepping off a curb by a cornering car.

Everyone drives with two hands on the wheel. No cell phones, no eating, nothing - they are fully concentrating on the road and their mirrors - it is a welcome experience coming from the US.

Slow drivers pretty much get out of fast driver's way, but even if they don't, you can just make a new lane and scoot around them

About the nicest car I've seen on the streets so far is a Cayenne - everyone here drives little cheap cars - the S2000 would be like an Enzo here for its rarity and power.

The food is really good - steak is good, but not better than corn-fed midwest beef. Everyone here cooks the meat corectly though - no cinder block meat like you get in the US 90% of the time. The cuts are generally better too than most places stateside. basically everything can be grilled here, and it is awesome.

One of the local foods I really like is pumpkin - lots of ways to serve it and it tastes great.

Chilean sea bass is of course good, being close to Argentina.

All I'm drinking is water and wine - increadible local Malbecs are so inexpensive (if you get away from the tourist restaurants). No one really drinks soda here - definitely not like the US.

Found a new cordial to try and get when I'm back in the US - Legui Licor, Its like a super sweet rum or an orange Limoncello almost - very good.

Coffee is all served in espresso sizes. American style coffee I can only get at my hotel. No Starbucks here (thank God), but you have to drink twice the coffee to get your caffeine fix.

Calling to the states sucks, glad I have Skype.

The weather is great - its supposed to be late winter, but its been in the 60s (F) and even the 80s. Lows have hit the 30s. the first week i was here it was like 75 and everyone was wearing jackets and sweaters. I guess you can tell who's a foreigner because they don't look cold.

The women are average - mostly brunettes like you'd find in Spain and Italy. You have your lookers and your witches like everywhere else, but you see a lot more great bodies because barely anyone is fat here.

The city is kind of like being in Europe and South America at the same time. They call Paris the Buenos Aires of Europe here. Some nice architecture, some shanties, its an interesting mix.

Went to a soccer game - interesting expereience. If you are in a box seat you are considered VIP, and you get to leave the arena first - everyone else is locked in the stadium until the VIPs leave. Makes leaving really quick if you're in the right crowd!

Empanadas - okay they are good - have to know where to go, but they are like crack. There's so much good food here, but some weird stuff too.

Money - so the exchange rate is 3:1. That means I get a steak sandwich for like $2. You can really live like a king down here - I had a conversation with a girl at a restaurant and ended up tipping her 10 pesos on a 5 peso lunch - it was like Christmas to her - really amazing.

 

re: cars--

When I was there I did see someone scooting around in a Ferrari 355.

Also, don't go to Evita's memorial. People have actually carved grafitti into the marble, and the city didn't even bother to clean it, let alone fix the vandalism.

 

americans and their stupid tipping

 

Well, tipping is customary in other countries like Argentina too - 10-15%. The girl was just really nice to me and helpful with my random Spanish questions, and I wanted to thank her. Its not like tipping is always wrong - its just gotten ridiculous in the US.

 

cow tipping?

 

You know, I though ti ping was a city in China....

 

I was born there, been living in the U.S for about 16 yrs. now. I did go back like 6 times last year cause I had a HOT girlfriend, I will go back next year though to visit my cousins. Buenos Aires nightlife and food is great, if you are a tourist I recommend staying in the city.

 

You must be kidding or got old meat. Corn-fed beef is some of the nastiest stuff on earth. You know they have to pump cows that are corn-fed full of chemicals just to keep them alive. Free range cows, like those in South America, are much better tasting and healthier in every way. When I eat hamburgers and even hot dogs in South America I can tell the difference.

Sam

 

True