How to fall in love with Buenos Aires?

[chris]

One thing I’m always confused about (and correct me if I’m wrong) is that the only time anybody seems to be in a rush in Argentina is when they’re driving. I both love and hate the notion of timekeeping here, it’s weirdly refreshing but also annoying at times. Being in a car here though does stress me out a lot, even more than coastal roads in Peru when you’re staring down the side of a cliff

I believe Argentines KNOW how to drive but they choose to be a bit reckless at times. By contrast, I get the feeling that a lot of people in places like Egypt and the Gulf countries don't really know how to drive very well and show it. I've never seen more crazy driving than in Cairo where you literally can't cross some streets. Anyway, do you RELLY need to drive in BsAs? The public transport system is vast and taxis are cheap. I walk most of the time. Time keeping? I do find it annoying but I've made it clear to friends that I have limits as to how long I'll wait. If I am meeting someone in a public place I make it a cafe where I can sit down and read. That way late arrivals are much less irritating. I remember once standing in front to Patio Bullrich waiting for friends who arrived forty-five minutes late. I'll never do that again.

 

[chris]

I believe Argentines KNOW how to drive but they choose to be a bit reckless at times. By contrast, I get the feeling that a lot of people in places like Egypt and the Gulf countries don't really know how to drive very well and show it. I've never seen more crazy driving than in Cairo where you literally can't cross some streets. Anyway, do you RELLY need to drive in BsAs? The public transport system is vast and taxis are cheap. I walk most of the time. Time keeping? I do find it annoying but I've made it clear to friends that I have limits as to how long I'll wait. If I am meeting someone in a public place I make it a cafe where I can sit down and read. That way late arrivals are much less irritating. I remember once standing in front to Patio Bullrich waiting for friends who arrived forty-five minutes late. I'll never do that again. Incidentally I know Europeans and North Americans who often arrive late. Maybe Poles are more disciplined.

 

[chris]

Why are you trying so hard to invalidate his opinion ? Argentina is not for everyone and Its crazy energy can tire many. Europe works and there is stability here its like you are inches closer to the cliff and soon game over

As I've said. if he doesn't like it, he doesn't like it. Poland is a conservative country. People are probably more disciplined. I don't find Italy to be like that, however. Rome has horrible traffic and Italians are not like the Swiss always on time and efficient.

 

[lostandconfused]

Since the thread is still going, I'd just like to add that I didn't mean that Argentinians were unreliable because their tendency to be late everywhere. It's just that I've made many plans with Argentinians and either they fall through entirely, or they change to something completely different. Going to Bariloche to ski turned into going to Salta turned into going to Córdoba. I spend a month arranging a place to stay with people I thought I could trust and everything was only taken care of on the final day (less than ideally...). I want to go to Uruguay with my girlfriend, suddenly her whole family wants to go with us and it ended up with just me going. I can go on and on with more insignificant examples. It's simply annoying to never be able to stick to the plan.
No country is a paradise, but I've always been able to find something that would let me enjoy a place I was in and here I am struggling to do so. Even in Brussels (a surprisingly rough place) I fell in love with the beer, chips, museums and all the little things to do, including proximity to so many other amazing cities. Here, however, I gave up when I ordered a medium steak (a punto? I'm not sure, I haven't had steak for a while...) and got one that was well done. After I complained and said I didn't want it as roasted, I got blue/medium rare. I couldn't believe that an Argentinian chef could screw up a steak. That was the day I gave up on expecting good food in Argentina.

 

[chris]

Since the thread is still going, I'd just like to add that I didn't mean that Argentinians were unreliable because their tendency to be late everywhere. It's just that I've made many plans with Argentinians and either they fall through entirely, or they change to something completely different. Going to Bariloche to ski turned into going to Salta turned into going to Córdoba. I spend a month arranging a place to stay with people I thought I could trust and everything was only taken care of on the final day (less than ideally...). I want to go to Uruguay with my girlfriend, suddenly her whole family wants to go with us and it ended up with just me going. I can go on and on with more insignificant examples. It's simply annoying to never be able to stick to the plan.
No country is a paradise, but I've always been able to find something that would let me enjoy a place I was in and here I am struggling to do so. Even in Brussels (a surprisingly rough place) I fell in love with the beer, chips, museums and all the little things to do, including proximity to so many other amazing cities. Here, however, I gave up when I ordered a medium steak (a punto? I'm not sure, I haven't had steak for a while...) and got one that was well done. After I complained and said I didn't want it as roasted, I got blue/medium rare. I couldn't believe that an Argentinian chef could screw up a steak. That was the day I gave up on expecting good food in Argentina.

