Hi Jessef-- sorry I cant help you much with this.... I know there are various organizations here that work with similar orgs in the USA and Europe to coordinate these programs, but I dont have any specifics. I understand the usual procedure is to contact these orgs in your place of origin, and they help you from there.

It looks like those two days are weekdays. So far, so good. The way they have this cruise set up, we're arriving at 7AM, staying on the boat that night, and flying out late evening the next day. Guess I'll have to shoot the cruise line people an e-mail and see if they have connections.

From what I've been able to find, seems like the Jockey club and Olivios are the best options. I wanted to get some local opinions rather than depend on the cruise line ... who may have a vested interest in sending me someplace.

Also, please PM me some info on your store. My SIL/BIL are wine fanatics, it would be a nice treat to bring them back some things we probably don't see in the states

So, we will be in BA for the first time in two weeks. This is a great thread, and we're soaking it up (and appreciate it)!. But, with almost 2000 posts, its a long one to get through.

Would anyone mind offering up perhaps 5 or 10 restaurants (and also if you know, nightspots, particularly jazz) not to miss whilst in BA? And if the answer is, read the whole thread, hey, I can take 4 hours to do that too!! Thanks! ^

I have one for you that I do not think was even mentioned in this thread. It is a San Telmo hole-in-the-wall called El Desvinal and it is strictly bare bones, no reservations, a waiting line at all times, and great food from a grill in the front of the place that is on display and which you can observe easily as you wait for a table.

Needless to say, the check will not overwhelm your wallet. As a matter of fact, it was the cheapest we visited in BsAs with food equivalent to the fancier and more elaborate places.

I forget the address, but we went there with tenmoc and he will remember and should be able to answer a PM.

El Desnivel
Defensa 855 - San Telmo
Ciudad de Buenos Aires
Tel: 4300-9081

For a 100% local hangout, and to have an excellent gourmet meal, I strongly recommend this relatively new restaurant...

Pura Tierra
3 de Febrero 1167 - Belgrano C
Ciudad de Buenos Aires
Tel: 4899-2007
www.puratierra.com.ar

Please read:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071026/...ina_election_5

I always found BA save, especially in the areas I roamed around. Has the situation change dramatically in the last 12 month?

I dont know how much time Mr. Cormier (the author of this article) spends down here in Buenos Aires, or who his sources are... but I think the article is out of focus and doesnt have the balance I would expect from the AP. The only point that he covers well is inflation, which indeed is somewhere between 18-20% and not the silly number the government is reporting. The entire crime thing is blown completely out of proportion... yes, Buenos Aires is not as safe as it was 20 years ago but things are not as bad as described in this article. BTW, San Justo is not a place you wanted to visit 20 years ago, and its the same now.

Gaucho100K:

Thanks. Nice to hear that it's still save. I never recognized any crime in BA (Recoleta or so...). However, every evening I saw poor people busy collecting paper, glass from the waste, but leaving us alone, not asking for money. Actually, I was impressed how hard they "worked" to get some money, but still, it was saddening.

Cristina has a lot to do ... right now Argentina is "addicted" to Hugo's gas and money. That has to end, better sooner than later.

BTW, I admire Argentina. I have seen only hard working, friendly and very ethical people. True!

El Establo & Rio Alba were my two favorite restaurants

Cristina.... uuuug!!! (where is the puking smilie) :rolleyes:

You have nothing to worry about in terms of safety, provided you use the usual street smarts applicable to any large city, plus a dash of common sense.

Enjoy your trip!!

I can't vouch for the accuracy of this piece on the current state of Argentine politics/economy, but I found it quite interesting. It certainly gives newbie visitors some flavor as to "the situation":

http://www.aei.org/publications/filt...pub_detail.asp

I've been regularly visiting Argentina for 20 years now, and while I'd like to say that I think things are FINALLY on the right path, my head says that's probably not the case. I sadly see more of the troubled past in Argentina's future. I hope I'm wrong.

Which means you should visit NOW, because who knows what the future holds. As an example, I can remember a visit to Iguazu about 6 years ago. The Argentine side was outrageously expensive for an American tourist. The Brazilian side was cheap. Now things are exactly the reverse! So don't wait to see BA.

Have to work hard ... despite the government, or maybe more because of them. :eek:

As someone who was taking nervous nellies to Buenos Aires in 2002 when things were the messiest they've been for a few decades -- and it won't get seriously worse this year or next than it was around 5 years ago -- I say there is no need to worry if applying a bit of street smarts and avoiding crowds. The city is as great as ever and has more international visitors from farther afield than used to be the case. ^^

Here's why:

Quote:

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Argentine Debt Devastated by Data Suspicion....Argentina's benchmark inflation-linked bonds have tumbled 24 percent this year, making the country's debt market the worst performer in the world.....

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http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?p...f4I&refer=home

Actually, its not really the bond market that worries the current government... its more the inflation numbers that would cost them votes plus get the trade unions start pressuring for wage increases, etc. etc. In this grand scheme of things, the inflation adjusted bonds are a third tier consideration.