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| PANORAMA OF BUENOS AIRES |
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| UNIVERSITY OF BUENOS AIRES LAW SCHOOL |
• Land Mass/Continent: South America (southeast coast)
• About Buenos Aires: Buenos Aires (BA) is the capital of, and largest city in, Argentina
• Estimated Population: 13 million (2.9 million in the city); the 2nd largest metropolitan area in South America (after Säo Paulo) and the 17th largest in the world
• Distance From Home (San Diego, CA): 5,995 miles
• The Water That'll Get Us There: South Atlantic Ocean and the Rio de la Plata
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• Currency: Argentine peso (ARS)
• Official Language: Spanish, but their version sounds more like Italian; English is not widely spoken on the streets
• Local time:
• Average wage in Argentina: In 2005, it was $539AR/month, per http://www.justlanded.de/english/Argentina/Argentina-Guide/Jobs/Working-in-Argentina
• Per our tour operator, the median salary for a person with no degree is $500-$600/month; a teacher, nurse, policeman will earn $500-$1,000/month, and a lawyer or architect will earn $2,000-$3,000/month
• Buenos Aires is known as the “Porteño City” (port city)
• People from Buenos Aires are called porteños (people of the port); 2 out of 3 porteños live in apartment buildings
• Buenos Aires is strongly influenced by European culture and is sometimes referred to as the “Paris of South America”; there are scores of theaters and productions
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| TANGO |
• In a 2008 survey by Travel + Leisure Magazine, travelers voted Buenos Aires as the 2nd most desirable city to visit after Florence, Italy
• The literary capital of Latin America; it's been home to Marquez, Neruda, Bombal, Borges, Cortazar -- and there are countless bookstores
• A more cosmopolitan city than those visited to date and not as poor in appearance
• They pay 12-13% interest on real estate loans; inflation in 2011 was 22%
• Argentina is the land of leather - the best deals are at the intersection of Murillo and Malabia
• They have the largest Jewish population in Latin America, with app. 250,000
• In 1992, a bomb exploded at the Israeli Embassy, killing 29 and injuring 242; in 1994, another explosion destroyed a building housing several Jewish organizations and killed 85 – these events marked the beginning of Islamic terrorism in South America
• There have been numerous reports of organized crime controlling the taxis, and taxi drivers are known to try and take advantage of tourists - only get into licensed taxis (with a light box on top)
• Watch out for fake 100 peso bills; never accept change in bills larger than 20 pesos
• Tourism videos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DB1Hpz0vVfc, http://www.5min.com/Video/A-Tourist-Guide-to-Buenos-Aires-23297505 and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VR72zBK1MyU and Iguazu Falls - http://www.youtube.com/user/TravelVideoSource#p/search/0/ogL3BrQ71fc
• CLIMATE
• Buenos Aires has a humid subtropical climate, with 4 distinct seasons; the warmest month is January (when we’ll be there)
• Average low for January: 68.7
• Average high for January: 86.7
• HIGHLIGHTS/THINGS TO SEE
• Meat, wine, ice cream and the tango!
• See a tango show, if possible at Cafe Tortoni - the most famous cafe in Buenos Aires (on Mondays, show times are 8:30 pm-cost $110ARS, and 9:30 pm-cost $90ARS); to make a reservation, contact laura@cafetortoni.com.ar )
• Plaza de Mayo and Casa Rosada - the famous square at the heart of the city
• Recolleta Cemetery - where Eva Peron is buried
• Teatro Colon (opera house)
• Gaucho on the pampas - horse or carriage ride
• The colorful La Boca area
• The popular neighborhoods of Palermo Soho and San Telmo; I am told, "nobody works in BA, so pick up a Latin American classic, grab a table outside and people watch for hours - the quentessential Argentinian thing to do"
• If possible, eat at La Cabrera on Calle Cabrera in Palermo Soho - the best local steakhouse in town; they serve each steak with 100 side dishes for free (don't order sides; they'll come with your beef); reservations required, but can't make them until a month in advance (contact info@parrillalacabrera.com.ar )
• Warning: When ordering meat, stick to bife de lomo or bife de chorizo (filet and t-bone); they eat all the cow, so you could end up with cow balls or intestines otherwise!! They overcook their meat, so if you want medium rare, ask for mas duro; the fruits and vegetables are safe, but only drink bottled water at restaurants
• There's a great bar district at the edge of Palermo called Las Canitas - 15 bars in a row; "popular with the A crowd and ex pats"; "best place to get sloshed"; "where money and good looks congregate"; girls should watch their drinks
• Try some Malbec, the national wine of Argentina and some of the best in the world; no need to buy expensive
• A short flight away, Iguazu Falls roars in the jungle
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| IGUAZU FALLS |
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ReplyDeleteWhen I was there, I found Las Cañitas nice and quiet, like a place I would like to live in when I am older. Today, the area is far better known among the hip, trendy, and nouveau riche as the place to dine out, have a drink, party, and be seen in the fashionable venues built into converted low-rise former houses on Calle Báez; though with Palermo Viejo's rise on the scene, it is becoming overshadowed. The polo field where the International Championships take place is also in the neighborhood and is technically part of the military bases. I will get an apartment in buenos aires next year to show them to my family and they are definitely going to be located there!
ReplyDeleteKim