Whither Argentina?

So you are thinking about heading on down to Buenos Aires, but still you hesitate? Maybe you are more a Rio kind of guy? Maybe you'd enjoy yourself more in Colombia or Peru?

Sigh. How's a guy to decide?

Maybe ole Pirate can help. I have been to Argentina muchos times, and have hung out with tons of guys like us. HMF's (horney muthas). So here's my two cents worth:

Argentina is best suited for guys who:

Understand that life is more than sex alone. You will like BA if you like the vibrant night life, world class cuisine and cultural activities of a sophisticated big city in between sessions with chicas with European looks and Latina passions. The quasisential Buenos Aires experience is as much gastronomic as sexual; as much aesthetic as prurient.

In BsAs there are restaurants with cuisine from througout the world, beginning with steak cut from steers fattened on the lush grass of the pampas and extending to sushi. Broadway style musicals, a fabled opera house, casinos, throbbing discos and serene green spaces, shopping for a tailored suit or leather jacket are all here as well.

Time permitting, excursions to locations with some of the most eye popping scenery in the world awaits you. Mighty Iguazu falls, where the water drops over 20 stories and extends horizontally as far as the eye can see. Glaciers, sky blue lakes, pristine forests dot the landscape in Patagonia and coastal beaches provide relief from the hot summer sun.

Appreciate Value. It's possible to spend a lot in Buenos Aires. Just check into the opulent Alvear Palace, where the least expensive room goes for over $200dollars per night. Or eat in Clo Clos or similar restaurants where a meal for two can go for $100dollars. After dinner, mosey across the street from the hotel to Blacks, where the chicas quote prices in hundreds of dollars.

You could blow a lot in Buenos Aires. But why bother? You can spend a lot of money closer to home.

It's also possible to do Buenos Aires on the cheap. $15dollar street walkers or earthy girls from the classifieds of Clarin, the largest newspaper in Argentina, await. Hotels can be found for less than 20 dollars a night. Hungry? Grab a choripan (sausage sandwich) for a buck.

Again, why bother? TJ is closer to home. No choripan, but I hear the tacos are nice from one of the street vendors.

The best bargains in Buenos Aires are found between the penthouse and the bargain basement. Boutique hotels or deluxe aparthotels for $50-75 dollars a night. Fine dining in a romantic setting and champagne for $30dollars a couple. And very attractive chicas for $50-75dollars.

Still not convinced? Ok, try these web sources for reports, photos and answers to commonly asked questions.

Here is a good place to start, just to get an overview:

http://www.turismo.gov.ar/eng/menu.htm

A succinct Buenos Aires city guide:

http://www.economist.com./cities/citiesmain.cfm?city_id=BEA&CFID=7485290&CFTOKEN=59484ca-27dfd8d0-dd9a-4177-8e4f-c1b704e37bd9


Here are three good discussion groups about Argentina travel:
http://www.fodors.com
http://www.frommers.com .
http://thorntree.lonelyplanet.com/

STILL not convinced? check out Moondogs pix:

https://www.clubhombre.com/moondog/baguide.php

Thanks, Pirate. This looks like it is gonna be a very helpful report for me, because you are gonna answer some key questions I have.

I've never been to Argentina, but I've been very tempted to go BECAUSE of the culture as well as the opportunity to hobby. The European flair of the place is alluring. I've always wanted to sip sweetened mate from a bombisha (bombilla?) at some university cafe, or feast on incomparable Argentine steak, while courting beatiful Argentine women and dabbling in their culture, and dulce de leche.

At the same time I had a nutcase Argentine girlfriend in the US 10-12 years ago and it was the relationship from hell. She and virtually all members of her family were (a) pissy, (b) stark raving nuts, and (c) arrogant. The superiority/inferiority complex was palpable. Is this a cultural phenomenon? Maybe I have simply gotten a bad sample, but I'm not sure. I've known some normal and cool Argentine expats, but also too many whacked out ones. My ex-whacko-girlfriend turned me on to many things Argentine, so it is maybe a love-hate thing.

I've read a fair amount about Argentina's history, especially about the bad old days of the late '70s. My ex-nutcase girlfriend lost some cousins during that period. I recently bought the Insight Guide to Argentina, with all it s photos and text. It makes me want to go more, but I still have this lingering bias rattling around in my head...

Maybe I just need to get over my pre-conceptions and visit the place.

At the risk of offending Andres, I would say that Argentina has a disproportionate share of arrogantes! The LP Guide to Buenos Aires mentions this phenomenon, and includes several jokes such as: "A man meets an Argentine on the street and asks for a light. The Argentine starts patting his pants, chest and seat pockets. 'Sorry,' he says,'I can't find my lighter, but, man do I have a great body."

A funny story about bombillas....I took an Argentine girlfriend with me to Central America. She packed all her mate stuff, but forgot her bombilla. I will never forget the shocked look on her face when not only did they not have bombillas in the grocery store, the clerk had no idea what a bombilla was!

Sipping mate is a way of life....Go to most any activity and you will see folks walking around with a thermos of hot water under their arm, sipping mate from a bombilla.

You really should just take the plunge and visit Argentina....There are some wonderful, caring, passionate women waiting for you....and you can replinish yourself on Argentine steak, which truly is the best in the world. No hormones added. Grass fed, without grain supplements...and grilling is an art form in Argentina....

There are cafes near universities, on busy avenues, in the suburbs....everywhere!

Bull Winkle,

Here are a sample of some of the girls found inthe cafes.

Enjoy the life,

Moondog

OK... OK... Ouch... Ouch... twist my arm... ouch.. Ok... I'll go.

Bull Winkle,

Was it the steak or the Moondog's pix that pushed you over the edge?

Better yet, have a steak with one or two of the girls.

Enjoy the life,

Moondog

LOL!!! I blame BOTH of you.

Can I have a steak on one or two girls?

Pirate, your earlier post sounds very enticing, the world class city bit.

BW, I hear ya. I had an ex whacko Japanese GF that made me lost interest in J girls for awhile and made my last visit to Japan uninteresting(maybe I was thinking about my Thai girl then). I've dated really nice J girls before and I wouldn't say anything bad about them as a whole.

Agreed. I wouldn't say anything bad about any of them as a hole.

...as a ho...

(That's what she was...)

(Message edited by dickjohnson on September 23, 2003)