So tell me about Buenos Aires.

[+ Chris Eisenhower]

Suggestions? Things to do? People to see? Places to go?

 

I just got an email from a Nigerian prince who wants to take me there at the beginning of next year.

 

[+ Funguy]

Did he tell you he had $50 million in funds he needs to wire you - could you please give him your bank acct numbers.

[Diverdan]

Funguy has it right !! Hope you will not be taken in by this. Cash the check and buy the airplane ticket as soon as received... sounds like a set up to me.

DD

[+ Chris Eisenhower]

Let me rephrase my original question (which was a joke). I've been invited to BA next year.

 

What is there to see and do?

[Steven_Draker]

A joke, my Prince?

 

http://www.agent-x.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Nigerian-Prince-ee88ad3.jpg

[+ Axiom2001]

I love Buenos Aires. ...have been there five times since 2005 and desire to return in 2015; it's a beautiful city with distinct, very interesting barrios; taxis are plentiful and cheap; ...would NOT use the buses [guidance given to me by my ex pat guide].

 

I can respond to your query: "What is there to see and do?" within a few days; I'll give some information and would suggest that you read and/or skim the websites and the source books that I'll relate in my future post to you!

 

I liked its hot, big dicked men, its food, the value you get since the dollar is great vs the Argentine pesos, and the men in Buenos Aires are known as the "portenos!" My next "report" will be organized and I hope helpful to you!

[BabyBoomer]

It's about an 11 hr. flight, all that "ambien" you've got stockpiled might come in handy.

~Boomer~

[marylander1940]

... the value you get since the dollar is great vs the Argentine pesos...

 

I'm glad there's still a place where dollars go far, I have 2 friends who visited Istanbul and Rio de Janeiro and they were surprised about how expensive it is now if you pay with dollars.

 

Now about Buenos Aires:

 

I hope the client who invited you is in good shape and considers 10 blocks a walking distance, for many Americans that ain't walkable...

 

There are a lot of attractions but you need to walk in order to get a feeling of the city. You should go to Puerto Madero (old harbor) next to the Casa Rosada with wonderful lofts in old buildings SoHo style, walk toward the Casa Rosada, Plaza de Mayo (May Square), Cabildo (colonial government assembly house) take Avenida de Mayo toward Congreso (Congress) just 20 blocks away, you'll see neoclassic eclectic buildings on both sides of the Ave., very similar to Paris, Congreso is visible from the Casa Rosada.

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f3/Buenos_Aires_-_Avenida_de_Mayo_-_Altura_1100_vereda_par_-_2006.jpg

 

http://images.doctissimo.fr/1/voyages/argentine-juin-2011/photo/hd/5874818587/16019109f7f/argentine-juin-2011-buenos-aires-cabildo-big.jpg

 

On another day go to Plaza de Mayo and take Florida pedestrian Avenue and walk toward San Martin Square, go to the Railway Station and Englishmen Tower, Retiro neighborhood.

 

http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/02/b1/e9/15/filename-aerea-retiro.jpg

 

Planetarium in Barrio Norte is a must do.

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/81/Planetario_de_la_Ciudad_de_Buenos_Aires.JPG

 

Ricoleta cemetery, the XVIII Century church and the early XX century neoclassic neighborhood nearby. Evita's tomb is there.

 

San Telmo and Boca neighborhoods should be visited but "Caminito" is very touristic, just like Disneyland.

 

El Tigre is in the delta of the Parana river in the Rio de la Plata and it's called the Argentina Venice, plenty of mansions only accessible by water, but that's only if you have plenty of time to do everything else first.

 

Take the Ferry to Colonia del Sacramento on the other side of the "River Plate" (Rio de la Plata) 25 miles from Buenos Aires, I know it's one of the widest rivers in the world. The city was founded by the Portuguese in 1680 to threat the Spanish colonies in the Southern Cone and pass from one country to another till in 1777 became Spanish in exchange for that country giving up its claims toward Amazonia and receiving Equatorial Guinea from Portugal, clearly ending the Tordesillas treaty that divided the world between the 2 Iberian empires. It has architecture from both countries, and a house completely covered with white and blue mosaic Portuguese style.

[+ Chris Eisenhower]

PERFECT. Thank you, MDlander.

