Friday night and i am pretty tired, too much tequila and late nights...as mentioned i wanted to try clarin ads for a double so i called one and made date for 9pm. learned a couple of things....if the ad says 24 hrs. it is most likely an apt. used by different chicas...not truly their home, also when i was making the date i heard other phones in background...i should have known better. anyhow, i arrive and the girl at door is friendly, i tell her what i want and she brings in a cute blonde and says the other girl will be along in a couple of minutes...the blond starts up and is average at best with her efforts, after 45 mins. of on and off activity, she checks on other girl...to make a long story short it turns out the other girls may be arriving in cab soon....well at 80 pesos and hour i do not want to pay for cab time and project that if the other girl ever shows i will be in for 240 pesos....not worth it for this quality...i tell the girl that we can finish and we do, when i go to leave she tries to stall me , my antenna goes up and i politely walk around her to leave - i am a 5-11 and 220 lbs, i like the gym and figure there could be a problem....the hostess however is very pleasant and apologozes for the problem and walks me out of the building...i think i will stick with the club girls where you can select and negotiate....the prices are higher but the product is superior.

some thoughts on BA vs. CR : my basic spanish works better in CR...BA is like NYC folks speak fast! CR is more country like and i have a better chance of understanding messages. The people in both countries are very friendly and helpful but BA seems a little harder, again like NYC...the party atmosphere in CR and the ease of gringo gulch is more relaxing. CR girls are very cute and playful, they lack the sophistication of the ladies in BA....BA girls are more educated and mature....still both like to make you happy when they can. $$$$ value....i am still shocked at how litte things cost here when you divide by 3 or 3.5! after average session last night i went to a restaraunt in recolleta for a steak..have had a few and they are great...about 16 oz , perfectly cooked, local beer and large plate of rice..less than 10 dollars US...i have not been disappointed with the food. weather has been typical spring....nice one day, cloudly the next...not cold at all...bhut i miss those ticas walking around downtown San Jose in their tiny outfits...all in all BA has been everything i expected and without the info on this board my trip would have been less organized..i have to make sure that i have no or only a few pesos when i leave otherwise my costs escalate
PS if you are staying at etoile, exit make a right and right at first corner, walked about 4-5 blocks and there is a dry cleaner. cheaper than hotel luandery. for internet cafe exit etoile left, walk past restaraunt row to corner where the Mcdonalds is, left for a couple of blocks and fast internet cafe called ¨Digital Factory on left side, up one flight but visible from street

Glad you are having a good time.

Enjoy the life,

The general store, next to the Cambio, near etoile, also has an internet cafe with about two dozen stations.

Part of the problem with the Spanish in Argentina is the accent. It sounds like Itallian. The Costa Rican spanish is pretty pure (as is most of the Colombia.)

But, I agree, Tica and Ticos are on a much slower pace and speak fairly slowly but also clearly.

Either though is a great time. I always saw the bargin prices in Clarin and wonder what would show up. With the exchange I would say you are better off paying the extra money in a club.