TANGO:

We're leaving in a couple weeks for Argentina.

We already have reservations for Esquina Carlos Gardel, but we'll have time for another show.

I understand all the tango shows are different. Three recommended shows are El Querandi, Senor Tango and Rojo Tango.

I'd appreciate any input about these shows.

Also, I'm sure my partner would love a casual neighborhood-type bar. We saw something on travelogue where people were playing guitars. Any suggestions? (Preferably with a no- to low-smoking factor.)

Thanks.

I went to El Querandi a couple years ago. It's a very entertaining show. The food is OK (but not the reason to go). BTW, I got my tickets at a discount ticket outlet for less than half the face value. It was astonishingly cheap. I can't remember exactly where I got them, but both Fodors and Insight Guides recommends this place:

Cartelera Baires, Unit 24, Av. Corrientes 1382
http://www.cartelera-net.com.ar/donde_estamos.htm

Insight Guides also lists the following discount ticket outlets:

http://www.unica-cartelera.com.ar/principal2.htm at Unit 27, Lavalle 835 Microcentro

Cartelera LaValle, Lavalle 742 Microcentro http://site.bases123.com.ar/

There may also be another cartelera at 1660 Corrientes.

Through a hotel package at the Sheraton Libertador, I have tickets to Esquina Carlos Gardel. The "buzz" is that the show is very good, and the food is not. You can attend the show at 10:30 pm and eat elsewhere (at a lower price). FWIW, I think the "published" prices for this show seem outrageous, and several times more expensive than what I paid to see El Querandi.

We did Senor Tango a couple of years ago and found it more in line of a Vegas show then anything else. The food was ok but nothing to remember. Too much Senor and not enough tango. High price. If you are looking for authentic tango this is not the place.

We went to El Viejo Almacen when in BsAs last spring and enjoyed it very much. Dinner was included -- I think the total tab was about $60-70 USD. The meal was very good, and so was the show.

I've heard good things about Esquina Carlos Gardel, but we didn't make it there.

If you want to get the whole tango experience, it might be good to go to a production show one night and a milonga another night.

Would we have to dance at a milonga or can we just watch?

You don't have to dance. We just sat there and watched for about two hours. It was quite interesting/entertaining. Most milongas have liquor service, so you can get a bottle of wine/beer and just take in the surroundings.

We went to Salon Canning. It was nothing fancy, but the people were extremely nice and friendly. It was cool to see the tango culture from both sides -- theatrical and participation.

Jeez, just thinking about it all makes me want to go back ASAP.

(Bear in mind, Salon Canning is a little hard to find -- it isn't well-marked. That was the only milonga we visited. It doesn't pay to get there much before 11 p.m. or so.)

for OP's question about shows

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showt...ighlight=tango

For question about dancing at milongas


Milongas While you don't have to dance at a milonga why not try. Get there around 9:30 and take a free lesson. The milongas dont really start until 10:30 or 11 but try the lessons and you might like it
Remember that all locations are really different milongas on different nights as there are different organizers and the entire scene can be different.

Added benefit of going to a milonga is that all usually have a performance around 1-2am

Canning is at 1331 Scalabrini Ortiz,,, (recommend Tue or Fri nights)
not much for food,, Wine and drinks and empenadas
photo's Canning
http://www.torito.nl/tango/fotos/bue...ing/index.html
Also good choice is Nino Bien 1462 Humberto Primo
They do serve decent not great food and drinks
see photo
http://www.torito.nl/tango/fotos/bue...ien/index.html

just back: Stain-and-distract + taxi rip-off
 

Just back from a MR to EZE on Delta, was in town for just a few days. Here are my general impressions with two quick warnings.

1) I walked quite a bit, but never past midnight, and never felt unsafe. Twice, during the day, I thought I was being followed &/or sized up, but shook them by once by crossing the street and stopping a number of times until it was obvious to my tails they had been discovered. The other time I took their photo - they didn't like that, but moved on.

2) The steaks and empanados were excellent. I don't think I ever had an empanado made so well. The house wines I tried were very fruity reds. Not much to my liking, but i don't drink much.

3) I saw some street sleeping, but nothing compared to what I see in NYC, much less SFO or Santa Monica.