Argentines ARE often late for events. You don't have to apologize for saying that. You have to make allowances and plan accordingly. Changing travel plans as you described, however, is beyond the normal in my experience. If you are flying or even taking the train or a micro, tickets need to be bought. Plans can't just change willy-nilly. Your relatives and friends were being unreasonable and inconsiderate. I think it's difficult to find people to travel with. In the past I found Argentine friends completely uninterested in seeing places in remote parts of Argentina (other than skiing in the south). Suggesting a place like Bolivia was greeted with horror but that's changed somewhat. I think there is more openness than there used to be. One problem I used to find was that the people who were interested in travelling lacked the money and those who had the money weren't interested or were too busy. That problem of course could happen anywhere. Good travel companions are very hard to come by. Food? It's always been the Argentine way to cook beef to death. In addition to that, the quality of beef has greatly declined in the country due to the reduction in land dedicated to grass feeding. When soy became more profitable farmers began to switch to the point that little Uruguay was exporting more beef than Argentina (not sure if that is true now). If you want good beef you've got to go to a handful of top parrillas and give very explicit instructions to the waiters - and even then they can mess it up - but still I find good beef properly cooked in some places. It's a myth though that Argentine beef is the best in the world. I've had better in Japan and the US -- and even in Zimbabwe where I ate what was probably the best beef I've ever had. Anyway, you don't like Argentina so try to make your life as pleasant a you can. There isn't much more that people can tell you.

 

[Stephano]

Completely OT but in my opinion worth mentioning: I am amazed by the wealth of considerate and thoughtful comments this topic has raked in. In other forums this would have easily degenerated into a shouting match, given that many members are BA expats and as such love the city with that kind of intensity that only a person that has chosen to live abroad has, for the good and the bad. And this without moderation (correct me if I am wrong.)

 

[Greg S]

Meh, at least Thailand would be cheaper and safer. The food would be much better too

Ok. Poland is your standard. That explains it.

 

[Greg S]

Translation for those who CBA to read the wall-o-text above -

"Waaah! Waaaah! It's not like Europe, waaaah!"

Thanks for all the replies. Unfortunately, I just don't think I will like it here after all. I've tried most of the suggestions in this thread a long time ago. There is also nothing I could only do in CABA. I come from a city of 100 thousand people and it's so much easier to do anything there, especially because we don't have insane tax rates on imports. I am afraid of taking out my camera to do photography, the conurbano is incredibly unfriendly to pedestrians so I don't want to walk and there aren't even any independent cinemas. If I start to drink wine to stand being here, I will become an alcoholic. I am 25 years old and nothing has caught my attention so far. I am especially surprised by how dead it is in the night even in Palermo. I think I will go back and make enough money to lock myself away in a bubble somewhere in Zona Norte, as unfortunately I still have to be here in the long term...

I come from Poland, which has the worst road accident casualty statistics in Eastern Europe. According to Wikipedia, Argentina has 13.6 deaths per 100k people and Poland has 7.6. I won't even mention "casual" accidents. I have never seen so many damaged cars in my life. Then again, Argentinian drivers can't even turn. Many times I have been blocked by idiots who, when turning left, go to the opposite lane, making it impossible for me to enter my own lane. Not to mention all the times I was taken over when turning left. Or all the people who can't even stay in their lane. Or all the infractions ignored all the time by the police and all the "para-police" units, like Direccion General de Transito. I have never seen anything like this. How can a whole city of 15 million people not realise that following traffic laws and driving safely will actually help them arrive at their destination more quickly?? Who has the time to read minds, block intersections and do whatever it is Argentinians do on roundabouts? In regards to Italy, there are many differences between, say, South Tirol and Napoli, also in driving skills. My girlfriend told me what she had to do to get her licence here - drive in a zigzag and park at an angle. Compare that to the Polish driving exam, which is at least 1 hour of driving in real conditions in the city (after doing what Argentinians do to get their licence), and it becomes obvious why I don't need an IDP to drive.

I guess the thread can die now. All I can say to the people who are planning to move to Argentina/the conurbano/CABA and encounter this thread is that:
1. Visiting Argentina is much more different from living here, even if you've spent some time here before the move.
2. You might want to consider another place.

So very juvenile. This entire thread. As is its originator.

 

[lostandconfused]

Ok. Poland is your standard. That explains it.

Hey, I can walk in the street without fear of being robbed or killed there!

 

[argentinaorbust]

Bruh the congourbano is a genuine 3rd world sh!thole, this is a very well known fact. I mean, no offense but wtf are you doing there?

A lot of the stuff you're saying isn't really true about driving, food availability & security but good luck in your endeavors.