LEARNING SPANISH CAN BE FUN!!!

Some information about Buenos Aires

The City of Buenos Aires is the capital of the Argentine Republic. It is located in the southern hemisphere, in the American continent, latitude 34º 36’ and longitude 58º 26’. When coming by plane, the travel takes about ten hours from New York, London, Paris, Madrid and Rome.
The city extends on a plain covering 19.4 kilometers (12 miles) from north to south and 17.9 kilometers (11 miles) from east to west. Approximately three million people live in its 202 square kilometers (78.3 sq. miles). However, together with the metropolitan area, the total population of Buenos Aires is above twelve millions, making it one of the ten most populated urban centers in the world.

The Río de la Plata and the Riachuelo are the natural borders of the City on the east and south, respectively. The rest of the metropolitan perimeter is surrounded by the General Paz avenue from north to west. This avenue provides a fast connection between the city and the Greater Buenos Aires, a densely populated area with important business and industrial activity area. Buenos Aires is connected with the interior of the country and foreign countries through an extended transport  system,  with connection points  such as a port

for cruisers and ferries, two airports – one for international flights, Ezeiza, 22 kilometers (13.7 miles) away from the Obelisco and the other for domestic flights, 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) away from downtown – commuter railroad, highways, national routes and a passenger transport terminal located at no more than one kilometer from downtown.

The identity of Buenos Aires, an open door city, is marked by the influence of the different waves of immigration that populated the city, providing it with a cosmopolitan profile. The disposition of the citizens is warm and hospitable, and it is not uncommon that a chat with a porteño should end with an invitation to visit his home. Politeness and respect are closely linked to an informal treatment. The normal greeting of men and women is a kiss in the cheek. Smiles, hugs, closeness when speaking and gestures are the most common and friendly way of communication. Something to note is the use of “vos” (you) instead of the Spanish “tú” for informal treatment, and the use of “che” to address a person.

Climate

The climate of Buenos Aires - oceanic and warm - is mild all year round. The mean annual temperature is 18º C (64.4º F), making extremely hot and cold days very infrequent.
July is the coldest month in winter, with mean temperatures ranging from 3º to 8º C (37.4º to 46.4º F). Frosts are infrequent in Buenos Aires. A woolen coat, a jacket or an overcoat and a scarf will be required when going out. In summer, the weather is hot and humid and the mean temperature is 28º C (82.4º F). At night, temperature goes down slightly, so people may wear light clothes; coats are not needed. The annual average rainfall is 1,146 mm (45.1 inches). Rains are more frequent in autumn and spring. During the warm months, they are mild or last a short time, thus activities are not hampered and people can still wear light clothes and take an umbrella or a raincoat.

Population

Argentina's current population is more than 36 million inhabitants, almost half of which live in the city (3 millions) and the province of Buenos Aires. Population density calculated on a national basis is 13 inhabitants per square kilometer.
95% of the population is white and most are descendants of Italians and Spaniards. As a result of the massive European immigration, the white and Indian half-castes were slowly reduced and at the present they amount only to 4.5% of the population. The pure indigenous population - Mapuches, Collas, Tobas, Matacos and Chiriguanos - amount to 0.5% of the population.

Currencies

Bills come in 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 y 100 pesos. One peso equals 100 cents. One peso coins are golden and silver-plated. 50 and 10 cents coins are golden. 25 and 5 cents coins may be either golden or silver-plated.

Foreign currency is exchanged in banks and "casas de cambio" (currency exchange office). Shops accept credit cards, US dollars and pesos.

Can I get money from the ATMs?

ATMs are everywhere in BA and they are open 24-7. Having an ATM card is a very handy way to get quick cash (providing you've got some cash in your account). They can also be used for cash advances on major credit cards. You'll be charged a fee back home each time you use an ATM; call your bank before you travel to find out how much. Also, make sure your ATM system can interface with Argentina's banks.

Where can I change my Travelers' Checks?

American Express: Arenales 707 - Monday to Friday from 9 am to 5 pm.
TE: 4312-1661 (24hs). Is it also possible to change them at most of the "casas de cambio" (currency exchange office). It is not possible to pay with travalers' checks at stores, travel agencies, restaurantes, etc.

