What do you like here in BA?

[Zackdotcom]

I love most of what i've seen in this city... the broken sidewalks and, dog poo and poor construction quality of the buildings is just a fact of life in all of Latin America... I mean with the overpopulation of this city ( im guessing 400%) more than what this city can handle, no amount of upkeep with ever make it perfect. Even areas like Liberatdaor Ave. and Avelear are lacking the class of other major cities. (like in BA would be the only place you will find a mens club across from the Louis Vuitton) I would sum this up to over use and poor city planning. But there is something strangely cool about this city, while the people here are as UN hip as any city ever, I mean really, cotton scarves, and fake toms are so 3 yrs ago, but it has charm and style. They seem to care deeply for their past, yet do nothing to change their futures, like learning to use sea salt instead of table salt, or well salt in general.

There are so many of the same things because there are so many people if there was only one cafe it would be over run. I asked my guy at my 25hr store the other day about how they get products or choose what to sell, (like skittles at one place and not another) and he says if one guy in a 6 block area gets a new product, he is immediately interrogated as to how and what he is selling, then Marco says it will take less than 2 days for 3-4 other stalls to sell the same thing, or turn the store keeper in to the authorities for selling non imported products...
He says if you do anything or sell anything not here now, someone will take it form you or be competing in less than a week, or well watch your back. ( the flower guy agrees )
(remember this is a spanglish conversation)

Ive said for 3 weeks this is the down syndrome baby of Paris and Mexico City. Old and Beautiful with its own class and charm, and overwhelmed but a population so dense the infrastructure cant keep up with it, and sprinkle in a cup of a missing chromosome and viola!

My 2 cents! But I'll be back very soon, and I have a business idea!
See you guys in February!

 

[MacDaddy]

Many thanks to all who replied to this thread.. I now have a list of many more things to experience here.. looking forward to it all!

 

[Macanudo]

If you don't have two left feet, this is the best city on the planet to learn and dance Tango! Start taking Milonguero style lessons at El Beso on Monday and Friday nights at 8:30 PM, and or at La Viruta on Saturday nights at 7 PM. If you return to New York you'll be able to continue the adventure. http://lamilongadel126.blogspot.com/

 

[canut]

While this city may be bland, are you really prepared to say that any small city in the US is less bland than this? PLEASE, please tell me you are joking. There are so many small cities in the US that make a small TOWN in Uruguay particularly look like a renaissance fair. For most of small town America you will roam in the dark for miles in search of cheap coffee after, er, 6 p.m. Peleeasse.

 

[Sappho]

I love the old buildings, especially the ones with faces on them, the local stores - panaderias, librerias, kioscos, cafes....the undercurrent of gossip, the flirting at street-corners, the way second-hand stuff retains its value, the excitement of inflation, the drifts of tango music in unexpected places...

 

[marksoc]

I love the city but culturally nothing can win against Paris (maybe Berlin?). The amount and variety of culture offered by the french capital is astounding,makes you feel dizzy, especially if you like cinema like me. Going to the Louvre (only one museum in a city full of them) is like learning to swim in the ocean,you drown in an avalanche of Western masterpieces. I wish BA was like that (without the snobism, of course, so less Recoleta and more Abasto).

 

[ellbee]

I like:
My husband
His family
MUSIC
FASHION
ART

...and the food. some of it.

other than that, I can't tolerate the government, stupid Argentinean laws , ridiculous inflation every year...or month.....summer time (I am from SF and I am a spoiled brat when it comes to summers. We have the best summers in the world! Best weather in SF in general), heavy traffic, lack of products in the supermaket, bad customer service, the economy, and i could go on and on....

 

[canut]

I think a lot of people who complain about BA do so thinking about an ideal back home in the past, in their youth which is gone. Travelling is a hard animal to tame!

 

[Raymond]

Kia Ora!

To get a smell of the river that isnt going to set you flat on your back like in La Boca, check out Peru beach in San Isidro, there´s a coastal train that follows the river all the way out to Tigre, theres a rockwall for climbing, cafe hockey rink and you can hire windsurfers or learn kite surfing out there all in the same block.
check out Green Bamboo in Palermo real nice vibe in there and they know how to make great cocktails, the food is good too, but it makes me laugh at what people charge for asian (They specialise in Vietnamese,) food..

 

[jago25_98]

I found out today how to answer this thread.

I have an appointment with the doctor at the gym in order to be allowed to use the swimming pool. Good idea, I think, but I expect its more just another piece of beurocracy! When I knock the door I push it a little and Im greeted by a girl who looks no older than 18. She speaks perfect English for me, smiling all the time. She asks to see my hands. Then my feet. I take off my shirt. She has a good look and says Very Good with a nod and a wink and a smile. Well thanks ;genuine friendliness to each other and her professionalism at peace with some mild titillation.

I take my herp and head lice upstairs.

When I get to the gym I join a lady who must be at least 70 on the treadmill. To my left in comes a lady with a pram and baby who says hello to everyone there. She starts lifting weights while giving the baby those funny little faces you give. Yes, I think Ill sun bath on the roof after this.