WARNINGS

1) A thief sprayed me with foul-smelling gunk in a stain-n-distract attack while I was taking photos in the park between the train station and the Park Towers. I wasn't even sure what was going on at first as the thief did not approach me right away. Instead, he waited for me to rub my head like an idiot and look around for a minute or two before coming up to "help." He got handsy very quick and I had to wrestle my camera from him as he tried to take it off my back to "clean it." Undeterred he started wiping my trousers forcing me to jog backwards and raise my fist. Only then did the smiling ....... stop touching me, but he continued pretending to be my friend, telling me how bad it smelled and how I needed cleaning. I simply retreated further, did a quick pocket and bag check, and left knowing nothing was lost -- but I consider myself lucky. The confusion and anger from the being hit with this stench took me awhile to shake off. If he was a better thief or had been working with a confederate, I could have lost quite a bit more. Bottom line - be wary of help, especially if hit with a stink bomb.

2) Like every city, the taxi scams stories are real. Leaving the Park Tower for my return trip I told the driver to turn on the meter. He said "No, flat rate, by law, 19 USD." What do I know? $19 is consistent with what I paid to get in from the airport, so I let it slide. Half way to the airport the meter starts to beep, much like an alarm, and the driver simply unplugs the back of it. I assume this was the meter's programming sending a message to either the driver or the passenger that it was not running on what seemed a long trip for a taxi. We get to the airport and he says no, not 19 USD, 90 PESOS ($30) PLUS 10 PESOS for tolls. !@##!@ I ended up paying him 65 pesos, but what a pain in the ..., as we both kept threatening to call the police (it was a little funny at that point). Bottom line: always use the meter, never trust a taxi-driver.

The last time I was there in May, 45 pesos or so was the standard flat rate from the city to the airport. You may pay the toll of 5-6 pesos as well. $19 as a flat rate would be okay, but a few dollars higher than it should be. My last time, I had him use the meter, and it was 2 pesos less than the flat rate, but still paid him the 45p.

If there is an problem, I'll just get another taxi. They love the airport runs, as they can often get a ride back, as well.

My simple rule for taxi drivers: If they don't agree to use the meter (or a fair flat rate), then I'll simply get out. Take a picture of the taxi meter unplugged along with his license number. About 50% of all the troubles I encounter in traveling are with taxis.

How were your DL flights?

Shower facility near EZE
 

A search of this thread reveals that the RCC does not have shower facilities. It does appear that Air France has a club with a shower facility, which will be closed when I arrive this Thursday am on AA.

I will arrive at EZE at 10 am and need to leave at 4pm out of Aeroparque for Cordoba. Do you seasoned Bs.As. travelers have a suggestion for a place to go to shower that is convenient to EZE? I want to make one short visit in the city for a lunch meeting, but I need to leave that afternoon. It does not appear that there are too many hotels close to EZE that would fit the bill.

From the many reports we get, it does seem like travellers to BA have a good chance of experiencing these 2 petty crime problems -- I know I had to dodge a street "follower" on my last visit, and we've had countless reports of the stain trick. I guess the good thing is that if you're aware of these 2 problems, you're much less likely to lose your stuff to these criminals.

Regarding the taxis, it seems like a good idea to always call a reliable radio taxi company. There seem to be several of them. What's the opinion of the locals? Is there a good company to always call?

Taxi and remise fares are increasing due to inflation. In BsAs taxi fares increased by 20% on November 1.

At the end of October, the standard taxi fare from EZE to downtown was 65 pesos (including tolls), plus tip - I usually add about 10%.

I use a remise service to go to the airport from my apartment in Palermo, and the fare was 62 pesos on November 9 (no tip expected). When I took the same service in mid September, I believe the fare was 55 pesos.

John

An update on taxi/remise fares from EZE to the Capital.
 

I arrived at EZE this morning (November 15). Remise/Taxi fares to the city have all increased dramatically in the last 2 weeks. There is a sign posted in the baggage claim area, giving the standard remise/taxi fares to various destinations.

The new fares listed are around 90 pesos (including tolls). I paid 90 pesos to my apartment in Palermo (compared to 65 pesos via the same service 3 weeks ago ...).

John

14-November, a taxi from EZE to Microcenter (Sheraton Libertador at Cordoba y Maipu) was 78 Pesos including toll. "Taxi Ezeza" Taxi stand after exiting terminal (I think it was second from the rightmost in the line of stands to the left of the door that you exit).

AEROLINEAS ARGENTINA: Can this be correct? I just got off the phone with AR. The agent said that carry-on luggage cannot exceed 5 kilos (yes, that's "five") and check-on baggage cannot exceed 15 kilos. Do I need to leave my underwear at home?