Estimated price list (in pesos)

Meals:
Pizza $ 5 - $ 20
Pastas $ 4 - $ 10
Parrillada (barbecue) from $8
Empanadas (small meat pies) $1 - $1.20 each
Ice cream from $2
Tenedor libre (all-you-can-eat restaurants) from $8
Breakfast in a patisserie $2 - $ 4
Coffee in Recoleta neighborhood $2 - $3.50
Lunch/dinner in a pattisserie $7 - $15
Dinner per person: from $10
Transportation:
Bus: $0.80
Subway: $0.70
Taxi: $1.28 + 0.20 added each 200 metros
Train: $0.50 (minimum fare)
Remise (from Ezeiza airport to the Obelisco): $46
Minibus (from Ezeiza airport to the Obelisco): $19
Going out:
Cinema: $7 - $10.
Local concerts and music shows: $6 - $15.
Ticket for Colón Theater: $10 - $140.
Ticket for a Boca-River soccer match:$15 - $30.
Admission to museums: Free or ticket from $1 - $3.
Newspaper $1 - $2.50.

How much would it cost to surf the Internet in a Cybercafé?

Cybercafes are now common in Buenos Aires. Many locutorios also have Internet access. You will pay around $1 per hour.

Tipping

Tips are not required, and there is no fixed percentage. The amount will greatly depend on the quality of the attention and service received by the customer. In bars, when the bill is small, it is habitual to leave some coins, between 5% and 10% of total expense. In restaurants, a tip amounting to 10% of the bill is usual.

Electricity

Argentina's electric current operates on 220 volts, 50 cycles.

Public holidays & Special events

Government offices and bussiness are closed on the national holydays. If the holyday falls on a midweek day, it's often bumped to the nearest Monday.

New Year's Day: January 1
Holy Thursday and Friday / Easter: April
Labor Day: May 1
First Argentine Government: May 25
Day of the Veteran and of the Dead in Malvinas Islands War: June 10
Day of the Death of General Manuel Belgrano, creator of the Argentine flag: June 20
Independence Day: July 9
Day of the Death of General José de San Martín, the country's liberator: August 17
Columbus Day: October 12
Immaculate Conception Day: December 8
Christmas: December 25

Hours

The time zone corresponds to GMT-3 and no change is made in the summer months.

Activity in Buenos Aires starts in the first hours of day and extends until late at night. This is the only city in the country where the habit of having a siesta – a nap after midday - has been lost.
Shops are open from Monday through Fridays, from 9 am to 8 pm, and Saturdays from 9 am to 1 pm. In shopping centers (malls), hours usually extend until 10 pm, including Saturdays and Sundays. Banks open at 10 am and close at 3 pm. Cash extractions and other transactions may be made in ATMs, 24 hours a day.

The hours in which porteños have their four meals are variable, since this is accommodated according to their activities. Breakfast is served between 7 and 10 in the morning. In bars and patisserie, it is possible to find special offers, both for breakfast and tea, between two and four pesos. Porteños generally have lunch in a very short time, between 12 noon and 3 pm. Restaurants in downtown or sections of the city with high office building concentration, prepare an ample selection of fast and varied menus, ranging from five to eight pesos. In mid afternoon, between 4 and 6 pm, porteños generally have merienda (tea).
Dinner – served as of 9 pm – is the most important meal, since this is the moment to gather with family or friends. In Buenos Aires people have dinner well after dark, after 10 pm, and until dawn. While restaurants are crowded at about 8:30 pm in Paris, New York or London, this happens after 11 pm in Buenos Aires.
Buenos Aires has the spirit of keeping late hours – the activity by night is permanent and streets look animate, even in working days. There is a varied offer: concerts, music shows, dinners, theatre, cinema, outdoor activities, parties in discos, social meetings in cafés, pubs, etc.
Discos close between 6 and 7 in the morning. It is frequent for young people to go to more than one place in the same night and to have breakfast before going to bed.

What is "Mate"?

The characteristic infusion of the porteños is the mate, which mixes yerba mate with warm water, with or without sugar. This beverage is drank at any time of the day. The mate is a popular custom that has been a part of the culture of the Río de la Plata since the middle of the XVI century. You should really try it!

Telephone

The easiest way to make a phone call is to find a "locutorio" (small telephone office), which has private booths where you can make your calls and then pay at the registrer. There's a locutorio practically on every other block, they cost the same as street phones and are much quieter.

Public phones operate with magnetic phone cards available at many kiosks or 5, 10, 25, 50-cent and 1-peso coins. These phones accept urban, national and international calls. For international direct dialing, dial: 00 + country code + area code + local number.

Country code for Argentina is 54 and area code for Buenos Aires is 11. For example, to call to 4555-5555 from outside the country, you should dial: 54-11-4555-5555

Useful telephone numbers and addresses

International operator: 000
National operator: 19
Medical assistance (Emergencies) - SAME: 107
Information on telephone numbers: 110
Official time: 113
Repair service: 114
Fire Squad: 100
Police Department: 101
Tourist Police Station: 4346-5770
City Tourist Information: 4313-0187

Terminal de ómnibus de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires - Estación Retiro (Retiro bus station):
Av. Ramos Mejía 1680. - Tel.: (011) 4310-0700/0709

Aeropuerto Internacional Ministro Pistarini - Ezeiza: about 35 km. south from downtown.
Tel.: (011) 4480-0217/0001/9538

Aeroparque Jorge Newbery: Av. Costanera R. Obligado s/n
Tel.: (011) 4771-2071/9 4772-2064/7

Ferry Terminal: Av. Madero y Viamonte

General Post Office: Sarmiento 151 - TE: 4314-1414.
Monday to Friday from 8 to 20 hs, Saturday from 8 am to1 pm.

