Painted Lady in La Boca-Alaskan Dude
Most of the talked-up attractions of Buenos Aires are true. The soccer, tango, meat: all there in large proportions. Although I could list many things about Buenos Aires that are surprising and cool, the following are 8 random things to keep in mind if you’re hitting BsAs up:
1. Don’t throw your toilet paper down the toilet. Geez! I threw the toilet paper down the toilet paper every single damn time. I read the signs, made mental notes, promised myself not to screw up Argentina’s plumbing system. Unfortunately, rote habit kept me from heeding the “PLEASE DON’T PUT TOILET PAPER IN TOILET” signs. Sorry Argentina.
2. Locate a couple of ATMS around your hostel/hotel. ATMs in BsAs will frequently run out of cash, possibly leaving you panicked when the hostel bill is due.
3. Save your coins and small bills. Speaking of money, you should, “horde your change as if it were porn in the 1980s and lie to store clerks about having it as if they were your mom,” as Kate Sedgwick writes in her How to Take the Bus in Buenos Aires Like You Know What’s Going On piece. Buses only accept coins and you’ll get dirty looks throwing down a 100 peso spot for small purchases.
4. Watch your step. Sidewalks are uneven (I assume they’re privately owned?) and decorated with dog poop.
5. Don’t pull a map out on the street. This goes for most major cities around the world. One of our friends got robbed in broad daylight in the city center doing this. Use common sense and look at your map/guidebook in a store or secure area.
6. You don’t have to eat meat all the time. There are parrillas all over the place, but there are some fantastic ethnic and vegetarian restaurants in the city.
7. Don’t even think about eating before 9pm. 11-3am is the most hopping at the popular restaurants.
8. Call cabs. Don’t hail them off the street. Call Radio Taxi, Radio Taxi Premium if it’s available.
Keep these tips in mind as you visit and drink some of that luscious Malbec while you’re there.
Hi. I liked your post. Here you will find some useful info:
http://www.ba-h.com.ar/buenos_aires/articles.htm
Hope you like my articles (in a few days one about Recoleta will be published).
Agh, the toilet paper thing. I’d definitely end up doing the same thing!
Most of Latin America seems to have that toliet paper issue, it is a very hard rule to remember!
The toilet rule seems to be the rule starting way up in the Caribbean and in Colombia. I always forgot until I flushed and then had a vision of it surging back up…yuck!! Luckily it never happened!
Hi Alejandro-thanks for visiting. Glad you liked my post. I’ll be sure to check out your site.
@Candice-I just couldn’t help it, no matter how hard I tried. ::sigh:: lol
@Fly Girl-Thanks for stopping by! It definitely was hard for me to remember. Even within the space of a couple of seconds…
@Aly-Wow-I never even thought about it coming back up. Maybe that would’ve cured me.
Not sure if I’ll ever get to visit Buenos Aires, but your tips make for handy reference in most major cities.
I can identify with issues concering ‘small change’ even back here, in India.
Must say the Painted Lady has so much character. Is it common for folks in Buenos Aires to have similar statues out in their balconies overlooking the street?
An Indian butterfly too goes by the same name – ‘Painted Lady’.
@Anil-Glad you enjoyed the article. And yes, the painted lady does have a lot of character. The statues are popular in the La Boca area. I don’t know much more other than that about the statue tradition in BsAs.
Hmmmm Malbec. Just picked up a Lonely Planet Argentina at the library today – totally inspired by your travels.
Awesome tips! I have always wanted to visit there. It’s funny how we are such creatures of habit
And good tip about the ATMs — didn’t occur to me that they can run out of money and leave you stranded. Glad you are finding some veg cuisine!
With toilet paper, some places are more vocal about it than others. But either way, I always forget as well. It’s hard to retrain your hands and break away from your notions of what is sanitary!
@Amiee-You would love Argentina. Let me know if you have any questions. We traveled all over.
@Emily-Thanks! I’m so glad I went. Such a great country. And it is funny how much we’re creatures of habit…I spent so much mental energy trying to break the bait, but couldn’t do it!
@Ekua-Absolutely! Besides the fact that my hands did their own thing, it just seemed so unappealing to dispose of tp outside of the toilet.
Love the Painted Lady photo! Funny read but good tips. When I was in Thailand, I did remember to do the toilet paper thing but I cringed every time I imagined it would be someone else’s job to dispose of it. Forgetfulness is a blessing.
@Grrrltraveler: Thanks for stopping by
I thought the same thing as you did! I felt awful for whoever the cleaning people were that had to dispose of the tp. I really want to make it to Thailand someday!
Simple, concise, to the point. I’ve been aching to get back to Buenos Aires for years now. This definitely didn’t help.
PS—I’d extend the not flushing the toilet paper to pretty much every destination on the South American continent. Learned that one the hard way.
@Lauren-Thanks! I’m already ready to go back. I’ve been learning the tp thing extends to all of S. A. Hopefully, the next time I travel down there I’ll have better luck remembering.
Duly noted regarding the toilet paper. =)
All interesting and useful tips. Thanks for sharing.. I’ll make a note… about the toilet paper.
@Andy: hahaha. Remember the tp. lol
I guess this is the type of place where my family won’t interested to go to.
Oh well. Nice article Nancy.
Keep on writing please
@Amir-Thanks for stopping by.