what do i do in Beunos Aires

[DigDog]

in 3 weeks i will be landing in Buenos Aires, Argentina, for my first proper holiday in 15 years.
i won't lie, i was inspired by that story of the man who went to mexico to die, did a whole bunch of hookers, and then didnt want to die anymore. i'm kinda hoping for the same result.

I want any first-hand advice (or second-hand advice, if you make it clear it could be BS) on what to do in B.A.

I will be staying 3 weeks in Palermo (it's a neghbourhood, not the italian city), and i rented a studio apartment (for like, $400 for the 3 weeks. it's cheap). im not a millionairte but i'll have about a month's work of wages to blow.

I have a local friend and can probably rely on car transport, and can rent a 125cc bike as well.

I'm not really into .. you know, museums, and other stuffy boring old people stuff, but i am open to new experiences. I'd probably love something like a dinosaur expo or anything involving medieval armours, think Metropolitan Museum NYC.

i'm open to specific advice, such as "go to X street and look for Jose the smoothie-maker".

I'm obviously very happy to meet any ATOTers IRL.





advice .....GO!

 

[UsandThem]

i won't lie, i was inspired by that story of the man who went to mexico to die, did a whole bunch of hookers, and then didnt want to die anymore. i'm kinda hoping for the same result.

Film the sequel: 'Leaving Buenos Aries'?

 

[DigDog]

google "man goes to mexico decides to live"
the untold power of massive doses of Vajayjay

 

[UsandThem]

google "man goes to mexico decides to live"
the untold power of massive doses of Vajayjay

It sounds like you should purchase an extra plane ticket, and take a very frustrated "what-the-fuck-did-he-just-post" ATOT forum member with you.

 

[DigDog]

we used to do that stuff back in the 2000's - when meeting random strangers from the internet was a good thing.

 

[DigDog]

for example; i went on a holiday in Rio De Janeiro back in, uh, 1987, and it was allright. We were kids, we chilled in the heat by going to the local brasilian pubs and drinking massive quantities of chope (the local ice-cold draugh beer), so we had a good bit of fun getting plastered, but there was this one shop in a corner, that made smoothies from fresh fruit, that was a mindblowing experience. I will simply never forget it until i die. And it would be a shame for anyone to visit Rio and to miss that place, and it's just *one* place, so unless someone tells you specifically "you gotta go there and have that thing" you wouldn't know.
Like - you go to Rome, there's the coffee granita place in Pantheon square, the frappe' place a short walk from there, and two awesome pizza places to go to, and one memorable ice cream parlour, but you wouldn't know unless you stumble into one of them, because ot a romano, they are just places like many others. It's a case of "you dont know what you got until you miss it".

 

[Zanovar]

Damn,i want one of those smoothies now never heard of chope.Im guessing i would down a few if i was in Brazil

 

[DigDog]

Damn,i want one of those smoothies now never heard of chope.Im guessing i would down a few if i was in Brazil

Bar Tio Patinhas · Rua Joaquim Nabuco, 14 - Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro - RJ, 22080-030, Brasilien

âââââ · Bar

www.google.com

 

[sdifox]

So putting around town but not into culture... Eat tons of parrillada. Try mate yelba.

Go watch a soccer game, you are not too far from River Plate. The whole stadium shakes when a game is on.

Go walkabout Boca and downtown. Maybe take a train to Pilar to checkout the cathedral. Ask your friend if there is a parillada criollo you can go to, as in actual country side bbq with hundreds of kg of meat being cooked.

Go watch an opera at Teatro Colon. May need to wear a suit, don't know if they still demand that.

<--- used to live in Barrio Belgrano. But I have no idea what Buenos Aires looks like now.


Oh, visit an icecream parlour. So many flavours. Eat a choripan from a street vendor.
Mantecol, dulce de leche, alfajores, turrons.

I miss the food.

 

[GrumpyMan]

I was born there, I would definitely recommend going to a "parrillada". A small barbecue if you will...lol..drink wine, women are beautiful but not stupid, dance a Tango and don't go getting robbed by walking by yourself too late at night. Remember, nobody starts partying until midnight and don't go to bed until sunrise. Oh and not to be a grammar nazi (no pun intended) but that's spelled Buenos Aires.

 

[KMFJD]

damn i could really go for some steak with chimichurri now.....

 

[BudAshes]

Mostly just try not to look like you are worth kidnapping.

 

[ponyo]

Let me know what you find down there. I was looking at flights to Buenos Aires or Santiago. Delta flies direct to both cities and I can get tickets for around $800 for 2 weeks in June. That's really good price for flights to Argentina and Chile so I'm really tempted even with the risk of the coronavirus.

 

[sdifox]

Let me know what you find down there. I was looking at flights to Buenos Aires or Santiago. Delta flies direct to both cities and I can get tickets for around $800 for 2 weeks in June. That's really good price for flights to Argentina and Chile so I'm really tempted even with the risk of the coronavirus.

