We had some business to take care of in the city and a nene (child) to entertain. I split off from the mother and we went to Abasto. Abasto is a barrio just past Once (good shopping) on Corrientes (where all the book stores are). It has as its highlight an enormous train station that has been converted into a beautiful example of PorteñoRetail101 - On the upper floor they have El Muséo de los Niños (children´s museum) and loads of arcade style entertainment plus about 3 Evil Ronalds, BurgerKings galore and inflated food court prices. There were some shops too, but you had to be a millionaire to buy anything.
We have been drinking red wine with ice (this is quite normal) and eating lots of cookies. My sweet tooth is really being tested here. Some tips for weary travellers:
- Ladrones (thieves) are very quick and pick pocketers are extremely enerprising. I had my wallet stolen from my pocket and the cheeky sod went to our lavadero (laundrette) and actually àid $15 for my clothes. Once he realised that I had no fashion sense and that my towels were old and raggedy, he took them back to the lady and asked for the money back as he didn´t want to carry them around all day (his wife would pick them up later). The ultimate insult. Two bags of my clothes aren´t worth $15! Argentinians have a call sign when they notice a ladrone scoping a job. If you see somebody clasp there hand near their face they are telling you to secure your posessions.
- If you want to drink beer - it is more expensive if you don´t have an empty bottle to return. You can buy a small botle, but that isn´t very fun. Quilmes was he best brand that we tasted, there red ale is delicious. The Boc was ok too. As far as lagers go, unless you want to pay double the price, Quilmes is better than he rest IMHO (in my honest opinion).
- If you want to eat cheap and well. Ugis Pizza. is a chain in Buenos Aires that is very budget (10$ for a pizza) and has cold beer. However be warned, there are often brawls and killings in these restaurants in the wee hours of the night, so it isn't recomended as a safe haven from the heat.
- The more expensive the Internet, generally the better qualiy machine, taste of coffee and speed of service. If you want to pass hours and don´t care for coffee, there are some locutorios that are extremely cheap and good value for money.
- If you are disabled - go to Uruguay. they are much more respecful of the rights of the individual IMHO. Baby changing areas and public toilets are ¨few and far between¨.
- Saturdays and Sundays there are ferias in Recolleta, Doregga and San Telmo (amongst others). They are full of tourists and the prices are quite high. but some of the wares are irresistable, so be sure to have the cash on hand hat you need - they don't have mobile EFTPOS in this country.
- If you don´t have sugfficient pesos to last the weekend or didn't realise that the banks close at 3pm, you can go to a supermarket and buy a pack of chewing gum wioth USD, but they will use a slightly less favourable exchange rate. so in general its better to have loads of billettes (bills) and a handful of monedas (coins) to avoid being short in change and having to pay more because that is just the way it works in South America. That said. you need o be very smart with your money too. Carrying more than a thousand pesos on your person is risky.
Today is our last day. I am looking forward to a vacation from the family and return to work. See the Picasa post for some images of BsAs.