 

Another question... are you (or anyone else) familiar with the Buquebus ferry/bus line to Montevideo? It also goes to Colonia in Uruguay, which is much closer and much smaller. It appears to be about $80-100USD each way.

 

Sadly, Ambien doesn't work for me on a plane. I tend to load up on TV episodes and binge watch. Since BA is just an hour ahead, it shouldn't be a big deal, although it's a long-ass flight.

[marylander1940]

PERFECT. Thank you, MDlander.

 

Another question... are you (or anyone else) familiar with the Buquebus ferry/bus line to Montevideo? It also goes to Colonia in Uruguay, which is much closer and much smaller. It appears to be about $80-100USD each way.

 

 

Montevideo is similar to Buenos Aires, but is more expanded. Unless you have 3 or 4 days to spare, I would suggest you to go to Colonia only and spend at least a week in Buenos Aires.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonia_del_Sacramento

 

Ferry to Colonia named in behalf of Argentine Pope Francisco.

 

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8G8bkUCuvD8/UffTVExkV7I/AAAAAAAADVU/kZ4mopZyga8/s1600/Francisco+prueba.jpg

 

Montevideo

 

 

 

http://www.amautaspanish.com/fotos/uruguay/big/spanish-course-montevideo.jpg

 

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x244/ilignelli_1990/Edificios/Torre%20de%20Antel/177188638_e6ff078c71_b.jpg

 

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s538/BolsilludoSSC/1-19.jpg

[Steven_Draker]

are you (or anyone else) familiar with the Buquebus ferry/bus line to Montevideo?

 

Yes, it's very close.

 

If I were you, I would add a couple of days in Punta del Este - a jewel in the crown !

 

http://www.hola.com/imagenes/viajes/2013053165189/fotogaleria-punta-este-uruguay/0-237-995/a_Punta-del-Este-desde-el-avio-a.jpg

 

http://www.multitour.tur.br/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/punta-1.jpg

 

http://rck3.weebly.com/uploads/9/7/3/7/9737833/3198084_orig.jpg

[armadillo]

You are also going to have a very favorable exchange rate. 8.446997Agentine Peso : 1 USD.

[swallows22]

And do not forget the falls at Iguazu!

[justaguy]

I've yet to get to any of South America. Reading through this thread is making me think Brazil needs to get a big bump up my places to visit list.

[+ Topseed]

I've taken the ferry between BA and Colonia. Easy, easy. It's fairly cheap and is on time. Colonia is a cute little beach town, and itself worth wandering around.

 

And Chris: take a stack of $20 US bills with you. When I was there a few years ago, every restaurant I went to was very, very happy to take my US currency and also gave me a highly advantageous exchange rate. Inflation is out of control in Argentina, and so these wise businessmen are preferring to be paid in a currency that has value.

[+ Chris Eisenhower]

Again guys... thank you for the info. We're trying to plan something and want to approach it with more structure than Montreal.

[marylander1940]

And do not forget the falls at Iguazu!

 

That's a 3 hours flight... Just like Rio de Janeiro.

 

A bit too pushy.

 

More on Punta del Este.

 

http://www.vivapunta.com/multimedia/fotos/punta/punta_del_este115.jpg

 

And don't miss the bridges there... very unusual and environmentally friendly, built like this to avoid speeding on top of them, and with as little as possible contact between the bridges and the water to avoid disturbing the sediments.

 

Jose Ignacio lagoon bridge, to be finished in January 2015

 

http://medios.presidencia.gub.uy/jm_portal/2012/noticias/NO_G217/fgr_01.jpg

 

Leonel Viera bridge, completed in the 1960's and enlarged with a clone bridge next to it in the 90's.

 

http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/89424767.jpg

 

Santa Teresa fortress, since 1767 defending the oldest border in the Americas, the Chuy river between Uruguay and Brazil.

 

http://blog.agenciapreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/15FEB10_Fevereiro_003.jpg

[+ Axiom2001]

Again guys... thank you for the info. We're trying to plan something and want to approach it with more structure than Montreal.

 

Chris, what preceded my post this morning is wonderful. Glad my fellow "cyberbuds" gave you some specifics. I'll cite them later, but right now, today, I want to give you some salient websites to consult.

