Unfortunately, I cannot help you there, as I was not able to experience it the last time I was there.

By the way, a more appropriate Steely Dan song for this thread is Gaucho, except for the Rio part:

Just when I say
�Boy we can't miss
You are golden�
Then you do this
You say this guy is so cool
Snapping his fingers like a fool
One more expensive kiss-off
Who do you think I am
Lord I know you�re a special friend
But you don�t seem to understand
We got heavy rollers
I think you should know
Try again tomorrow

Can�t you see they�re laughing at me
Get rid off him
I don�t care what you do at home
Would you care to explain

Who is the gaucho amigo
Why is he standing
In your spangled leather poncho
And your elevator shoes
Bodacious cowboys
Such as your friend
Will never be welcome here
High in the Custerdome

What I tell you
Back down the line
I�ll scratch your back
You can scratch mine
No he can�t sleep on the floor
What do you think I�m yelling for
I�ll drop him near the freeway
Doesn�t he have a home

Lord I know you�re a special friend
But you refuse to understand
You�re a nasty schoolboy
With no place to go
Try again tomorrow

Don�t tell me he�ll wait in the car
Look at you
Holding hands with the man from Rio
Would you care to explain

Who is the gaucho amigo
Why is he standing
In your spangled leather poncho
With the studs that match your eyes
Bodacious cowboys
Such as your friend
Will never be welcome here
High in the Custerdome

Now back to our regularly-scheduled thread already in progress...

Did it two weeks ago. I think if you are into antiques the answer is probably yes. I/we are not so less than an hour was enough. We enjoyed the area more on a weekday as there are many interesting shops and galleries to visit.

I will be in Bs As from the 2-10 of December. This will be my third trip in three years. Last year I was in Argentina for 5 weeks and the year before for 3. However, this trip is different because a friend of mine will come with me. Due to his economic situation this will be probably be his only trip ever to Argentina (he has been gifted miles). He is the sole bread winner for his parents Brothers and their wives. I really want this to be a vacation of a life time for him. My dilemma: I can't decide if we should stay the whole time in Bs As (with a day trip to colonia) or if we should try and do a quick run to one of the following: Iguazu, the glacier, or Salta. I have roughly mapped out the following:

arrival day - rest and walk around Florida St.
another day - cemetery, art museum, market across the st.
another day - colonia (travel partner would love another stamp in his passport)
another day - palermo
another day - san telmo, La Boca
another day - tourist attractions (famous buildings) and Colon Theater
another day - just to soak in the city and take pictures
another day - Shopping centers and the big Mosque (this guy is Muslim and has never seen a big shopping center before and wants to)

I am a firm believer that it is better to spend a longer time in one place than try "to do everything at once." However, I want this to be a really special trip for my freind.

Do you think it is possible to compress above and throw in a quick 2 night stay in another place. Again, I have done all of these things (am thrilled to do it again, but I want my friend to have a really excellent trip.

Any suggestions?
thanks

Just got the bad news a strike has closed Teatro Colon and canceled the rest of the opera season. I planned my entire trip to BsAs around going to the opera in early December. Any word if the strike was settled or if they will at least still do back stage tours of this venerable opera house? Thanks.

sbagal-- Im very sorry this situation. As a EZE native and opera fan, I share your grief and in addition am very embarrased at how this idiotic strike has tarnished the reputation of an otherwise extraordinary theater. Unfortunatetly, politics and labor unions have a way of ruining things.

I read the other day in the papers that the strike itself has now been lifted, but the Colon�s senior management needs to get assuranced that some other issues will first be settled before they decide to continue with the rest of the season. This is the case because the militant groups inside the colon have been known to lift strikes and then strike again just after the theater has re-started operations. I will try to find out more details and post them here as soon as I have them.

Kind regards,
Alex (Gaucho100K)

This is the case because the militant groups inside the colon have been known to lift strikes and then strike again just after the theater has re-started operations. I will try to find out more details and post them here as soon as I have them.

Kind regards,
Alex (Gaucho100K)

Alex, thank you so much for this information. And it is nice to run into another opera fan. I wanted to see Turandot at Teatro Colon which is always a spectacular choice -- but also an expensive opera to produce.

Fingers crossed - hope they can work it out before the end of the month -- and that there is money left over to be able to still pull off this elaborate production.

I have long been a fan of this EZE forum ever since I put my own trip to BsAs together. The depth of knowledge you have provided to the range of travellers who post here. If they settle the strike, in appreciation I will personally gift you a ticket to one performance of Turandot - with thanks I am sure from all those who have benefited from the time you spend here dispensing your wonderful local knowledge.

One more question. My Orbitz hotel/flight package is using the Gran King Hotel on Lavalle Street. It looks like it was recently purchased and refurbished by a Spanish hotel chain, and shows up in some European budget travel packages.

However I can find no mention of this hotel in any other internet travel forums, other than the same standard commercial description.

I have found no personal recommendations, good, bad or indifferent. I chose it because it said it was 4 star, the price was certainly cheap with the flight package and it looked like it would be in a great location right around the corner from Florida Street. And it was close to Teatro Colon.

Now I read that both Lavalle and Florida Streets have changed in character and not particularly for the good. Are there any concerns I should have being located at this hotel? I do like being located in the middle of things, down town.

sbagal

Besides Gaucho's nice list of recommendations, I came across one from the online restaurant ratings that sound interesting since they said it was not for tourists, but was in the downtown centro: Al Carbon at Reconquisto 878

The restaurant website has a good interactive map system for most as well as a ranking system - Gaucho, do you know how valid these recommendations are? They put Nectarine at the top of the list for Recoleta and Tomol at the very top for all areas.

It is "guiaoleo.com"

sbagal

Im afraid Im not familiar with the hotel you mention.

Regarding Florida and Lavalle, the location is very good in terms of proximity to many places. Its true that its not a very fancy area of town, but I would not say that you need to worry about security, provided you keep the usual precautions that are norm for any large city.

I attended a benefit Polo match this afternoon and ran into some friends of mine that are active in the Teatro Colon Foundation. Unfortunatetly, it looks like its almost certain that the 2005 Season will not be reenstated, as there are still pending labor issues. It looks like only a miracle will put Turandot on the stage, but if something happens I will post it here immediatetly.

I am a user and poster on Guia Oleo, and find the rating system to be a reasonable resource. As with all internet rating systems, its not a perfect tool but I think its one weapon in the arsenal of the frequent restaurant visitor. Im afraid I havent been to the specific restaurant you mention.

This link doesn't work for me!?!
Could somebody provide the correct link....Thanks

Ditto.

How's the Faeta hotel? Their website is cool--but it looks like it's located away from a lot of the major sites.

http://guiaoleo.com.ar/

How long to clear customs at Ezeiza (EZE)? How much time should I give connecting to another flight?

depends on when flight arrives, AA flights in am tend to arrive with many others and it has taken me as little as 15 min to 1 hour...