(YM) Buenos Aires Argentina Deby's all over it. It's a vexing subject for any of us that have been here awhile... and,
as Deby notes, apparently vexing as well for those returning after awhile.
(hee hee! I just noticed from the link that her post must have been originally titled something like "If One More Ame..." Sorry, Deb. Couldn't resist. I complement you on the better part of valor and all that.)If you're here for good, the creeping price of things has GOT to get to you eventually. Of course, I've lived thru a few increases in the price of cigarettes (minuscule... I once paid for my RT ticket with the savings on the smokes I smuggled back!) and a few increases in taxi fares (up from the original driver-starvation rates) but now it's everything. I like to pay with correct change the all the small business people that I deal with regularly. However, that's gotten to be impossible recently... I just don't know what it the bill will be. It's not crazy, it's just creeping. Deby keeps the level-head as usual, and takes almost as much umbrage at the comments from the euro and dollar crowd over the cost to them of the little indulgences that still cost 3 to 4 times more back home... if they are available there at all.
Go read.But if you STILL have some billetes to burn:
The Alvear Palace Hotel is celebrating it's 75th anniversary!
If the joint looks older to you than 75 you won't be surprised to find that delays in construction caused it to take 10 years to build.
La Nacion has a great little look at the ol' dame's story. Most fascinating of all are the hard times that she fell upon from 1978 to 1984 when bad management caused the sale of the majority of her rooms to PRIVATE OWNERS! Sheesh, can you imagine? Your own private Alvear. Nowadays, every room comes with it's own private butler. If you can't spring for the staggering price of a night there... you might pop for a traditional tea or a brunch for visiting friends. Then stick THEM with the bill!
But back to Deb...
If you've been here a while, maybe we can exchange some notes on the best places for different things with prices something similar to what they were a couple-two-tree years ago. We might even take the opportunity to MEET there.
I don't want ANYONE to get the wrong idea... there are damned few places on earth where the Yanqui Dollar goes farther. But if you're an expat or immigrant earning in Pesos Argentinos, it's probably time to develop a porteño nose for gettin' along in the big manzana.
Expect something to help along those lines from the Yanq.
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