Know that seasons are flipped so it's winter in June there. Though not much of a winter if you stay around Buenos Aires.
Definitely go check out Iguazù Falls if you can swing it.

 

[rcpratt]

Like - you go to Rome, there's the coffee granita place in Pantheon square, the frappe' place a short walk from there, and two awesome pizza places to go to, and one memorable ice cream parlour, but you wouldn't know unless you stumble into one of them, because ot a romano, they are just places like many others. It's a case of "you dont know what you got until you miss it".

You know, they have this thing called "Trip Advisor" now for that kind of stuff.

 

[Platypus]

BA is amazing, I've been there 3 or 4 times and it's always a blast.

Some survival tips: the cabs with an official yellow circular taxi symbol on the door are official cabs. They cost more, but they are regulated. The cabs without this are unofficial, and cheaper... but you get some very grand theft auto style adventures, and not in the fun way. I've taken both, and honestly more often than not it's fine, but something to be aware of. The non-official ones will try to rip you off sometimes because there's no consequences really, the official ones will never do that because losing their medallion is rough.

Do not change money at the bank, go to the section of downtown for the sketchy money trade. That sounds like terrible advice, but you will get 15 to 1 instead of 7 to 1 transfer rates and I've done this dozens of times with no consequences. This is what the locals do.

There are parts of town that locals tell you not to visit, and the cabs will not take you there. This is one city in the world where it's likely wise to listen. I photograph street art all over the world, and generally it's in not so great areas, but I've never actually feared for my life except some very particular neighborhoods in BA. I was stubborn, and I got some great photos, but it's not worth your life. I was in a different place back then.

Dinner really doesn't get started until like 10 or 11pm, people eat giant ass steaks and chips at like 1am, it's extremely common. Most night life begins at midnight. It's better to follow the locals on when to eat food, as generally restaurants will be annoyed if you come too early or just not even be open yet.

It is a lot easier to pay with credit card now, but cash is king. Keep it hidden on your person, there are a lot of pickpockets (mostly young teens that I've seen) in BA and they will peg you instantly as not local and target you in some parts.

Knowing some basic Spanish will open tons of doors for you, don't be surprised that a lot of places just wont speak English or have menus available in that way. Try to figure it out (download offline translation packs), you'll get by.

 

[Platypus]

Definitely visit Palermo and San Telmo (can be a bit rough, but much better now. Just don't hang out here at 2am alone..) as far as neighborhoods within BA. Such great food and night life and art. Looks like you're staying in Palermo (make sure your shit is secure in your room depending on the type of place you rented...) but definitely take the time to enjoy that neighborhood, it's one of my favorites.

 

[Platypus]

Last tip: buy the Argentinian Fernet Branca! Everything not made in Argentina suffers a 40% or higher import tax, so a lot of companies open up factories in Argentina to avoid this fee... the Fernet Branca in BA is much more bitter than the Italian counterpart and a lot less fake minty flavored. It is a treasure, I buy giant bottles every time I go.

Most wine places will ship you anything in the world and throw in tons of free bottles if you buy a decent quantity. Get some delicious Malbec for sure while you are there and don't try to pack all that shit in your suitcase, they will ship it and you get insane prices on amazing wines.

 

[WelshBloke]

I would eat beef, watch a Tango, smoke cheap cigars and wear a Gaucho hat st s jaunty angle!

 

[WelshBloke]

Last tip: buy the Argentinian Fernet Branca! Everything not made in Argentina suffers a 40% or higher import tax, so a lot of companies open up factories in Argentina to avoid this fee... the Fernet Branca in BA is much more bitter than the Italian counterpart and a lot less fake minty flavored. It is a treasure, I buy giant bottles every time I go.

I would also do that! I love Fernet! I had no idea that they made it there!

 

[zinfamous]

Nazi hunting?

 

[DigDog]

ok, fernet branca, yerba mate, and russian-style illegal money changing. everything else is just like Rome.

 

[sdifox]

ok, fernet branca, yerba mate, and russian-style illegal money changing. everything else is just like Rome.

Not illegal, exchange houses give better rate. Pretty sure that happens in most countries.

 

[ponyo]

Not illegal, exchange houses give better rate. Pretty sure that happens in most countries.

Argentina might be different because they've defaulted so many times. I don't know who would have faith in Argentina currency. So that's why there is likely such huge difference between the official and black market exchange rate. Same in countries like Venezuela and Cuba. Most of the stable countries, the exchange rate between banks and money changers are not that drastic.

 

[nOOky]

I've only spent a couple of days there. I found the city to be pleasant to walk around at night mostly, well lit and plenty of people sitting outside relaxing. I learned to love Malbec in South America.

Most of my time was spent down south hiking the W, hiking in El Chalten, and seeing the tourist traps there. If I ever go again I'll rent a motorcycle and drive around exploring down in that area.