 

1) http://TheGayGuide.com.ar 2) http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/South_America/Argentina/Distrito_Federal/Buenos_Aires-1541981/TravelGuide-Buenos_Aires.html [/url] 3) http://www.timeout.com/buenos-aires 4)http://www.nighttours.com 5) http://www.nytimes.com/travel/guides/central-and-south-america/argentina/buenos-aires/restaurants.html 6) http://www.ba-walking-tours.com 7) http://www.bafreetour.com/english-home 8) http://www.viator.com 9) http://www.Fodors.com 10) http://www.casasaltshaker.com 11) http://www.tangoshowbuenosaires.com 12) http://www.try2cook.com 13) http://www.yourfriendinbsas.ar/customer_references_332.htm

 

I'll return with specific restaurant recommendations and "not to miss places," such as Tigre and those wonderful, exhilarating falls to which others alluded earlier. If you do go to "the falls," take in the Brazilian side as well; that can be done within a day. Stay at the Sheraton Hotel on the Argentine side if possible.

[jawjateck]

Dang....I wanna go. I like this discussion.

[Dave]

Chris -

be careful on streets of buenos aires. dont wanna make you paranoid, just use your head and dont be flashy with things like fancy bags, be discreet using technology on the streets, etc. I know a few people who were mugged in broad daylight for such things.

and yes - I strongly recommend iguazu as well.

have fun!

[Traveler North]

Iguaza Falls are spectacular. 20 falls with four major ones. On the border between Argentina and Brazil. Argentine side allows you to walk on boardwalks near the crest of the falls. If you wish to cross to the Brazilian side, you will need to get a VISA from Brazil. It is worth the trouble. Panoramic view of the falls. You can take a helicopter ride over the falls. Not to be missed. NOTE- Casa Rosada on the Plaza de Mayo, the place where BA was founded, is the presidential palace though she does not live there. Her residence is an estate on the fringe of BA.

[Steven_Draker]

Not to be missed. NOTE- Casa Rosada on the Plaza de Mayo, the place where BA was founded, is the presidential palace though she does not live there.

 

An interesting anecdote: Why is the Casa Rosada pink?

 

http://www.esacademic.com/pictures/eswiki/67/Casa_Rosada_2005-01-06.jpg

 

"There are two possible answers to this question. As the first legend states, the Casa Rosada’s pink is the result of the mixing of cow’s blood into white paint, which was meant to protect the building from the ravages of Buenos Aires’s humid climate. The second possible answer, however, is that this color is the result of pure Argentine politics. By mixing the white of the Liberal party and the red of the Radicals, Sarmiento hoped to diffuse political tensions and symbolize the harmony of a grand nation".

[marylander1940]

Chris -

be careful on streets of buenos aires. dont wanna make you paranoid, just use your head and dont be flashy with things like fancy bags, be discreet using technology on the streets, etc. I know a few people who were mugged in broad daylight for such things.

and yes - I strongly recommend iguazu as well.

have fun!

 

Even in DC you need to be careful about your iPhone...

 

Iguaza Falls are spectacular. 20 falls with four major ones. On the border between Argentina and Brazil...

 

It makes sense to visit Buenos Aires and Colonia in a week long trip, adding Montevideo and Punta del Este would be a great idea too if you had more time. Iguazu falls is actually closer to Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, it's not impossible but it's kind of far and it's a trip within a trip, while Colonia, Montevideo and Punta del Este would require a ferry and a comfortable bus ride, and I would only recommend you to visit the falls if you have time enough to do it. Near Iguazu you have Itaipu dam and the Misiones.

 

http://www.thomsonworldwide.com/destinations/themes/tww/images/maps/Argentina.gif

 

http://sevennaturalwonders.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/DSC_5328.jpg

 

http://hungkcct.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/itaipu-dam-puerto-iguazu-argentina1152_12989569079-tpfil02aw-19627.jpg

 

http://www.argentour.com/images/misiones_san_ignacio.jpg

[bigvalboy]

What an interesting thread. Thanks to Marylander for posting all the wonderful pics and information, and to Ax for all the links.

[Traveler North]

Story I was told is that the Casa Rosada was inspired by the visit of an Argentine president to the White House in D.C. The color story I was not told.