Just wondered two things. First, have things in Buenos Aires settled down? Second, what is the street currency being used right now? Pesos or USD?

Thanks.

good timing of thread.

I'll be down there in two weeks, if no one has answered by then, I'll post reply.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by drtravels:
Not sure what you mean by settled down but I'm currently on my way back from BA and found the city unchanged from 6 weeks previous to now.
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I left it ambiguous on purpose. I guess I just wondered if things had improved in general over the past year or whether they have become worse.

I just got back today. It's dollars and pesos, with pesos more common. Most stores have their own dollar exchange rate posted--anywhere from 3.3 to 4.0. Try to have small bills--it was very difficult paying with 50 or 100 peso notes...Also watch out for the bond notes--we got a few patacones as change once. Not everyone will accept these.

I would say things are pretty calm there.

BA is still unchanged, but now there are more peaceful demonstrations in the city.

Outside BA the economic situation is horrible and unlikely to improve. A few weeks ago there was a big scandal when some children died of hunger, and Argentina is a beef producing country. Shameful !

About pesos or dollars ? Both currencies are widely used and the exchange hasn't fluctuated too much, so there isn't a preference.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Darren:
Just wondered two things. First, have things in Buenos Aires settled down? Second, what is the street currency being used right now? Pesos or USD?</font>
I was there during Thanksgiving. If I would not have read in newspapers that Argentina is in trouble, I would not have recognized it. I got all my Pesos from ATMs; 1:3.5. Paid hotel and some restaurants with credit cards; also about 1:3.5.
I was told, that outside of Buenos Aires the situation is not so well.
I would highly recommend Buenos Aires: Very interesting town, very good food, first class Opera Colon and the people are friendly and nice, nice nice..
Todays news:
Argentina Chooses Successor for Chief of the Central Bank, By THE NEW YORK TIMES
Alfonso Prat-Gay, a 37-year-old economist who once worked for J. P. Morgan in London, has been named the new chief of Argentina's central bank.
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/11/business/worldbusiness/11ARGE.html
Is this "our" Gaucho100K? http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/biggrin.gif

my friend just returend from Buenos Aires. he was there for two weeks. we had studied and lived there for a year (1999-2000) so can compare. He said that in the city itself it's life as usual. still lots of things to do and see, and now it's cheap for americans. he said that outside of the city things are worse, but a tourist would not go to those areas. he did a three day trip to the wine producing region, Mendoza, and said it was incredible. it's mainly in the north of the country and in the suburbs to the south of Buenos Aires, that's where the problems are. but the City is still great- beautiful, good shopping, nightlife and restaurants. I love Buenos Aires and am looking forward to going back soon

A Spanish news organization writes about "trouble" at Plaza de Mayo; I don't speak Spanish, but had a German translation):

La policía ataca la marcha de las Madres de Plaza de Mayo by Urgente 2:29pm Wed Dec 11 '02

Un impresionante operativo policial rodeó el escenario que las Madres de Plaza de Mayo estaba montando, como parte de los preparativos para la 22a. Marcha de la Resistencia que hoy comienza a las 18 hs.

COMUNICADO DE PRENSA
A las 22 horas, un impresionante operativo policial rodeó el escenario que la Asociación Madres de Plaza de Mayo estaba montando, como parte de los preparativos para la 22a. Marcha de la Resistencia que hoy comienza a las 18 horas en la Plaza de Mayo.

Más de 60 efectivos de la Guardia de Infantería, con perros, pistolas lanzagases, escopetas Itaka y bastones formaron un cordón alrededor del escenario, e impidieron que se siga con los trabajos.

El operativo está a cargo del Superintendente de Seguridad Metropolitana, quien ante el requerimiento de las Madres adujo recibir órdenes directas del Jefe de Gobierno de la Ciudad, Aníbal Ibarra, de impedir a toda costa, incluyendo la represión a las Madres, que la Marcha de la Resistencia se efectuara en esa parte de la Plaza....
http://barcelona.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=30783&group=webcast

Web-Cam from Plaza de Mayo. The German news organisation is informing: "It looks like the MADRES made it....the event will start at 6:00... 'la Plaza es de las Madres, y no de los cobardes'":
http://www.buenosaires.gov.ar/areas/obr_publicas/camaras/senalamiento_camara08.asp
I know, some of the FlyerTakers speak Spanish, they may comment this.
As said before, I was there not long ago and everything was fine, let's hope it stays that way..

Is this a story about the police and the weekly march of the mothers of those wo disappeared during the dirty war?

Thanks all, appreciate it very much.

The Clarin report is not bias..

http://www.clarin.com/diario/hoy/um/m-488142.htm

Well, the report is about the mothers who who were about to initiate the "Marcha de Resistencia" (Resistance March) and are protesting against the city for having the police prevent them from their march. The police were trying to prevent the mothers from leaving from their designated protest area and causing more traffic... It's finally settled ..

There wasn't any incident. This happens every week.