Tourist Police Station
Corrientes Avenue 436 - TE.: 4346 5748 / 0800 999 5000
The new Tourist Police Station has included 30 policemen to its staff who speak different languages like Japanese, English, French, Italian and Ucranian so as to render the tourist a quick response in case he/she suffers some theft, common law crime or any other eventuality like loosing identity cards or passports.

Where can I get touristic information?

Secretaría de Turismo y Deporte de la Nación, Centros de Información Turística (General Tourist Information Center):
883 Santa Fe avenue, Buenos Aires.
TE. 4312-2232 / 0800-555-0016.

Aeropuerto Internacional de Ezeiza (TE: 4480-0224) y Aeroparque Jorge Newbery (TE: 4773-9805).

Tourist Information Center - Florida
Florida street and Roque Sáenz Peña avenue.
Monday to Friday, from 9 am to 1 pm / from 2 pm to 5 pm.

Tourist Information Center - Retiro
Bus Terminal - Antártida Argentina avenue and Calle 10 - Shop 83 - Bridge 3. TE: 4311-0528
Monday to Saturday, from 7:30 am to 1 pm.

Tourist Information Center - Puerto Madero
200 Alicia Moreau de Justo avenue - Dock 4 - Crane 8. TE: 4313-0187.
Monday to Sunday, from 10 am to 6 pm .

Tourist Information Center - Abasto Shopping
Corrientes avenue and Agüero street. TE: 4959-3507.
Monday to Friday, from 11 am to 9 pm; Saturday, Sunday and holidays, from 10 am to 10 pm.

Tourist Information Center - La Boca - Caminito
De la Rivera Theatre, 1821 Pedro de Mendoza.
Tuesday to Sunday, from 10 am to 5 pm.

Tourist Information Center - Recoleta
J.M. Ortíz and Quintana avenue.
Monday to Sunday, from 12 am to 7 pm.

Tourist Information Center - San Telmo
1250 Defensa - TE: 4313-0187
Monday to Friday, from 12 to 6 pm/ Saturday and Sundays, from 10 to 7 pm.

Tango Information Center
Sarmiento 1551, San Martín Theatre. TE: 4373-2823
Everyday from 2 pm to 10 pm.
At the Tango Information Center you may freely get information on "milongas", tango classes, shows, learning institutes and tourist information about Buenos Aires. You may also receive information on tango records stores, records companies, bookshops, online merchandise sale, tango clothes outlets, Argentine artists of international renown, biographies and musicians and dancers photographs.

How can I get from the airport to the city?

The cheapest transportation to and from Ezeiza is the Nº 86 bus. Because of heavy traffic, figure at least 1:30 hours to Ezeiza. If you can afford a more expensive transportation we do not recommend this one because you will have a long, unconfortable and not very secure trip.

"Remises" are unmarked call taxis without meters. They generally offer fixed fares and are more secure than street taxis, since an established company sends them out. The airport provides “remises” 24 hours a day.

EDENA recommends this trasportation and if you wish, we will gladly send it to pick you up at the airport. The cost of this trasfer is around $45 (pesos argentinos) or US$15.

Manuel Tienda León and other companies at the airport run a bus service about every half-hour. This is a secure option too and a little cheaper then the remisse, but since they end the transfer at Plaza San Martín you will need to take a cab and the final price will be aproximately the same.

Distancias aproximadas desde la Ciudad de Buenos Aires

Catamarca: 121 km. Chascomús: 130 km. Córdoba: 689 km. Corrientes: 939 km. Jujuy: 1525 km. La Plata: 63 km. La Rioja: 1142 km. Lobos: 98 km. Luján: 70 km. Mar del Plata: 450 km. Mendoza: 1042 km. Neuquén: 1161 km. Paraná: 475 km. Pilar: 62 km.

Posadas: 1005 km. Rawson: 1372 km. Resistencia: 1019 km. RíoGallegos: 2504 km. Salta: 1497 km. San Antonio de Areco: 114 km. San Juan: 1110 km. San Luis: 791 km. Santa Fe: 485 km. Sgo. del Estero: 1039 km. Tigre: 33 km. Tucumán: 1193 km. Ushuaia: 3070 km. Viedma: 911 km.