The first 13 days

Thirteen sounded like a good number with which to start. Thirteen days in Argentina. Thirteen days in Buenos Aires. Thirteen random thoughts/tips:

done

1. Look down when walking the sidewalk so as to not step in dog poop.

2. The bus system is more complicated than your nervous system until you figure it out and you realize it is a masterful and intricate system of access to anywhere and everywhere in the Capital Federal.

3. Dinner is no earlier than 10pm and everyone is always late, so add 45minutes to that and have a snack.

4. Going home early from a night out means making it to bed by 5am.

6. Coffee is social. No to go cups. No Starbucks. No US style lattes. It is also very good.

7. One should always mingle with the locals at the bar. You might get randomly invited to someone’s house for beers and impromptu rendition of Roy Orbison’s Pretty Woman complete with Argentine accent. (see video clip)

8. You know you’re in Palermo when the waif standing next to you grabs a medium in the same skirt helping you to decide a large is most likely not going to fit.

9. The music is incredible (see Cruz Maldonado http://www.cruzmaldonado.com.ar/).

10. There are vegetable stands everywhere, but Argentines don’t seem to actually eat them too often.

11. Nothing works right. At least not all the way. Okay, one burner on the stove works. Who needs the other three.

12. Be prepared to seriously challenge your thinking on street sanitation (see #1).

13. Close your eyes if the cab driver makes you nervous and that way you won’t notice they do not slow down for intersections.

abrazos

South America, Argentina, Buenos Aires, Travel, Life, Culture